"Also, how does the weight compare to traditional clay tiles—wouldn't you need extra structural support or something?"
You're spot on about the weight issue. Green roofs usually end up heavier than standard clay or concrete tiles, especially when they're saturated after heavy rains. I've seen cases where homeowners had to reinforce their roof structure just to handle the extra load safely. Maintenance-wise, they're not a set-it-and-forget-it deal either... weeds, drainage checks, and storm prep can add up. Definitely cool-looking, but it's worth weighing the pros and cons realistically before diving in.
Yeah, the weight thing is definitely something to keep in mind. When I was researching roofing options for my place, I noticed even traditional clay tiles can be pretty heavy—especially the thicker, premium ones. I ended up chatting with a structural engineer buddy of mine, and he mentioned that older homes sometimes need reinforcement even for regular tile roofs, depending on the original build quality.
Makes me wonder though... are there lighter-weight tile options that still hold up well over time? I've heard about composite or synthetic tiles being lighter and easier on the structure, but I'm not sure how they stack up durability-wise compared to clay or concrete. Would be interesting to hear if anyone has experience with those alternatives.
Good points you're bringing up here. Synthetic composite tiles have come a long way lately—brands like DaVinci or Brava offer solid durability and weather resistance with significantly less weight. I've installed them on older structures without needing major reinforcement, and they're holding up nicely so far.
"I've installed them on older structures without needing major reinforcement, and they're holding up nicely so far."
Yeah, that's been my experience too—though I'm still a bit wary of synthetic tiles long-term. Seen some promising installs, but I wonder how they'll handle UV exposure after 10+ years... guess we'll see.
Yeah, that's been my experience too—though I'm still a bit wary of synthetic tiles long-term.
I've had decent luck inspecting synthetic roofs that were installed maybe 5-7 years back—no glaring issues yet—but your point about UV exposure is spot-on. I've noticed some slight fading already on certain brands, nothing structural yet though. Makes me wonder if there's a particular brand that's known for better UV resistance... anyone had experience with a specific synthetic tile that's held its color and strength longer than others?
