Photo courtesy of MonierLifetile LLC, Irvine, Calif.
Although the new housing market has decreased up to 20 percent across the U.S., many homeowners are investing in remodeling projects because of low refinancing options. In fact, according to Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program for the Joint Center For Housing Studies at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., aging housing stock is shifting home improvement spending to replacement projects, such as new roof systems.
Because a roof occupies about 40 percent of visible space on an average house, replacement is a functional and aesthetic upgrade. Reroofing can add to a home's curb appeal and increase its value. Therefore, many contractors are focusing on reroofing as a matter of profitability and even survival.
And roofing contractors and architects currently have more roofing options to offer homeowners than ever before. From metal and asphalt to concrete and slate, there is an ideal roofing material available for everyone. Understanding the benefits and qualities of each material allows roofing professionals to help homeowners make educated decisions and choose the best roof systems for their homes. And according to the Tile Roofing Institute (TRI), a nonprofit association of producers and associates of concrete and clay tile, one of the fastest-growing roofing materials is concrete tile.
Evolution
Concrete tiles primarily consist of Portland cement, sand and pigments for color, as well as filler for additional strength. Although tile roofs have been popular in Arizona, California and Florida for decades, their presence recently has spread to other regions. Several top emerging markets for concrete roof tile include Texas, the Midwest and Southeast.
During recent years, roof tiles have evolved from the traditional red, rounded style to include a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes that coordinate with different roof styles and architectural preferences. With the introduction of modern, more resilient materials, concrete tile offers aesthetics, durability and energy efficiency.
Appearance
Through innovative production techniques, manufacturers now can produce tiles that suit almost any architectural style, from authentic Spanish and Mediterranean styles to historical or even contemporary styles.
For example, some styles of tiles come from old-world materials such as wood shakes and shingles, clay tiles and slate, resulting in a roof that is aesthetically pleasing.
In addition to many different styles, concrete roof tiles are available in hundreds of colors. From subtle earth tones to vivid accent colors, tiles are available in shades that suit every home. To further customize a roof, architects and contractors also can choose tiles with blended colors or use different colored tiles in random or uniform patterns across a roof surface.
A common misconception is that roof tile colors will fade significantly because of weather exposure. Concrete roof tile is given its color by adding pigment and, in certain geographical regions such as Florida and Hawaii, applying a color glaze over the tile surface. The color may soften slightly after many years.
Durability
According to TRI, independent testing sponsored by TRI and its Committee for Firesafe Dwellings has concluded tile roofing is safer than traditional roofing materials such as shingles, wood shakes and metal.
For example, each year, wildfires devastate hundreds of homes across the U.S., and the roof is the most vulnerable part of any home during a wildfire because embers are carried by wind and land on rooftops. Similar to slate and certain metals, clay and concrete tiles are noncombustible. A concrete or clay tile roof assembly maintains a Class A rating during its life without need for maintenance relative to fire resistance. In addition to providing safety and weather protection, buildings with Class A-rated tile roof systems may be eligible for lower fire insurance rates in certain places.
Roof tile can be installed in areas prone to tornadoes, hurricanes or extreme winds. Because tile roof systems are air-permeable, they are not submitted to high wind pressures. Independent testing sponsored by TRI has shown that with proper attachment, concrete and clay roof tiles can sustain winds exceeding 125 miles per hour.
For homes in regions that are susceptible to severe hailstorms, concrete roof tiles can resist damage from hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter. TRI states tile can offer this level of durability by featuring two layers of protection. Not only does the tile itself provide a water-shedding layer but a layer of underlayment acts as a secondary layer (the inner shell) to protect a home in case extremely large hail breaks the tile.
For areas prone to extreme weather, many manufacturers test roof tiles for superior protection that can reduce homeowners' insurance costs. In fact, manufacturers of concrete roof tile undergo independent, third-party testing to pass all International Code Council certifications for break strength and water permeability, which helps guarantee product integrity, reduce damage and increase a structure's longevity.
