What Homeowners Should Know About Tile Roofs

Realtors know that tiles always make an attractive addition to a home’s rooftop structure. Moreover, statistics indicate that a tile roof is supposed to last between 25 and 30 years, which is longer than the lifetime of roofing with shingles. Of course, that longer lifetime might get shortened, if the homeowner fails to watch for, and then respond to recognized signs of a problem.

How the environment can adversely affect a tile roof?

Most of the rainwater that falls on the tiles simply slides right off. Still, a drop or two could make their way under a tile that had slipped a bit. Those couple drops could damage the felt underlayment, the protective covering that has been decorated with the tiles. That damage has the ability to encourage the formation of leaks.

After the rain stops and the sun comes out, another threat makes its appearance. A tile’s slippage from its original position could allow the sun’s rays to hit the felt underlayment. Over time, those rays might burn that protective covering. Once that has happened, the underlayment can no longer provide an adequate level of protection to those that live under the damaged roofing.

How a homeowner can watch for signs of a potential problem

If you cannot do it call in the roofing contractor in San Jose to examine the home’s eaves and the fascia board. That board forms the trim, cover and flashings, which function as a protection for the eaves.

Check to see if debris has formed around the chimney. That debris could slow the flow of water. A slower flow increases the chances for development of water damage. That damage could allow the formation of an unwanted leak.

A disruption of the tiles’ desired uniformity does more than detract from the roof’s attractive features. It also signals the existence of a problem. That disruption indicates the presence of a slipped tile. As indicated above, a tile’s slippage can expose the felt underlayment. That exposure to the elements invites the development of problems, the sort of problems that diminish the roof’s ability to serve as protection, against the forces of nature.

A roof should not get judged for its beauty.

Two types of roofing last longer than those with shingles. Those are the tile and metal roofs. Homeowners seem to favor the latter type, because it causes the home to look far more attractive. Yet a metal rooftop holds up better, when exposed to the elements.

There are no pieces slipping around on the metal surface. By the same token, the sun cannot burn through that surface, and water rolls off of it. So, the consumers’ preference for tile showcases the extent to which the average consumer thinks first about a product’s beauty, and later about its more practical features.