Tile roofs and shingle roofs each have their own appeal. Deciding which type of roof is best suited for your home is no easy feat. There are many factors to consider, such as color, cost, durability and many other important variables. What might be the right fit for your home might not be the right fit for someone else’s home, so it is always important to make decisions that will benefit your particular home. To make deciding between a tile and a shingle roof as easy as possible for you, we have compiled a list of all of the pros and cons for both tile and shingle roofs.
Asphalt shingles are exactly what they sound like, which are shingles made out of asphalt. Since asphalt is in abundance, these roofs are incredibly popular across all of America. Due to the asphalt, they tend to be more water-resistant, making leaks from rainy or humid environments a non-issue as long as they were installed correctly and there is no damage to any of the shingles. Asphalt, however, is not considered a sustainable or eco-friendly resource, as it is made from petroleum. Despite this, asphalt shingles can still be environmentally friendly as they can reflect heat, depending on their color, and can save you money on air conditioning as a homeowner.
Tile roofs on the other hand are made from multiple, mostly natural materials, such as clay or concrete, which can be arranged to make truly unique designs. Tile roofs are considered to be much more eco-friendly as they can often be recycled once they have been used up, meaning they won’t end up in a landfill.
For many homeowners, the look of their home is important. What the exterior of your home looks like can say a lot about you, so it’s important to choose a roof that will suit the vision you have for your home. This is especially important if you are planning to put your home on the market one day. A solid roof with appropriate colors that match the rest of the exterior of your home will strengthen the overall aesthetic of your home, making it immediately appealing from the outside alone and to any potential buyers. With the right roof, you can stand out against the rest of the homes in your neighborhood.
But how do you know which roof is right for you? Well, asphalt shingle roofs are very popular due to the flexibility buyers have in their design choices. This style of roof can come in a variety of colors, such as multiple shades of brown, beige or black, but roof shingles also come in more fun colors, such as red, blue, green and white. Another fun trademark of asphalt roofs is that you are able to blend colors due to the way that this style of roof is placed. This means that you can use multiple shades, such as a dark color mixed with a lighter tone, to create visual contrast that will make your home look more appealing. Shingle roofs also do have some variation when it comes to style, but their main pull is the flexibility in color options.
Alternatively, tile roofs have more options when it comes to style choices. There are many shapes and patterns that you can play around with to create your ideal look. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that tile roofs usually don’t have the same amount of color variations that asphalt roofs do. This can be a real problem for homeowners who are looking for many different color options to complement the rest of their home’s exterior. However, many people love the different style choices that tile roofs have to offer that just aren’t available with shingle roofs.
One of the first things most people ask when making any renovations to their home is how much is it going to cost? For roofing, the answer isn’t as cut and dry as you would think. The pricing for tile roofs versus asphalt shingle roofs varies and does depend on certain factors, such as how large your home is as well as where you live. Shingle roofs tend to be cheaper as a result of the cost of production for the materials. The cost of installation is also typically cheaper than tile roofing. The exact costs do vary based on location, so it is difficult to get an exact estimate without considering your exact location.
Generally, for a 1,500 square foot roof, using asphalt shingles will cost as little as $3,125. This does include the cost of materials as well as labor, so there will typically not be any additional charges for installation in this scenario. Shingles are usually easier to install as well, as they are simply placed appropriately, nailed down and sealed. Alternatively, tile roofs are more expensive due to the material costing more to produce and the amount of labor required to install. The ballpark pricing for tile roofs is about $11,300 for 1,500 square feet. Most roofs will need to be reinforced first to maintain the weight of tile roofing.
Comparing the prices, asphalt shingle roofs are best if you are working under a tight budget. If cost isn’t as much of a concern for you, there are benefits to using both roofs to consider before making your choice.
Weight should be a huge factor when deciding which roof style to go for. Depending on when your home was built, what materials were used and if there is any damage, the viable options you have for your roof will change as you don’t want to cause any further damage to your home.
Asphalt roofs are much lighter compared to tile roofs. This is due to the materials used to produce each type. Tile can be much heavier than one may think, with clay tiles ranging anywhere from 6 to 15 pounds per square foot once installed. In comparison, asphalt shingles typically range from 2 to 4.25 pounds per square foot after installation.
