Coastal properties offer easy access to the beach, scenic ocean views, and fresh sea air. Unfortunately, proximity to the ocean means that homes and roofs stand up to wear and tear from the salty sea air and coastal storms.
High humidity can negatively affect your home’s roof and lead to moss, algae, and mold growth on organic roofing materials. The salty air itself is extremely corrosive, and you also have to deal with storms and high winds. Due to these severe conditions, conventional roofing materials often have much shorter lifespans in coastal areas.
Choosing the best roofing materials for coastal homes is vital to protecting your home while keeping it aesthetically pleasing.
Traditional Roofing Materials for Coastal Homes
Clay Tiles
Instantly recognizable by the reddish-brown color, clay tiles are a common sight in Mediterranean homes, and with good reason. While the aesthetics may not work on coastal homes in New England, they’re an excellent option for tropical or sub-tropical coastal areas.
What makes clay tiles so appealing is that they’re extremely sun-resistant and impervious to the weathering effects of humidity and salt. In addition to being durable, they’re fire-retardant, making them ideal for coastal areas prone to wildfires.
The main drawback of clay tiles is their weight. These tiles are extremely heavy, and some homes cannot support the full weight of a clay tile roof. They’re also not very versatile. If you have a New England property, you may struggle to find a clay tile that fits the style.
Slate Tiles
Slate makes excellent roofing material. Slate is durable, impact-resistant, fire-retardant, and very attractive. If properly maintained, it has an extremely long lifespan, often lasting up to 100 years (sometimes even more).
Unfortunately, slate has several downsides that may make the material unsuitable for your coastal home. As slate is a natural material, not manufactured, it can be challenging to find the ideal color match that fits your style. Slate is also the heaviest roofing material and often requires additional structural support, which can add to the cost and length of the installation.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofing has come a long way in the past decade and now offers a massive range of color, size, and texture options. Metal roofs are excellent at reflecting the sun, resulting in a cooler attic and lower energy bills during the summer.
When selecting a metal roofing material, ensure that it’s resistant to corrosion. Copper is naturally corrosion-resistant after developing its signature green patina, while galvanized steel relies on chemical treatments to protect it from the elements.
Although metal roofing may be a good option for a coastal home, it does have a shorter lifespan than other materials. Moreover, metal roofs damage easily and are susceptible to scratching and impacts, and high winds will often blow sheets away.
Wood Shingles or Shakes
Wooden shakes are a popular roofing material in New England coastal homes, where their rustic appeal fits right in with the environment. In addition to their good looks, wooden roofs are impact-resistant and can withstand strong winds and heavy storms.
Most wood shingles or shakes are treated to protect them from UV damage and mold and make them fire-resistant and compliant with regulations. Treated wooden roofing can last just as long as more traditional materials while providing a certain rustic appeal.
The main downside of using wood on a coastal home is the risk of water damage, especially in areas prone to seasonal storms. Cedar roofs require regular maintenance to ensure that all shakes or shingles are intact and the roof stays waterproof.
Best Roofing Materials for Coastal Homes
Composite Roof Tiles
In the past, most people select traditional roofing materials, believing them to be the best roofing options for coastal homes. However, construction technology has advanced dramatically in the past decades, and Brava Roof Tile's synthetic roofing materials offer many benefits that make them ideal for coastal home roofing.
Let's take a closer look at the key benefits of composite roof tiles:
Durability
The main advantage of composite tiles is their incredible durability. Composite roofing doesn’t degrade over time, as it’s naturally UV and water-resistant. It can withstand the harshest summer sun and the coldest winter without a decrease in performance for at least 50 years.
In addition to synthetic cedar shake and slate roof profiles, Brava Roof Tile's composite tile lineup also offers the only Miami-Dade County-certified Spanish tile on the market. All the Brava Roof Tile profiles have excellent impact-resistance and fire-retardant capabilities. What does that mean for your home? If means your roof will be able to withstand anything you throw at it.
The best part about having durable roofing is that it’s practically maintenance-free. While other materials often require repairs or replacements after a coastal storm, Brava tiles are tested and approved to withstand wind speeds of up to 188MPH with ring shank nails and up to 211MPH with high wind / screw installation and a class-4 impact rating, giving you peace of mind no matter what the weather.
Eco-Friendly
Brava’s range of composite tiles consists of recyclable materials, and you can recycle the roof when you eventually have to consider a roof replacement. The composite material is also energy-efficient, keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. You’ll save on your energy bill while protecting the environment from excessive energy consumption.
Versatile
Many people struggle to find the ideal roofing material that fits their home’s style. Clay tiles look out of place in cooler climates, while cedar shakes or slate tiles may not fit your modern tropical home. Even if you decide on a particular material, you may not find it in the perfect color that suits your home’s aesthetic.
Composite tiles give you the benefit of choosing whatever style you want in a massive range of colors. Brava has developed several molding techniques that make our synthetic slate and cedar shake roofing almost indistinguishable from the real thing. We have a patented multi-color process that allows us to custom color match, enabling you to achieve the perfect look for your home’s roof.
Cost-Effective
Brava composite roofing is a cost-effective, long-term roofing solution. Not only do our tiles have a 50-year warranty, but they’re also virtually maintenance-free, meaning that you save on repairs for at least 50 years after your initial installation. The durable and rugged nature of these roofs means that you won’t have to worry about harsh storms or the climate shortening your roof’s lifespan — Brava Roof Tiles can handle almost any weather.
Request a Sample from Brava Roof Tile
If you think Brava Roof Tile sounds like the right material for your coastal home or commercial project, give us a call today or get a quote online! We provide samples for homeowners, architects, and contractors.
