Roof Tiles: Creative Options

Roof tiles have become an extremely popular roofing method and the popularity does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

If you are the kind of person who has a particular discerning taste, just a regular old shingle roof will in all likelihood not satisfy your need to create a style that is not just any style but something that is out of the ordinary. While it is true that shingle roofs are both functional and also attractive, they simply cannot compete with tiles when it comes to the aesthetic part. In the following few passages, we are going to take a look at a few types of tiles for roofs and also make a point of showing you the advantages of a particular type of tile over another. While there are different types of tiles out there, roof tiles are pretty specific.

What exactly are roof tiles?

The main purpose of installing roof tiles is so that water does not get into a home. They, however, do differ quite significantly from other more traditional asphalt shingle roofs. They differ in both their composition and how they look. Slate tile roofs have been in use since the 1600’s while roofs made of clay can in fact be traced back to as long ago as 10,000 BC! These two types of tiles, slate and clay tiles, were both popular because they could be made locally but as the 19th century came about, there was a much more regular appearance of tiles made from concrete and metal.

Why are they preferred over shingle roofs?

The answer to this question is actually quite a simple one. While shingle roofs do keep water out and also have the potential to add color to the home, roof tiles are simply available in a much wider variety of options that their alternatives simply cannot provide.

 

Types of Tiles For Roofs

These tiles are absolutely perfect for customizing your home. They do however vary in terms of price, durability, weight, and also their appearance. Let us take a look at some of the most popular types of roof tiles so that you can get a much better understanding of what is unique and desirable among these particular types of tiles.

 

Slate Roof Tiles

Slate happens to be a natural stone that has a very unique and also a very pretty appearance. These materials are very good at providing some very dramatic variations of colors that can only truly come from the combination of mother nature and time. These types of tiles are also fire-resistant which makes them an excellent choice as a roofing material. They are also very durable and they last a pretty long time as well. Quite honestly, these tiles will probably be one of the classiest materials that are available for roofing in the industry.

There are, however, a few cons to these tiles as well. They tend to be extremely heavy and before installation, the structure in which they are going to be installed needs to be reinforced so that it can support that extra weight. These tiles are also extremely pricey and they are difficult to handle as well. This has the potential to make repairs a bit of a problematic issue.

 

Metal Roof Tiles

The most common materials that are made use of in the construction of metal roof tiles are zinc, copper, aluminum, and also steel. Among these materials, slate and aluminum happen to be the ones that are most commonly used. These tiles are also available in a wide variety of patterns and shapes. They can also imitate other products such as barrel tiles, wood shake tiles, slate tiles, and even the regular old shingle patterns. These tiles have recently become very popular. Their popularity can be explained by their lightweight and also how easily they can be installed. It is important to point out that these very strengths are also their weaknesses. They are listed below.

• They tend to be noisy
• They tend to dent easily which makes repairs very difficult
• They are extremely risky to walk on when they are wet
• They are a conductor of the outside temperature and they do not provide much value in terms of insulation

 

Concrete Roof Tiles

These are tiles that were developed in the middle of the 19th century in the region known as Bavaria. The basic materials that are used in the production of these tiles are concrete and they happened to be both inexpensive and also pretty easy to find. In the past, these tiles were made completely by hand but as time has progressed, the modern methods of production have actually made the tiles one of the least expensive options for tiling a roof. These tiles are also made to look like wood shakes, slate tiles, clay tiles and they are generally very attractive to look at. They feel luxurious in fact.

However, it must be noted that concrete is extremely heavy and it also requires a roof that has been properly reinforced before you can install these very heavy tiles. Installing these tiles also means that you will have to get people to install the tiles who have experience in dealing with these particular types of tiles. Finally, they also have a lot of the same maintenance requirements that tiles made of clay do as well.