Two popular choices for roofing are barrel roof tiles and slate roof tiles. Both designs are featured on homes of distinction that date back a hundred years or more, and in many cases are still protecting their original homes.
They are made from natural materials which make them sustainable, eco-friendly, and often sourced locally, however, the natural materials these roof tiles are made from might limit the color options available to you.
Clay barrel tiles are typically red, orange, or some shade of brown, and natural slate roof tiles are usually on a spectrum between black and gray. What if your home design calls for green roof tiles? Does that eliminate barrel tiles and slate tiles as possible choices?
There is an option that is superior to clay and slate in many respects while still retaining the beauty and rustic texture that makes these roofing options attractive to homeowners around the globe. This article will compare green roofing tiles to green synthetic composite roofing tiles.
Green Clay Barrel Roof Tiles vs. Green Synthetic Composite Spanish Barrel Roof Tiles
Clay Barrel Roof Tiles
Clay tiles are sold as glazed or unglazed. In order to achieve a color that is not in the brown to red category, green clay tiles have to be glazed, which is a process that adds to the cost of the tile. The added cost of the glazing is worthwhile since it increases the clay's ability to resist moisture absorption and staining, something the unglazed tile does not do well. Clay barrel tiles are long-lasting if installed correctly and in the right climate. They do not do well in areas where the temperatures often drop below freezing. They are eco-friendly since they are made from natural earth minerals and if unglazed, can be crushed and recycled. However, there are a number of reasons to avoid using natural green clay barrel tiles.
- Up to4 times as heavy as asphalt tiles
- Can cost 2-3 times more than a traditional shingle roof
- Are difficult to install, requiring professionals with extensive experience with clay tiles
- Are brittle and can easily break if stepped on incorrectly or suffer a heavy impact
- Maintenance can be costly if professional services are required
- Requires additional securing to meet high wind standards
- May require additional structural support for the roof prior to installation, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the project
Composite Spanish Barrel Roof Tiles
have all of the advantages of clay without the expensive disadvantages. In addition to being beautiful and perfectly mimicking the look of clay, synthetic barrel tiles offer the following advantages:
- Available in green — and any other color
- Eco-friendly and sustainable — made from 100% recycled material
- Lightweight — no additional structural support required
- Easy to install
- Low maintenance costs
- Long-lasting
- Can resist high impacts and can withstand winds up to 188+ mph with ring shank nails
- Class A fire rating available
- Are not negatively affected by repetitive freeze-thaw cycles
Green Natural Slate Roof Tile vs. Green Synthetic Composite Slate Roof Tiles
Natural Slate Roof Tiles
Green natural slate roofs are elegant and have stood the test of time. Hard slate can last more than 75 years while soft slate is a 50-year product. Of course, the price and availability will differ depending on your choice. Slate roofing tiles have been the preferred choice for churches, fine homes, government offices, and college universities, and will continue to be preferred due to their ability to resist fire, respond well to extreme weather changes, and repel insects. Green natural slate does have a few negatives to consider:
- It is extremely heavy — 4 times the weight of traditional asphalt shingles
- It is expensive — up to 3 times the cost of regular shingles
- Must be installed by experienced professionals used to working with slate
- It is not a DIY project
- Should not be walked on except by professionals.
Deep Green Synthetic Slate Roof Tiles
Green synthetic slate tiles have revolutionized the roofing market. Traditional slate tiles are cost-prohibitive and professional installers are not readily available. With the advent of composite slate roof tiles, the European slate roof look is available to most consumers. The advantages of synthetic slate tiles include:
- Natural quarried tile look
- Wide color selection — including green
- Lightweight
- Eco-friendly
- Strong warranty
- Doesn’t require specialists to install
- Not affected by regular temperature swings that drop below freezing
- Class A fire rating and Class 4 impact rating
- No special sub-structure required for the roof
Green Is More Than A Color In Roofing Tiles
In today’s marketplace, sustainability is more than a catchword. Savvy consumers want to know that the products they are purchasing are made with health of the environment in mind and Brava Roof Tile is meeting the demand for “green” roofing products with its Synthetic Old World Slate and Composite Spanish Barrel Tile roofing. We manufacture our composite roofing products from 100% recycled materials and they can be fully recycled, keeping them out of landfills. Brava roofing tiles have a 50-year limited warranty, and our process for color blending ensures that you get a natural look whether you choose a barrel tile, slate tile or cedar shake — and there is an almost unlimited number of colors to choose from. What makes Brava roof tiles exceptional?
- We use third-party labs for all required and additional testing.
- Our Spanish Barrel Tiles are the only 3rd-party tested and Miami-Dade county approved composite tile on the market.
- Our multi-colored roof tiles are unrivaled in the industry.
- Brava Old World Slate is 1” thick — the thickest roof tile on the market.
- They can withstand extended freeze-thaw cycles and extreme heat.
We look forward to helping you with your roofing project, so contact us today to order your free samples and see why Brava is the leader in the composite roofing tile industry.