And homeowners can save money because of the steady installation costs of roof tiles. Although the initial cost of concrete tile is more than wood shakes and asphalt shingles, the installation cost of these other roofing materials has increased more in recent years than that of tile roofing.
The cost of wood shakes has increased because of a lack of local supply of wood and the cost for required fire treatment when necessary. Asphalt shingles are petroleum-based, so their cost goes up as gasoline prices increase. According to TRI, clay roof tiles generally cost slightly more than concrete, and slate can be a more costly option.
Energy efficiency
With the current movement toward green building and cool roofing, contractors and architects are becoming more interested in environmentally sound building practices and materials. Built with an elevated batten system, a tile roof allows air circulation underneath the tile, which reduces heat transfer to a home's attic. Because of this design, tile is an increasingly popular choice to use on buildings that are designed specifically to provide energy efficiency. (See "Tile enters the environmental arena," page 26, for more information.)
Cool roofing reflects heat away from a building, which lowers energy requirements by reducing air-conditioning demands. Not long ago, industry experts determined factors other than color affect a roof's cooling ability, and the air space—or subtile ventilation—created by the elevation of roof tiles substantially increases cool roof effects.
In fact, research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) shows that tile roofing's mass, reflectivity and ventilation contribute to at least a 50 percent reduction of heat transfer when compared with a traditional asphalt shingle roof. Not only can a tile roof lower air-conditioning costs in hotter climates but it also can produce more constant temperatures in colder regions and reduce potential ice accumulation that can cause roof damage.
According to TRI, green building and government energy programs are considering tile roofing as part of a home's environmental rating. In his research, William Miller, senior research engineer at ORNL, notes, "The Environmental Protection Agency, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® program and many state energy offices should offer energy credits for roofs using subtile venting and cool pigmented colors."
By offering homeowners information about energy-efficient roofing options, especially with the current increased cost of energy and focus on the environment, you can save your customers money in the long run while turning higher profits for your business.
Life-cycle assessment
Life-cycle assessment, the evaluation of a product's environmental effects during its lifespan, is considered by many to be the future of product evaluation. Used frequently in green building initiatives and discussions, life-cycle assessment's purpose is to compare the environmental performances of products and services to allow consumers to choose the least burdensome one.
A product's life cycle includes its raw-material production, manufacture, distribution, use and disposal. Because concrete roof tiles are manufactured from naturally occurring materials without using chemical preservatives, can last for many decades and be recycled to create new tiles or other products, it's easy to understand why they would perform well regarding life-cycle assessment.
According to TRI, a comparison of life-cycle costs shows a clay or concrete tile roof may be the least expensive roof option during the life of the roof because it typically will outlast the structure it supports.
Installation
A tile roof system must be installed with International Building Code- or local building code-approved materials. Cutting tiles and installing underlayment, hip and ridge products, battens and flashings for valleys, chimneys, solar panels and skylights are more complicated tasks and require expertise that only a professional can offer. When tile roof systems are installed properly, they keep water moving off the roof and achieve the ultimate goal of weathertightness. In fact, according to TRI, more than 96 percent of all tile roofs are installed by professional roofing contractors.
Contrary to popular belief, most structures do not require additional bracing to support concrete tiles. Concrete tiles that weigh less than 600 pounds per square generally are considered to belightweight. Midweight products generally are 700 pounds per square, and standard weight is 900 pounds per square. When installing a standard-weight tile on a reroofing project, a structural engineer should be consulted.
And because resources—such as installation guides and hands-on training courses—now are available, a proper installation is more likely.
Helping homeowners
Concrete tile roof systems seem to be becoming more popular and are meeting homeowner demands for durability, aesthetics and energy efficiency. Learning more about tile roof system installation can help keep you informed of what homeowners want and realize when tile roofs are the best fit.
Bob Pacelli is senior channel manager for MonierLifetile LLC, Irvine, Calif.
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