Masonry roofing materials, though relatively expensive, are praised for their handsomeness and long-term durability. In this type of roofing system, the two classics are natural Slate and ceramic tile. Cemented in time create tiles or shakes are also becoming popular variations.
Slate
Natural Slate is a stone quarried in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, as well in other countries. Grading color depend on the stones origin. Installation of Slate requires a skilled craftsman, and because of its weight, a roof may need an upgrade in its support. Expect to pay several hundreds of dollars per square foot for a new Slate roof.
Tile
Ceramic tile comes in the rounded Spanish-style terra-cotta familiar in the Southwest, California, and Florida as well in a wide range of other styles and colors. Glazed traditional French, Oriental, and other patterns are now available in dark greens blues burgundy and other rich tones. Tile is more expensive than Slate materials, so you should figure to add another $200 per square for this type of roofing system.
Concrete and Fibrous Cement
Manufacturers now offer a wide selection of tile and Slate look-alike's, created from a mixture of us pest is free fibrous cement and concrete. These are just as durable as tile and Slate, and considerably more affordable. They are highly resistant to rot, insects, wind, hail and fire. Concrete tiles are made in the classic Spanish barrel and S shapes as well as a flat shape like pattern. Fibrous cement shakes tend to be flatter, lighter in weight and more convincing imitations of Slate and shake tiles. They're easier to install and they are also more forgiving on foot traffic. Masonry tiles come in several sizes, including 9.5 x 16, 12 x 17, 12 x 22, and 16 x 20". Most are 1/2 to 1 inch thick and many have interlocking edges. Some have lugs on their bottoms that look over nailed to solid decking. Manufacturers also supply accessory Ridge, hip, and rake tiles.
If you're considering roofing with any masonry product, weight is the most critical factor in making your decision.
Most masonry materials weigh 900 to 1000 pounds per square. This is 3 to 4 times as much as asphalt shingles and some roofing systems have not been built to withstand this amount of weight. He roof must be sturdy enough to handle the load if you want a masonry roofing system in Texas. You can buy lightweight concrete tiles are fibrous cement shakes that run about 550 pounds per square, however, we do not recommend settling for this type of material because you roof cannot withstand the weight.
Check with a Houston roofing company to see if you'll need an engineering report: your house may require additional structural bracing as well. Also be sure to read the manufacturers literature: some concrete and fibrous cement tiles are susceptible to cracking in areas with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. In most areas of taxes, this does not become a factor.
You may also want to estimate shipping charges if you live in a considerable distance from the manufacturer. Tile cost more than most other roofing materials and is expensive to ship because of its weight. Work with the local roofing company to determine the price of the materials and the installation itself.
(This article content is from the book: "Southern Living: Roofing & Siding")