Tile Roof vs. Metal Roof vs. Composite Shingles: What’s Best?

Your residence’s roof is the initial line of defense against adverse weather. If your St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Florida-area home needs a roof replacement, you may wonder why different types of materials are recommended: tile roof vs metal roof vs composite shingles. 

Installing a new roof can be a major project and can come with an expensive tab, so it’s good to do your homework in terms of materials. Three options are most often used in our Florida market: composite shingles, tile roofs and metal roofing systems. 

Composite Shingle Roofing

Composite shingles are the most typical residential roofing material used in the United States. Various reasons account for its popularity. Composite shingles are semi-fire retardant (up to two hours), affordable to purchase and install, and available in a bevy of colors and thicknesses. The term “composition” is used because shingles are a composite product made from fiberglass, cellulose, asphalt and embedded mineral granules.

Your choices include:

• Three-tab shingles. Sometimes called strip shingles, these are the primary and most basic asphalt shingles. They have a flat appearance because they’re made from a single layer. As a result, they generally weigh and cost less than other asphalt shingles, while offering the absolute minimum of warranty protection.
• Dimensional shingles, or laminate or architectural-grade shingles. These are manufactured with two or more layers of asphalt which are fused together for a thicker, multi-dimensional appearance. They are created to withstand higher winds and impacts from hail. As a result, they are heavier and offer improved warranty protections. 
• Luxury shingles. The highest quality laminated shingles on the market, this style’s functionality outperforms dimensional shingles with a longer life against the elements. These thicker shingles offer premium protection from weathering and the highest quality colorization and dimensionality. These products give the most realistic imitation of old-world wood shake and quarried slate roofing at a lower cost. 

Metal Roof Systems 

Metal roof systems come with higher material and labor costs for installation. If you want one of the stronger roofs on the market, metal roofing is the way to go. The advantages with metal roofing include:

• Fire and hail resistance.
• Energy-efficiency. Metal roofing reflects light and can save homeowners up to 25 percent on cooling costs.
• Eco-friendliness. Metal is a recyclable material.  

Your metal roof system options include:

Tile Roof Systems

Tile roofing systems offer one of the most beautiful roof options for homeowners looking for the most durable materials on the planet. These roofs typically last more than 70 to 100 years, with proper installation. Some covenant-controlled communities in the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Florida-area require tile roof systems to maintain elegant curb appeal and to ensure consistent real estate valuation.

In construction and roofing, tile systems consist of overlaying roof tiles securely attached to a roofing substrate or a roof deck on a sloped roof. As a specialized roofing system, tile roofs require experienced craftsmen. When you choose John Hogan Roofing, you get our experienced and skilled roofing technicians to install tile roof systems to the highest quality standards in Florida. 

Tile roof systems are created with a variety of materials. Here are your options:

• Clay roof tiles are a centuries-old roofing material. Clay offers excellent moldability, color options and color retention. While traditional clay tiles were orange or red, today’s clay tiles come in almost any color and dozens of shapes and sizes.
• Concrete roof tiles are often called cement roofing tiles. These are made in a factory setting from Portland cement, water, sand and sometimes dyes to achieve a desired uniform color consistency. These roofs offer excellent resistance to sun, wind and hail damage. Concrete tiles typically last for a shorter amount of time than clay tiles. 
• Slate roof tiles are manufactured from slate rock and are known for their durability and longevity. They come in a variety of colors and textures. Colors vary depending on mineral content, and colors range from black, gray and deep purple to red or rust.
• Composite roof tiles are made from plastic and other recycled materials and can mimic slate, cedar shake or Spanish tiles. They are typically light in weight, which can save labor costs during installation. Some come with warranties of up to 50 years.

Tile Roof vs Metal Roofing: Choosing Your Roofing Systems

Choosing roofing material will come down to appearance, budget and desired investment level in your current home. Our expert team is happy to help you select what’s best for your home. John Hogan Roofing & Construction has been constructing tile roofs and metal roofs for residential and commercial projects in St. Petersburg, FL, and surrounding communities for more than 25 years. Our residential projects include:

• Primary residences
• Vacation homes
• Apartment complexes
• Condominiums
• Townhomes
• Bungalows
• Beach homes
• Single-story homes
• Two-story homes

John Hogan Roofing provides free estimates and no-interest financing, using our in-house team of craftsmen. Our team of trusted professionals can handle all your roofing needs in the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Florida-area.