One of the most durable materials for roofs in areas with a severe climate is concrete roofing tile and with a vast array of styles and colors to choose from, they can maintain a home's appearance for 50 years and beyond. Usually when people think about concrete roofing tile they imagine the half-round red clay tiles common in southern areas of the country. However, this tile will not last very long in parts of the country where winter weather can be harsh with several freeze-thaw cycles occurring each year.

A word of caution on the use of concrete roofing tile, is that they are typically heavier than even asphalt tile and before it is installed the roof's substructure should be checked to insure it can hold the additional weight. While not as heavy as slate, the average 400-pounds per one hundred square feet for asphalt, will put extra stress on the roof support trusses.

Most concrete roofing tile consist of concrete, sand an color pigment, which allows it to match any color the homeowner wished to have on their roof. Due to the delicate nature of the concrete roofing tile, it is strongly advised that a roof with the experience and dedication to detail is hired for the installation. Someone who is used to working on high-end housing should understand the tricks of installing a concrete roof as well as the fact that there are no shortcuts to doing it right.

Attaching Concrete Tile To The Roof

While installing concrete roofing tile is slightly different than asphalt tile, the same basic principal is used. They can be attached using two methods, one of which uses lugs attached to wood strips nailed to the roof and connect to the back of the tile. In the other method the tiles are set on the roof surface and attached with nails or screws, much the same way asphalt tile is fastened.

The tiles are made to be interlocking to prevent water, snow and ice from getting under them in bad weather and once the first row of concrete roofing tile has been fastened to the roof, the second row can be interlocked to the first and also fastened to the roof.

Another advantage to concrete roofing tile and its installation technique is that it can be used on areas that are almost vertical and not restricted to rooftop use only. They can be attached to the front of a gable, a porch wall or anywhere else where they can serve as a decorative addition to the house's protection.