Concrete roofing systems are growing in popularity. There are several reasons that concrete tile roofs are popular in areas of high wind, high heat and vast temperature differentials.
Why Concrete Tile Roofs are Popular
Homeowners choose concreate tiles for four primary reasons:
- Wind Resistance: Concrete titles are incredibly heavy. When installed, concrete tiles are not susceptible to the wind torn damage that affects asphalt shingles wind sustained winds of 100-130 MPH.
- Impact Resistance: Due to the compression strength of concrete, concrete tile roofs are impact resistant to hail and wind born debris.
- Fire Safety: Concrete tiles are fire resistant.
- Energy Efficiency: Perhaps most importantly, concrete tile roofs are very energy efficient. The tiles are installed on batten system, whereby each tile sits on a wood strip and creates a little pocket of air beneath it to insulate the roof deck from variations in cold (Winter) and heat (Summer). This design component creates energy efficiency and allows the roofing system to breathe above the roof substrate which cannot be replicated in asphalt and other on-deck systems.
Common Types of Damage to Concrete Roof Systems
Despite these advantages, concrete roof systems are susceptible to particular types of damage that must be planned for when installed.
Structural Weight and Pressure
Concrete tile roofs are very heavy. As a result, especially on retrofit roofing projects, they can bend or crack the trusses supporting the roof from below.
- Calculations of not only the tile weight but also any snow load or wind load must be run before this product is selected and installed.
- Most jurisdictions that require roof permits will insist on an engineering report prior to approving a tile roof for installation.
- Even if a permit is not required in your area, it is always best practice to engage and engineer to report on the suitability of a concrete tile roof at your home.
Installation Errors and Thermal Expansion
Like all roofing products exposed to the intense heat of the sun, concrete roof systems will heat up. Quite a bit. The same compression strength that prevents damage from hail to tiles can be its weakness, if not properly installed.
- Concrete has very poor tensile strength, meaning it cannot bend well.
- As your concrete tiles heat up and expand, they need space between them to allow that expansion.
- Without space between the tiles, they will always crack at their weakest point: the interlocking channel on the right side of the tiles that allows them to sit together.
- This damage is frequently mis-identified as hail, but it is an installation problem that can be avoided by allowing a space between the tiles as they are installed.
Batten System Deterioration
The third common type of damage to concrete roofs is a deterioration of the batten system beneath them.
- If your tile roof was installed more than 10 years ago, it is likely that the battens used did not have rubber risers underneath them.
- Rubber risers allow water, air, and debris to pass through and down to the gutter system.
- Without them, debris, ice and water accumulate at the intersection of the roof deck and the batten and rot it out over time.
Recommended Solutions and Maintenance
The recommended solution to this problem is to remove all of the tiles on the roof, reinstall synthetic underlayment designed to shed water, install battens with riser to prevent future damage, and reinstall the concrete tiles and protect and insulate the roof. It is a time consuming and costly project.
There are many advantages to installing a concrete tile roof at your roof, as well as a few potential pitfalls to avoid.
Contact the Experts at Cenco Roofing
If you have questions about your concrete tile roof, please reach out to the experts at Cenco Roofing to schedule a free, no obligation inspection.
- Email: info@cencoroofing.com
- Phone: (720)-583-1690
Give us a ring with your questions!
