Clay and concrete tile roofs have a certain look and romantic appeal that many homeowners just love. Regardless, the real benefit of clay and concrete roofs is their durability and long life span. If you ask most roofing contractors, they will tell you that roofing tiles will last between 50 and 100 years. These are generally safe numbers to give, with concrete tiles at the lower end of that range and fired clay at the upper end. That said, there are clay roofs in both Europe and Asia that are reported to be hundreds of years old.
The concern that many homeowners have is if their roof can actually support the weight of the clay or concrete tiles. Traditional asphalt/composite roofing shingles will weigh roughly 230 pounds per square (this is a 10′ x 10′ area). On the other hand, most tile roofing will range anywhere from 600 to almost 1,100 pounds per square. On the surface, the weight does become an obvious concern.
While tile is heavier, many municipalities allow up to three layers of asphalt/composite roofing shingles. Vera Roofing & Construction would not recommend doing this, but three layers of asphalt/composite shingles will weigh roughly 690 pounds per square. This means that most roofs, and long as they don’t suffer from maintenance issues, can support lightweight concrete or clay roofing without modification or added support. Still, it is important to seek the advice of a structural engineer for certainty. Nevertheless, even with heavier tiles, most homes will require only minimal reinforcement.
Do you still have questions? What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like to talk about if your roof can support clay or concrete tiles, or a related topic, please contact us.