When most people are getting ready to replace their roof, they find it difficult to decide between tiles and shingles. Both materials have their own pros and cons and various factors, such as aesthetics, weather resistance, and climate, need to be considered before making a decision.
What Is Tile Roofing?
A tile roof is made from materials such as ceramic, clay, concrete or old tiles. The tiles are secured to the deck with nails. The first row overlaps the second row, and the second row overlaps the third one and so on. This is done to prevent rainwater from seeping into the house.
Tiles are not very popular in the US and are seen mostly in European homes, unless the homes in the US are inspired by Spanish architecture. Tile roofs are extremely durable and most manufacturers offer a warranty of up to 50 years because they can last for a century before they need to be replaced completely.
What Are Shingles?
Shingles are perhaps the most popular roofing choice for North Americans. They are made out of composites, slates, plastic, and most importantly, asphalt. They are installed in the same way as tile roofs to keep the water out of the house. They are relatively low in cost and pretty straight-forward to install. They are engineered to architecturally be versatile because they come in a variety of shapes and textures and can last up to 20 years.
Tile vs. Shingle Roofs
Pricing
When considering the cost of roofing, shingles are pretty cheap to purchase as well as install. A shingle will cost $3 to $5 per sq ft, whereas tile roofs will cost somewhere between $4 and $6.
Climate
The types of roofing you choose has a lot to do with the climate of the area you live in. For hot climates where there is a lot of sunlight, such as regions like the south, shingles do a terrific job in keeping the house cool because they can reflect sunlight. However, for colder climates where it snows a lot, tiles are preferred because of their sturdiness and resistance to the cold.
Weight
You also need to consider the weight of the tiles. Shingles are lightweight and can go with any type of roof. However, tiles are very heavy, and most houses are not able to support it. If the house is small, it will not be able to sustain the heavy weight of the tiles and you may need some reinforcement, which increases the installation costs. Therefore, the weight of the material is an important factor that needs to be decided before the installation process.
No matter which type of roof you choose, professionals at ReRoof Plus are available to help you with the installation process. If you can’t decide between tiles and shingles, you can ask us for advice. To know more about roofing, contact us today by visiting our website!