The Most Popular Types of Tile Roofs in Florida

Making the switch to tile roofing is an exciting decision. But how are you supposed to know what kind of tile roof to have installed? With all of the different types of tile roofs, it can feel impossible to figure out which one best suits the needs of your home.

That’s why John Hogan Roofing is here. We’ve been installing and maintaining tile roofs in Florida for more than three decades. That makes us uniquely qualified to walk you through your options when it comes to the types of tile roofs. Keep reading for the pros and cons of each type and guidance on the best tile roof for your home!

The 3 Types of Tile Roofs

While there are more than three types of tile roofs available on the market, these three are the most popular options in Florida. That means they’re all able to resist Florida’s wind, rain, and sun exposure to some degree. But to understand their differences, we’ll have to look at each type of tile individually.

1. Concrete Roof Tiles Pros and Cons

Concrete roof tiles are, despite their name, actually more lightweight than traditional concrete. Made of sand, water, and cement, concrete tiles can create a robust roofing system for your home. Some of their biggest pros include:

• Durability: Concrete roof tiles have a Class A fire rating, resist insects and rot, and are generally approved for winds of up to 150 mph. Given this great protection, it’s no surprise that concrete tiles last for around 50 years on average.
• Cost: With a per-foot cost ranging from seven dollars to $20, concrete roof tiles are quite affordable when compared with other types of tile roofs.
• Aesthetic Versatility: Of all the types of tile roofs, concrete is the best at being able to fulfill any aesthetic vision. Depending on the color and style you choose, concrete tiles can easily replicate the look of shake tiles or more expensive clay tiles.

Of course, there are downsides to concrete roof tiles as well. Some of its cons include:

• Heavy Weight: While concrete tiles are lighter than normal concrete, they’re still a heavy roofing material. This offers heft and resilience, but it also means that some roofs may need additional support installed to handle the additional weight. This shouldn’t be a problem for experienced roofers, but it will likely increase your tile roof replacement costs.
• Fading Colors: Concrete tiles can be painted nearly any color, but that paint will eventually fade. When this happens, you will likely need to have your roof re-painted if you don’t want a faded, more subdued version of your new roof.

2. Clay Roof Tiles Pros and Cons

Clay tiles are a classic roofing material with thousands of years of history. Made from baking molded clay, these tiles are dense and create an effective barrier against water to protect your home. Let’s look at some of the biggest advantages to this type of tile roof:

• Unbeatable Longevity: Clay roofing tiles last longer than anything else on the market. With a lifespan of a century or more, clay roofing tiles can last for generations with proper installation and maintenance.
• Low Maintenance: Compared to other roofing materials, clay tiles require very little upkeep. This makes them a great option for anyone who wants to put a roof on their home that they won’t have to worry about in the years to come.
• Clay Tile Style Options: Clay roofing tiles come in a wide variety of styles. Each of these styles comes with aesthetic and functional benefits, so these choices allow you to fully customize your clay tile roof.

Since no roofing material is perfect, though, we also have to look at the cons of clay tile roofing:

• High Price: Of all the types of tile roofs, clay is the most expensive. On average, this figure tends to fall between $12 and $25 per square foot.
• Vulnerability to Impact Damage: In Florida, hurricanes can cause branches and other storm debris to strike your roof with quite a bit of force. When you add hail on top of that, there are plenty of things capable of breaking clay tiles. The good news, however, is that replacing an individual tile or two is a cheap and easy repair that won’t require too much of your time.

3. Composite Roof Tiles Pros and Cons

Composite roof tiles, as the name implies, are made of a mixture of man-made and natural materials, including asphalt, laminate, and recycled materials. Let’s look at some of the upsides to this unconventional tile roofing material:

• Affordability: Composite roof tiles recreate the aesthetic of slate roof tiles but for a much lower price. Slate tiles cost between $10 and $30 per square foot, which is part of the reason that they’re a rare sight in Florida. Composite tiles, on the other hand, cost between six dollars and $20.
• Eco-Friendly: Many types of composite roof tiles are made with recycled materials. This makes them very appealing to homeowners who want to use recycled materials in their roofs or who want to recycle their roofs at the end of the roofs’ lives.

Composite tile is the least popular type of tile roofing on this list, largely due to the following cons:

• Potential Fire Issues: Generally, composite roof tiles are fire-resistant. But sometimes, the synthetic materials in them can be vulnerable to combustion. This makes it important to verify the specifications of your composite roof tiles with your roofer of choice.
• Diminished Longevity: Compared to shingles, composite tiles last much longer with a lifespan of 40-50 years. However, this falls on the less impressive end of the spectrum when compared to other types of tile roofs, which can make it hard to justify the price tag of composite tiles.
• Less Established History: Unlike the other types of tile roofs on this list, composite tiles are a relatively new invention. This means that they could present with other problems in the decades to come. Although roofers currently have no evidence that these materials won’t age well, it’s important to be aware of this possibility before making a final decision.

Choose Expert Roofers for All Types of Tile Roofs

No matter which type of tile roof you choose, you’ll need professional roofers to handle the installation. All types of tile roofs are complicated to install, so it pays to invest in experienced roofing contractors who know how to handle your installation and best protect your roof from Florida’s unpredictable weather patterns.

At John Hogan Roofing, we’ve mastered roof installation for all types of tile roofs. And with great local standing in our community after 30 years of dedicated service, we know that we can handle your tile roof replacement. Get your free roofing estimate and see what our experienced team of friendly roofing professionals can do for you!