Before choosing concrete roof tiles for your next roofing project, consider overall installation costs and long-term maintenance of a concrete tile roof. The weight of concrete tiles makes installation labor-intensive and often requires homeowners to increase the structural support to avoid structural damage. Furthermore, concrete tiles require time-consuming and costly maintenance and repairs to ensure the integrity of the roof system.
What are Concrete Roof Tiles?
The introduction of concrete roof tiles to the United States began early in the 20th century, but its popularity has significantly grown in the past 25 years — like all tile roofing. In the early years, making concrete tiles was time-consuming and involved mixing concrete and pouring it into metal or wooden molds to harden. Today, concrete roofing tiles are manufactured in a plant and the process involves molding a mixture of sand, Portland cement, and water under heat and high pressure. An application of a paint-like material to the exposed surface gives it a finished look.
Homeowners appreciate concrete roofing tiles for their various colors and styles and the ability to mimic old-world charm. Concrete roof tiles also minimize external noise and contribute towards a safe home because they are non-toxic and wind- and fire-resistant. Homeowners in warm-sunny climates report lower energy costs to cool a home because concrete tiles reflect sunlight. Similarly, in cold climates, concrete roof tiles help to insulate the house from freezing temperatures, which lessens heating expenses.
We recognize the problems that homeowners have in achieving all of the benefits of concrete roof tiles. A concrete tile roof requires professional installation, moisture-resistant measures, and an adequately reinforced roof framing system. It is also important to know that concrete tile roofs require frequent maintenance due to water and impact damage, color fading, and the need to routinely replace the underlayment. Without regular maintenance and upkeep the integrity of the tiles, and ultimately, the house, and the aesthetic value of the roof will all diminish.
Concrete Roof Tile Features
Weight
Concrete roof tiles typically weigh 6 - 11 lb/ft2 (600 -1100 lbs/100 ft2 or 29.29 - 53.71 kg/m2) — much greater than asphalt shingles that weigh less than 2 lb/ft2. The heavy weight of concrete tile roofs requires homeowners to add extra reinforcement to the roof framing, particularly in heavy snow accumulation regions.
Durability
The durability of concrete roof tiles depends on the proper installation of fully-cured and undamaged tiles and routine maintenance. Improper installation and upkeep will make concrete tiles prone to water damage and deterioration.
Lifespan
Concrete tiles last 50 years. However, homeowners need to take several precautions to ensure the longevity of their concrete tile roof: avoid foot traffic on the tiles, quickly repair broken tiles, and routine power wash to remove mold, dirt, and other debris.
Style Options
Concrete roof tiles come in four common styles and can resemble traditional clay tiles, wood shake, slate, and stone in both appearance and color.
- Mission style with pans and covers
- French stool with locking tabs on the sides and top
- Interlocking shingle style with locking tabs on the sides and top
- Spanish style profiles like the letter “S” — each piece functions as both a cover and a pan
Cost
A concrete tile roof costs about $18 a square foot or $27,000 for a 1,500 square-foot home with a moderate pitch using decorative flat tiles. Homeowners can expect to pay anywhere from $3 - $5 per square foot for concrete roof tile installation. This means that typical installation costs for a 1,500 square foot home can range anywhere from $3,500 to $7,500.
Concrete Roof Maintenance
Concrete roof tiles require extensive-routine maintenance and repairs to preserve both their integrity and appearance.
Moss and mildew tends to grow between concrete tiles, especially homes in wet climates. Therefore, homeowners should wash the roof with a pressure washer at least once a year.
Homeowners must often inspect their roofs for damaged tiles, particularly after a severe weather event.
Water Damage
If not adequately treated and waterproofed, concrete tile roofs will absorb water at a rate of 13% of their total weight, which can lead to cracking and water intrusion. The tiles can absorb water through air moisture, rain, and even foliage. Water absorption causes mold and mildew and, potentially, the deterioration of the concrete tiles. Furthermore, the water's added weight will put more pressure on the house, which can lead to major structural issues.
Impact Damage
Impact damage to tiles can occur for many reasons: a tree falling on a roof, foot traffic, or sloppy and improper installation. For example, cracks or chips at the lower right corner of a tile can occur from spacing the tiles in a way that restricts their ability to expand. It is imperative to immediately repair or replace the damaged tiles to avoid harm to the house's underlayment and interior.
Color Fading
The color of a concrete tile roof fades over time, which makes matching replacement tiles problematic, and the tile's porous nature makes it prone to staining. Therefore, homeowners must repaint a concrete tile roof every couple of years to keep it looking new.
Replacing Underlayment
While concrete roofing tiles can last up to 50 years, the underlayment only lasts about 20 years. The process of replacing the underlayment involves removing the concrete tiles, replacing the underlayment, and then reinstalling the tiles — a tedious, time-consuming, and costly project. Replacing the underlayment of a 1,500 ft.2 concrete tile roof costs about $5,400 to $7,660, including labor.
