Stronger - Tile's Sustainability

Many consider concrete and tile roofs to be the most cost-effective products available on a life-cycle basis.  Why?  Whether you’re living on the Gulf Coast or in the southwest tornado alley, or  building to survive Midwest blizzards or endure the long hot summers of California and the desert states, there is no tougher, more stubborn roofing material than tile.  Concrete and clay tile roofing are, simply put, the strongest and most durable roofing systems available.  A tile roof is is truly a roof for a lifetime.

Concete roof tiles often last the lifetime and more of a home, and typically carry a limited lifetime, non-pro-rated transferable warranty.  Aside from being far superior to the 20- and 30-year limited warranties offered by more traditional asphallt-based shingles roofing products, a tile roof will not clog your landfill once its useful life has been exhausted.

In the middle of the 19th century, in Bavaria, a mixture of cement, sand and water was first used to form roof tiles.  Many homes built with these first concrete roof tiles still remain.

Concrete Homes – Technology Brief

In tough environments, the toughest materials shine through.  And concrete tiles are Class A fire rated, and both concrete and clay tiles are resistant to hailstones as large as two inches in diameter – that’s larger than a golf ball.  So much for the myth that these materials were designed for tropical climates!

If the possibility of hurricane-force winds or unusually strong winter storms exist in your area, concrete tiles have been tested to sustain winds of in excess of 125 miles per hour, or even stronger.  Additionally, research performed at USC have shown that tiles roofs exceed current seismic load requirements for building materials when installed using current fastening requirements.

Another advantage to tile systems are their extremely low maintenance requirements.  A yearly visual inspection of a concrete rof can help protect against common issues like leaf collection in valleys, or sustained moss or algae growth, both of which disappear with a simple power washing.     

The amount of asphalt roofing disposed of in landfills in the U.S. each year is 9 million tons.  The cost of that disposal?  $400 million.

Professionalroofing.net