Weight plays such an important role because your home may not be able to sustain the weight of tile roofing once it is installed. For example, on a 1,500 square foot roof, tile roofing at 6 pounds per square foot will amount to around 9,000 pounds once complete. Asphalt roofing on the same square footage at 2 pounds per square foot will weigh about 3,000 pounds, which is a considerable difference.
If you are wanting a tile roof on your home, be sure to have a professional come to check your property to determine if your home is sturdy enough to support the heavyweight of tile, or if you will need to have extra reinforcements put in before moving forward.
One of the detriments to asphalt shingle roofs is that they tend not to last as long as tile roofs. Due to the material that tile roofs are made out of, they can last for up to and over 100 years if installed correctly and maintained. The sturdiness of tile roofs is also partially due to the weight of the tile. This weight also assists with maintaining indoor temperatures, which will reduce energy costs for the homeowner. This is especially important in areas where the outdoor temperature fluctuates a lot or is either extremely cold or hot, as maintaining ideal indoor temperatures will put less strain on your heating and cooling system. An additional benefit to tile roofing is that after installation by a trained professional, leaks with tile roofs are rare and easy to fix on the off chance that they do occur. Most of the time, tile roofs do not sustain any damage except due to heavy impact, such as a tree falling onto your home, so the need for repairs does not occur often.
Unfortunately, asphalt shingle roofs don’t have these same benefits. This type of roof usually lasts anywhere from 20 to 28 years when installed correctly, which is a much shorter time frame than with tile roofing. Apart from not lasting as long as tile roofs, shingle roofs are more prone to damage. Strong winds can cause asphalt shingles to pull away from the roof or come off altogether, leading to leaks. Asphalt shingles are also more prone to simply just cracking due to temperature exposure. In climates with extreme heat, the shingles can crack which will only increase the chances of the roofing coming off of the home. All this damage can lead to numerous required repairs throughout the homeowner’s lifetime and may cause some internal damage if things like leaks aren’t caught early enough.
Despite the differences in their durability, all roofs should be inspected yearly, just to ensure that no issues have occurred since their installation. This would include looking for missing tiles or shingles, replacing broken pieces and clearing away any debris or moss growth. When possible, a professional should conduct these inspections as it will be easier for them to spot any of these issues and can warn you about them and guide you towards the best course of action.
How a tile roof versus a shingle roof holds up in extreme weather, such as a hurricane, is an important concern for any homeowner. Always take into account how the weather in your area may affect the style of roofing you choose.
Asphalt shingle roofs tend to work well in both the heat and the snow. However, asphalt roofs should not be installed in the winter as the extreme cold can lead to early damage which will cost more for you to repair in the long run. Be sure to plan ahead if you are wanting to install asphalt roofs so you can have them installed during the best season for your area.
Tile roofs don’t work as well as asphalt roofs in weather conditions. Older tile tends to have issues thawing out in colder climates, and even new tile materials can lose their long lifespan in extreme heat. Tile roofs are also prone to getting dirty in certain climates, such as heavily humid areas where moss or mold can develop.
Many homeowners are also concerned about extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes. They want to know which roof will protect them best during these heavy impact storms. Due to tile roof’s sturdiness, they can often lend the most protection in hurricane-type storms but if they do get damaged, whether it’s from the storm itself or high winds knocking over a tree, the repairs can be costly.
Alternatively, asphalt shingle roofs may not hold up as well in heavy storms, but if installed correctly, they can be very water-resistant, protecting you and your home from and leaks or water damage. If any damage does occur during a hurricane, asphalt roofs are relatively cheap to fix.
There is a lot of information to process and decipher between tile and shingle roofs. In order to simplify things, we’ve made a short pros and cons list for each so that you can think back on all of the information provided above and easily decide which type of roof is right for you.
These are just a few of the bigger things to consider when picking the right roof for your home. If you still aren’t sure which roof would be the best fit for you, don’t hesitate to contact a professional to help guide you through the process.
We know that picking the right roof can seem like a huge decision or a chore. We want everyone in our Florida service area to feel confident and secure about the roof over their heads. That’s why our highly trained and qualified staff at RoofRX is here to help you make the right choice for you and your home. Our staff can repair, replace, and inspect any type of roof you may have. So if you’re looking to spruce up your roof or receive some professional guidance, give us a call today at 239-789-9218 or fill out our online contact form to get a quick and accurate estimate.
