If you’re looking to update your home’s exterior, then there’s no better place to start than your roof. Although roof tile installation can be expensive, there are many reasons why tiles are the best roof material to use. What’s more, roof tiles don’t just make practical sense – they’re also more aesthetically pleasing than shingle or metal roofing and can really enhance the character of your home. With many types, colors and styles to choose from, roof tiles are ideally suited to exterior home improvement projects. Why wait when you can give your home a facelift without even opening the front door?
Why Roof Tiles?
Roof tiles are an incredibly robust and durable roofing material and provide an authentic and traditional aesthetic for your home. As mentioned in the video below, most tiled roofs can last for up to twenty years, so they are likely to save you money over the long term. Tiles are also non-combustible, reducing the risk of fire. Perhaps the most important feature of roof tiles – at least from the perspective of a Florida homeowner – is that they are highly energy efficient and can help to keep your home cool in summer. With proper, professional roof tile installation, tiles are also able to withstand strong winds, which is another feature which makes them suitable for Floridian homes.
Clay or Concrete?
Tiles may be made of clay or concrete. Clay tiles are about 30% more expensive than concrete tiles but tend to last a few years longer than them. Concrete tiles have a water absorption percentage of about 13%, whereas clay tiles only have an absorption rate of about 6%. This difference can be significant, especially in Florida, where heavy rains can add pressure to your roof structures. Clay tiles are made by baking molded clay and are usually brown or orange in color. Terracotta clay tiles are by far the most popular type of clay tile. One of the advantages of clay tiles is that they are made using a ceramic process during which enamel colors are permanently bonded to the clay at extremely high temperatures. This means that clay tiles won’t peel or fade. Concrete tiles, on the other hand, are made of a combination of sand, cement and water. The tiles featured in the video below are color-through concrete tiles. These are the best concrete tiles to use, as they are dyed right through and do not fade, despite exposure to the harsh sun every day. Concrete tiles may mimic clay tiles, or they may be gray or stone-colored.
Tile Profiles
Regardless of whether you choose clay or concrete tiles, you’ll need to consider what type of profile you want your tiles to have. Other than their color, the profile of tiles is the key feature which will determine the overall character and style of your roof. The profile of a tile simply refers to the shape of tiles, which impacts the way they interlock. Flat tiles are the most basic tiles, whereas pantiles – tiles which have an S-shaped profile – interlock to create the impression of a plowed field. Roman tiles are flat in the middle, with convex and concave curves on either end. Barrel tiles have the appearance of semi-cylinders and are installed in alternating convex and concave columns. You should consider the overall architecture of your home, the angle of the roof, and the aesthetic of your home’s interior when deciding which tile profile will best suit your home.
Tile Color
Once you have decided the type of profile which you want your roof tiles to have, you need to choose a roof tile color. In some cases, the type of tile you have chosen will have determined this for you – for example, clay tiles are usually available in varying shades of brown, orange and yellow, with terracotta being the most popular color choice. Concrete tiles come in a range of colors. You may also want to consider different patterns and textures – a flecked or patterned tile, or alternating tile colors, can result in a sophisticated look for your home. One of our recent clients, whose tile installation process can be viewed below, opted for darker tiles with flat profiles and a smooth surface. The result is a sleek, modern, and stylish look, which will prove to be durable in the harsh summer sun. However, your own home’s architecture may lend itself to a more Spanish or Roman feel, in which case you may want to opt for more rounded tiles in browns and oranges.
Roof Tile Installation Done Right
Whichever type, style and color you choose, what is most important is that the tiles are installed correctly. It’s no good to have beautiful, expensive tiles on your roof if they’re not going to survive the next hurricane or are going to allow leaks to damage your home. The roofing specialists at ABC Roofing Corp. have years of experience in roof tile installation (see them in action below!) and are well-known for their professionalism, reliability and skill. Contact us today on (954) 344-4622 to find out more about our outstanding roof tile installation services.
VIDEO NARRATION:
A tile roof has a lifespan of approximately 20 years. Once your tile roof has lived its life cycle it will need to be replaced. A new tile roof installation is a four-stage process: tear off, mop in progress, tile install, and final roof check.
Tile install is the third step in the re-roofing process and is the exciting point where your roof starts to take final form.
The process of tile install begins by loading the tiles that you have chosen onto your roof. Once the tiles are loaded, professional roofers are able to safely set your tiles on your roof using a foam down system.
There are a variety of tiles which you can choose for your roof. All the tiles that ABC roof has on offer are color through tiles. This means that each tile is dyed right through instead of being surface painted. Color through tiles are a desirable choice because they retain their base color through the life expectancy of the roof even under the harsh Florida sun.
On the average sized roof, tile install takes approximately two to three days to complete. The bigger the roof the longer it could take.
Something else that could affect the time it takes to complete the tile install is the pitch of your roof. The steeper the pitch of your roof the higher the difficulty of installation, and the longer it may take. A steeper roof also requires extra materials such as nails as well as foam to keep the tiles in place.
A professionally installed foamed down tile roof should be able to withstand winds of up to 180 miles per hour. This is definitely an important factor to consider when it comes to hurricane season!
To see the final stage in the new roof installation, tune in to the fourth episode of our series on tile roof installation – Final Roof Check.
At ABC Roofing we have you covered. We are here to answer any questions you may have about your roof. Visit our website for more information.
