Tile roofs have long been popular with American homeowners for their unique beauty and durability. Unlike many other traditional roofing options such as asphalt shingles, a tile roof can last the lifetime of your home—withstanding punishing storms, hail and tree branches, and fire.
Traditionally, manufacturers made tile roofing from heavy natural materials like concrete, clay, or slate. While the tiles' heft contributed to their long life, it also made the tiles costly and tricky to install. For homes not engineered to bear the weight of these heavy tiles, having slabs of stone on the roof could cause severe structural damage.
Fortunately, modern technologies have enabled manufacturers today to be able to create lightweight roof tile alternatives without sacrificing their traditional beauty or durability. Lightweight roofing materials, specifically synthetic roof tiles, are less costly to install and don't pose the structural risk of heavier tiles upon a home's frame.
The experts at Brava Roof Tile have perfected synthetic, lightweight roof tiles as the best alternative to traditional, heavy, natural stone tiles while maintaining the look and durability.
What Is Synthetic Tile?
Synthetic tile, also known as composite tile, is an engineered product composed of recycled material that replicates the appearance of natural slate, shake, or Spanish tile. Synthetic lightweight tiles can weigh up to 65% less than traditional tiles, which makes them easier to install and eliminates the need for and cost of structural reinforcements.
Brava's composite tiles are as long-lasting as natural tiles. They can withstand the most severe weather and are virtually maintenance-free. Brava certifies its tiles for the highest levels of wind, fire, and hail and also offers a 50-year limited warranty on its roofing materials.
Top Benefits of Brava Synthetic Tiles
- Lightweight
- Extremely durable
- Requiring no additional structural support for installation
- Available in any color
- Low maintenance
- Color-integrated throughout and not just on the surface
- Environmentally friendly
- Eligible for insurance premium discounts
- Protected with a 50-year-limited warranty
- Made in the U.S.A.
Lightweight, Synthetic Alternatives to Natural Tiles
Brava offers composite tiles that are durable, lightweight alternatives to slate, clay, shakes, and concrete roofing tile. While there is no such thing as a lightweight concrete roof, two popular options are synthetic Spanish and slate tile. Another lightweight synthetic option—cedar shake—is an easy-care alternative to natural wood.
Barrel Roof Tile (Spanish Tile)
Humans have used clay tiles for millennia to protect homes and other structures. Archeologists have found clay roof tiles in China dating back to 10,000 B.C., and terra cotta tile roofs have dominated the Mediterranean region for centuries.
Spanish missionaries brought a type of clay roof, called barrel tile, to North America in the 1700s. Its distinctive rolled style continues to be a popular roofing choice, particularly in the Southwest, because it can handle extreme heat.
Barrel roof tile, also known as Spanish tile, is a semi-cylindrical tile laid in an interlocking pattern. Spanish clay tile is naturally resistant to harmful solar rays and withstands extreme heat.
However, Spanish clay tile is heavier than concrete. Installing clay barrel roof tiles is complicated, with an estimated 20% of tiles becoming broken during the process.
Clay tile can be two to three times as costly as many other roofing materials.
A clay barrel roof can last over 100 years, but the tiles can break from impact. Installers need to lay clay tiles extremely carefully to prevent them from cracking. Their fragility also makes them costly to repair.
Brava's synthetic Spanish barrel tile simulates the appearance of natural clay, but without the drawbacks.
You won't break Brava Spanish tile by walking on it to fix a gutter—and you won't need to hire an engineer to ensure that your house can handle the weight. Brava's Spanish tile is available in the traditional Spanish terra cotta color and style. But unlike clay, which is limited in color, Brava offers several color blends and unlimited custom color combinations. Brava tiles are similar in thickness to Spanish clay, but with the benefit of being a lightweight roofing material that is easy to maintain.
Slate Tile (Old World Slate)
Homeowners value slate tile for its classic elegance. It was such a desired roofing material several centuries ago that colonial roofers imported it from Wales to roof homes and buildings from Philadelphia to Boston.
However, natural slate can cost up to five times more than many other traditional materials.
The stone can also become brittle and flaky, making it costly and challenging to repair. Brava's synthetic Old World Slate tile is the best alternative to natural slate. It mirrors the appearance of slate, with the same thickness and classic look of natural tile. It is much more durable than fragile natural slate, with almost no risk of breakage.
In the manufacturing process, Brava uses casts of quarried slate to engineer the composite tile's natural appearance. Also, Brava offers the only composite slate tile on the market available in any color.
Cedar Shakes (New England Style)
Natural cedar shakes are lightweight and offer a charming, rustic look to any home. A familiar roof on vintage homes in New England, especially on the coast, cedar shake roofs are durable but require a lot of maintenance. They are cheaper than natural tile but more costly than asphalt and other roofing materials.
Brava's composite cedar shake roofing shingles are the best alternative to natural wood. Brava Shake mimics natural cedar shake's thick and irregular appeal. Manufactured to mirror fresh-cut lumber's appearance, Brava will custom color your synthetic shakes to look precisely like cedar or in any color you choose.
No one will believe that your roof is not real wood.
Brava's composite tiles vary in thickness to create the shadow lines that give natural cedar shake its charm. Best of all, composite cedar shake will last much longer than wood and comes without the natural cedar shake maintenance headaches.
Other Lightweight Roofing Options
While other roofing materials can also provide lightweight alternatives to heavier traditional materials, none can equal the distinctive look, style, variety, and durability of synthetic tiles and shakes. Some other lightweight options include:
- Metal: Metal roofs are similar in durability to natural and synthetic tiles. However, they have their share of drawbacks. Metal is among the most expensive roofing materials. It can be challenging to install and can cause structural issues as it expands or contracts. Metal will give your home a unique, contemporary look. However, colors and styles may be limited. Metal can also become discolored and dented if damaged by hail or falling objects.
- Felt: Felt often serves as an insulation layer under tiles, shingles, or shakes. However, if you have a flat roof, felt might be a lightweight roofing option. Manufacturers make felt roofing material to be waterproof and weather-resistant. However, felt as a roofing material has fallen out of fashion over the years. Although felt roofs can last up to 25 years, they easily become ripped and damaged. Aesthetically, a felt roof probably won't improve your home's curb appeal.
- Rubber: Rubber is another flat roof option that is overtaking felt in popularity. Rubber is less expensive than many roofing materials and can last up to 50 years. It requires little maintenance and is resistant to fire, pests, and mold. Like felt, though, it's not very attractive. Rubber is also vulnerable to punctures. Installation can be tricky and needs dry conditions to be successful.
Need a Great Roof? Choose Brava
Are you searching for the best lightweight roof tiles that will look great and stand the test of time? Count on Brava Roofing Tile to provide you with a durable roofing system that will surpass any other option. Please call us at (844) 290-4196 for a free sample of our fantastic roof tiles.
