"Makes me wonder, though...are there particular brands that are more forgiving if the installer isn't perfect?"
That's a really good question. From my own experience (and a bit of trial and error), I've found that some tile brands do seem to handle minor installation hiccups better than others. When we redid our roof a couple years back, I spent way too much time researching this stuff, haha.
We ended up going with Eagle Roofing tiles, mostly because a friend recommended them after having a good experience. The installer we hired was decent but definitely not perfect—there were a couple spots where the flashing wasn't exactly textbook. But honestly, we've had zero issues so far. Eagle tiles seem pretty forgiving in terms of minor imperfections, probably because they're designed with good overlap and interlocking edges. I think that helps cover up small mistakes or inconsistencies.
On the other hand, I've heard from neighbors that some of the more traditional clay tiles (like Ludowici) can be less forgiving if the install isn't spot-on. They're beautiful tiles, don't get me wrong, but they seem to require a bit more precision and care during installation. If you're going that route, I'd definitely make sure your installer has solid experience with clay specifically.
Concrete tiles in general seem to be more forgiving than clay, at least from what I've seen and heard around here. Brands like Eagle or Boral (now Westlake Royal Roofing, I think?) have a reputation for being pretty user-friendly and durable even if the install isn't 100% perfect.
Of course, no tile brand can completely make up for major installation errors—especially when it comes to underlayment or flashing—but some definitely give you a bit more wiggle room than others. Hope this helps!
That's interesting about Eagle tiles—I’ve seen similar results with Boral (or Westlake Royal now, I guess). We deal with storm damage repairs pretty often, and I've noticed concrete tiles in general seem to handle minor installation slip-ups better than clay. Clay tiles look amazing, but they're definitely less forgiving if the installer misses something small. Concrete tiles have a bit more flex and overlap built into their design, so minor alignment issues or slightly uneven spacing usually aren't a huge deal.
One thing I'd add is that the underlayment quality matters a ton too. Even forgiving tiles can't save you if the underlayment isn't done right. I've seen roofs with great tiles still leak because the installer skimped on underlayment or flashing details. So, while brand choice helps, I'd still recommend making sure your installer knows their stuff when it comes to what's underneath the tiles.
"Concrete tiles have a bit more flex and overlap built into their design, so minor alignment issues or slightly uneven spacing usually aren't a huge deal."
I get what you're saying about concrete tiles being more forgiving, but I'm not sure I'd rely too heavily on that flexibility. From what I've seen, even minor alignment issues can add up over time, especially in areas with heavy wind or frequent storms. Sure, concrete tiles might handle small mistakes better initially, but doesn't that just mask potential underlying installation problems?
Also, totally agree about underlayment quality being crucial. But I'd argue flashing details might be even more critical. I've seen roofs with top-notch underlayment still leak because the flashing around chimneys or valleys wasn't done properly. Seems like flashing is often overlooked compared to underlayment, but it's just as important in my experience.
Curious if anyone else has noticed similar issues with flashing specifically...
"Seems like flashing is often overlooked compared to underlayment, but it's just as important in my experience."
Couldn't agree more on this point. I've lost count of how many roofs I've inspected after storms where the tiles were perfectly fine, but poor flashing work around chimneys or valleys caused leaks and interior damage. Concrete tiles might forgive minor alignment issues, sure...but flashing mistakes? Those come back to haunt you every single time. Good call bringing this up—it's a detail worth double-checking during installation.
Those come back to haunt you every single time. Good call bringing this up—it's a detail worth double-checking during installation.
Exactly. I've seen roofs with premium tiles that leaked like crazy after a heavy rain because someone skimped on flashing details around vents or skylights. Quality tiles matter, sure, but proper flashing is what really keeps things dry...
