Whether you’re looking to buy a new home or thinking about replacing your current roof with a tiled one, you need to be aware of the lifespan of tiled roofs. Tile roofs are becoming more common in Georgia, as more people become aware of their advantages.
Roofing tiles are made from different materials including terracotta or clay, concrete, slate, and fiber-reinforced synthetic tiles. While these materials provide different lifespans, tiles, in general, last longer than any other roofing materials.
Advantages of a Tile Roof
- Durability – Tiles are known for their long lifespan. Tiled roofs are expected to last an average of 50-60 years as long as they are well-maintained and cared for. They also need to be properly installed. This lifespan exceeds that of other roofing materials.
- Aesthetic appeal – Tiles come in different colors and styles, which goes into making homes with tiled roofs look good and attractive. Tiles can also be designed to suit different architectural styles from colonial to contemporary. The fact that they can be round or flat in shape only adds to their appeal.
- Weather-resistant – Another reason tiles are so popular as roofing materials is that they hold up well to inclement weather. They easily withstand high winds, heat, and rain for years before breaking down.
- Economical – The long lifespan of tiled roofs means that they are a cost-effective roofing material. You won’t have to spend a lot of money doing costly repairs or replacements on a tiled roof.
- Need little maintenance – As long as a tile roof is properly installed, it’ll require little maintenance during its lifespan. Only the gutters, venting and protrusion flashings will need to be regularly checked.
What Affects the Lifespan of a Tiled Roof?
A tile roof can easily go for up to 50 years or more if well-maintained. As a homeowner, you need to know what factors can decrease your tile roof’s lifespan. These include:
- The materials used – The materials used to make the tiles can impact the longevity of your roof. Natural slate tiles have the longest lifespan followed by concrete and clay tiles then fiber-reinforced tiles. Still, all these materials last longer than other roofing materials.
- Inclement weather – Although tile roofs can withstand bad weather better than other roofing materials, constant exposure to high winds can blow off tiles while hail can cause them to crack or break. Cold weather can make the tiles contract and expand which can lead to cracks in the tiles.
- Moss, algae, and lichen – If your roof is situated in a damp or shaded area, such as under a tree, that could encourage the growth of lichen moss or mold. Moss is especially serious because the roots can penetrate the tiles and lead to water leakage.
- The underlayment – While a tiled roof can last for years without replacement, the felt underlayment wears out sooner than that. To maintain the roof’s integrity, the underlayment needs to be replaced after 20-40 years.
- Poor installation – Poorly installed tiles can cause lots of issues from leakage to tiles becoming loose and being easily blown away.
- Impact damage – The impact from falling trees or branches or even walking around on the tiles can cause them to crack or break.
- Valley metals – These are used to secure the tiles to the roof. They can become corroded over time due to leaves and debris that easily collect moisture, leading to damage.
How to Maintain Your Tile Roof
Now that you know the factors that can damage your tile roof, how can you maintain it to increase its lifespan?
- Regular cleaning and maintenance. Just like other parts of your home, the roof needs to be regularly cleaned and maintained to keep it looking its best. Maintenance of a tile roof involves regularly cleaning out the gutters to ensure good drainage. It also involves removing any leaves or debris that has accumulated in the roof valleys. This helps ensure that water easily drains off the roof and doesn’t collect in spots. It’s also a good idea to cut branches and trees that are directly above the roofline to avoid falling branches and shady spots where lichen or moss could grow.
Additionally, the tiles need to be cleaned once in a while using a pressure washer. This is a job best left to professionals to avoid causing damage. - Replacing damaged tiles on time. Make it a practice to promptly replace any broken or damaged tiles as soon as you notice them. This helps prevent future problems.
- Regular inspection. Getting on the roof to inspect the tiles isn’t recommended as you could end up breaking or cracking some of them. Instead, conduct a visual inspection from the ground or using a ladder. Even better, secure the services of a roofing professional to conduct a thorough roofing inspection. A trained eye can easily identify problems and would know how to fix them before they become major issues.
- Hiring a professional. Always get professional roofers, such as those from Christian Brothers Roofing, to do your tile roof installation, cleaning, roof inspection, as well as any repairs. This can go a long way towards saving you from issues caused by incorrect installation and would save you money in the long run.
Give Your Tiled Roof Proper Care
At Christian Brothers Roofing, we have a team of dedicated and professional roofers who are passionate about what they do. We have provided roofing repairs, replacements, and other roofing services in Georgia since 1983. We are part of the community and we have grown with it, building a loyal customer base over the years.
We understand how important your roof is, not only to protect your home but to also increase its curb appeal. We provide comprehensive roof inspections to assess any damage as well as promptly fix any roofing problems using quality products to maintain the integrity of your roof.
Whether you’re thinking of replacing your existing roof with a tile one or you need your current tile roof inspected, fixed, or cleaned, we’re the guys for the job. Contact us today and you won’t be disappointed.