Tile roofing in West Central Florida
Tile roofing is a great choice in Florida because we live in an arid environment that experiences high temperatures and humidity, high winds and salt air – and tile offers a great defense in each case. Tile is also impervious to fire damage, another important factor when you consider Florida’s wildfire season.
You simply can’t top the beauty and durability of a tile roof. There’s just no match for the pleasing look of clay and concrete roof tiles. With an almost endless range of styles, colors and finishes, virtually any style of home can be dressed up with a tile roof.
Tile roofs can last 50 or more years when they have been installed correctly. They make excellent insulators due to their thermal capacity and the ventilated air space created by their placement on the roof. This air space between tiles allows air to circulate and reduce the transfer of heat.
Clay and concrete roof tiles are also noncombustible and have a Class A fire rating, which they maintain for the life of the roof. Homes with Class A-rated tiles are eligible for the lowest fire insurance rates.
With tile roofs, minimal maintenance is needed to gutters, venting and protrusion flashing – as opposed to other roofs that require maintenance to most of the roofing surface. With outstanding aesthetics and durability, tile roofs can cost less in the long run and add a crowning touch of quality to your home. It’s no wonder that tile is the world’s most popular roofing product.
Choose from a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes
Concrete and clay roof tiles come in many different shapes, colors and sizes to suit architectural styles from historic to contemporary, such as Spanish, Mediterranean, European and New England Colonial. Roof tiles can be curved, flat, interlocking or fluted, and even mimic the look of wood shakes. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Tile roofing is durable and easy to maintain
Another reason tile is the preferred roofing product is durability and ease of maintenance. Tile simply lasts longer due to its weight – 50 to 100 years or even more. The good news is that the majority of homes built today are strong enough to support the weight of a tile roof.
While maintenance on other types of roof can involve coating, painting, cleaning or sealing, tile roof maintenance is typically limited to just gutters, flashings and vents. What’s more, single tiles are much easier to repair than other roofing materials.
Tile roofing is engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds
When installed properly, tile roofing has been shown to withstand sustained hurricane-force winds of up to 150 miles per hour. It’s why tile is so desirable and popular to homeowners throughout West Central Florida.
Concrete tile or clay tile?
Concrete tile can cost 30% to 50% less than clay tile, but installation costs are about the same, making concrete tiles only somewhat less costly when you consider the overall price. Another thing to consider is that clay tile lasts longer than concrete tile – up to 100 years for clay versus 50 for concrete.
Clay tile is also heavier than concrete tile, so we must determine if your home’s structural support is sufficient or if additional bracing is required. Most buildings built today are strong enough to support the weight of a tile roof. Even most older structures can handle the weight of standard tile, provided all previous roofing materials are removed first. Many roof tile manufacturers also offer lightweight tile, which is well-suited for re-roofing projects.
Clay tiles are good to Mother Earth
Clay tiles are made from natural materials and do not require any harmful or endangered raw materials to produce. Modern kilns have made the manufacturing process more energy efficient. Nearly all of the production materials can be recycled. Plus broken tiles can be crushed and reused. So a clay tile roof not only can make your home look good, it can make you feel good
The history of clay tile roofs
Clay roof tiles have been used for centuries throughout Europe and Asia, prized for their ability to withstand the elements. European settlers brought the craft of tile-making to North America, and soon after clay tile roofs started to appear in Jamestown, Roanoke and St. Augustine. By the mid-1600s, building codes in New York, Boston and other cities encouraged the installation of clay tile roofs due to their fire resistance.
Are you familiar with the word terracotta?
Terracotta is an Italian term meaning “baked earth.” Terracotta is the color most commonly associated with historic clay roofing tiles. Its reddish color comes from clay with a large percentage of iron oxide, and many variations of this natural color can be found in tiles ranging from deep reddish browns to softer oranges and pinks. In addition to roof tiles, terracotta also has been used for flower pots, bricks, sculptures, and water and sewage pipes. Archeologists have unearthed terracotta sculptures that are 5,000 years old.
Common misconception #1: Tile is waterproof
Tile has excellent water-shedding properties, but it is not waterproof. Rather, the underlayment installed beneath the tile is the waterproofing. While tile is good at shedding 70% to 80% of the water, the rest ends up on the underlayment. This is why we recommend and install a heavy underlayment for a tile roof.
Common misconception #2: A tile roof does not require maintenance
Although a tile roof is made from durable concrete or clay and it has a 50-year manufacturer’s warranty, it still requires regular maintenance – as do all roofing systems. Without proper maintenance, the underlayment – typically a 30-40 lb. felt system – can deteriorate prematurely. With good maintenance, you can go 20 to 25 years before an underlayment replacement is required.
We offer quality tile roof installation and maintenance
The proper installation of a tile roof demands experienced roofers with a high level of skill. Improper installation, not only of the tile but of the underlayment below, can lead to inferior performance and aesthetics, and invite structural problems down the road. At Kennedy Construction Groups, we specialize in tile roofing. It’s why Florida homeowners have trusted us for decades.
Another important reason to go with Kennedy Construction Groups is that, in addition to being a licensed roofing contractor, we are also a licensed construction contractor. This is key because the weight of a tile roof can require structural reinforcement, which is well within the capabilities of our experienced construction professionals.
Think beyond tiles to the flashing and underlayment
A quality tile roofing system is more than just skin deep. The flashing and underlayment are crucial to your roofing system’s durability because they are in the areas that receive the largest amounts of water. That’s why it’s so critical to use the highest quality materials and the professional installation of experienced roofers. You can count on Kennedy Carpentry & Roofing for both.
Member of the Board of Roofing and Sheet Metal Association
State Certified Building Contractor
State Certified Roofing Contractor
Licensed for Asbestos Removal
Instructor’s License for Dow Chemical Tile Bond Adhesives