Brava Roofing Tiles are a Superior Option
Water intrusion, impact damage, and color fading can quickly diminish the appeal of concrete tile roofs. Furthermore, the weight of concrete tiles makes installation difficult and often requires increasing the structural support to avoid structural damage. Many homeowners find the high-maintenance of concrete roofs and the need to replace the underlayment time-consuming, and expensive.
Our composite roofing products offer homeowners an alternative to concrete tiles. Lightweight composite tiles provide the best protection against moisture, impact, color fading, and structural damage — all backed by our 50-year limited warranty. These protections also help shield the underlayment which lessens its need for replacement, however we offer an underlayment with a 50-year warranty. Our products are lightweight and lower installation costs by eliminating the need for extra structural support and reducing labor expenses.
A Sustainable Alternative
We also pride ourselves on the eco-friendly nature of all of the Brava products.
- Made from recycled plastics (polymer) and other fully sustainable materials.
- Fully recyclable.
- Create cool roofs that reflect solar heat, helping homeowners save energy and reduce heating bills.
- The durability of composite tiles makes a sustainable-long-lasting roof with the highest level of protection against freezing temperatures, wind, fire, and hail.
- Class 4 impact rating - 188+ mph wind resistance with ring shank nails - the highest in the industry
- Available in Class A and Class C fire rating
Versatile Design
We offer three unique composite tile styles to fit any architectural design. Our tiles achieve, if not surpass, the beauty of Spanish clay tile, natural slate, and cedar shake roofing. The revolutionary multi-coloring process helps create a product with authentic color variation and flow (in any custom color or combination) throughout the entire tile.
Cedar Shake Tile
Synthetic cedar shake roofing mimics the natural beauty and rustic split textures of real cedar but has the incredible benefits of composite roofing.
- Composite cedar shake shingles come in three different widths and vary in thickness from 5/8" to 7/8" (the thickest on the market) — to create the shadow lines that simulate real cedar roof shingles.
- Our composite cedar shake shingles come in solid- and multi-color blends.
- The durability makes it economical to install.
- Composite cedar shake shingles ensure a much longer life expectancy and less maintenance and repair issues than natural wood shingles, which results in a greater return on investment, fewer damage concerns, and an uncompromising aesthetic style.
Compare our synthetic shake tiles to the traditional version and see the difference for yourself, or try cedar shakes on your home with our visualizer!
Slate Tile
Composite slate tile offers the incredible beauty of heavy natural quarried slate roofing without the costly substructure modifications.
- Old World Slate polymer tile has a 1-inch profile — a feature that reduces shipping and installation costs over natural slate.
- Old World Slate shingles furnish the thickest synthetic slate roof profile available to create tiles with beautiful color exposure and superior durability. Our composite slate roof tiles come in any custom color or color combination.
- The Old World Slate tiles' durability lessens the time and cost of maintenance and repairs — unlike fragile and high-maintenance natural slate.
- Class 4 impact rated (the highest in the industry) and hail warrantied.
- Available in Class A or Class C fire rating.
Compare our synthetic slate tiles to the traditional version, and see the difference for yourself, or try Brava slate tiles on your home with our visualizer!
Spanish Barrel Tile
Our composite Spanish roofing tiles are the perfect barrel clay tile alternative. In addition to its aesthetic value, barrel tile has several significant advantages.
- It is the only composite Spanish tile on the market that is 3rd-party tested, and Miami-Dade County approved.
- Spanish Class C is the only white composite barrel tile on the market.
- Lightweight barrel tiles eliminate the need for costly structural support, lesson the installation labor, and dramatically decrease roof maintenance.
Compare our synthetic Spanish barrel roof tiles to the traditional version and see the difference for yourself, or try Brava Spanish barrel roof tiles on your home with our visualizer!
Make the Smart Choice with Brava
Many homeowners find that the routine maintenance and upkeep of concrete tile roofs are time-consuming and expensive. Fortunately, there is an alternative to heavy concrete roof tiles — composite roof tile. The lightweight tiles reduce installation labor costs and also eliminate the need for extra structural support that concrete tiles require. Composite roof tiles save homeowners time and money on maintenance and repairs by providing the best protection against moisture, impact, color fading, and structural damage — all backed by our 50-year limited warranty.
We're happy to help connect you with a contractor, get a quote, and ship a complimentary sample for you to examine and test out. To see more projects featuring our award-winning products, check out our photo gallery and video gallery.
For more reasons why you should choose Brava's composite roof tile options, please contact the professionals at Brava Roof Tile.
For more homeowner information, please visit the links below:
