Couldn't agree more about the flashing. A few years back, I helped my brother-in-law redo his roof—he insisted on going with a mid-range tile brand to save some cash. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but we spent extra time (and a bit of extra money) making sure the flashing and underlayment were spot-on. Fast forward to today, and his roof has held up beautifully through several nasty storms, while his neighbor's "premium" tiles have had multiple leaks due to sloppy flashing work.
My takeaway from that experience: you don't always need the fanciest tiles on the market. Sure, quality matters, but investing in proper installation details—especially flashing—is where you really get your money's worth. I'd rather have decent tiles installed right than premium tiles slapped on carelessly any day...
Great point about the flashing details. I've seen plenty of roofs with expensive tiles fail prematurely because someone rushed through the installation. Makes me wonder how many roof issues are actually due to poor workmanship rather than tile quality...
You're spot on about workmanship being a major factor. I've managed properties where we've had premium tiles installed, yet within a few years, leaks started popping up. Almost every time, it traced back to improper flashing or inadequate underlayment. Tile quality matters, sure, but even mid-range tiles can last decades if the installation is meticulous. It's worth investing in a contractor who understands proper detailing—especially around valleys and penetrations—rather than just focusing on brand alone.
Good points overall, but I've seen cases where even top-notch installation couldn't save tiles that were just poorly manufactured. Had a client whose tiles started cracking after only five years—no leaks, just brittle tiles. Sometimes the brand really does matter more than you'd think...
- Totally agree, seen it happen myself. Good install can't fix bad tiles.
- Had a job last summer, homeowner picked some cheaper imported tiles—looked great at first, but started flaking and cracking after just two winters. No leaks either, just brittle and weak.
- From what I've seen, Eagle and Boral seem pretty solid. Worked with both, haven't had callbacks yet (knock on wood...).
- Also heard good things about Ludowici, but they're pricey. Guess you get what you pay for sometimes.
- Bottom line: brand matters more than most folks realize. Saving a few bucks upfront can cost way more down the road.
