Glad to see I'm not the only one who double-checks contractor recommendations with some quick math. Eagle tiles are solid, no doubt, but I've also had good experiences with Boral and Ludowici. Ludowici's clay tiles are pricier but incredibly durable—worth considering if you're in an area prone to harsh weather. Did you factor in local snow loads or wind uplift ratings when you ran your numbers? Those can make a surprising difference...
- Good point on Ludowici durability, but man, those prices hurt...
- Ran some rough calcs factoring snow load (I'm in Minnesota), and Eagle tiles held up fine in theory.
- Wind uplift wasn't a big concern here, but I did check ratings out of curiosity—Boral seemed pretty competitive there.
- Honestly, though, sometimes I wonder how much is marketing hype vs. real-world performance...
"Honestly, though, sometimes I wonder how much is marketing hype vs. real-world performance..."
Yeah, totally get that skepticism. When I was researching tiles for my first roof, I found it helpful to dig into actual installation manuals and warranty docs rather than just brochures. Eagle and Boral both had detailed PDFs online showing testing standards and specs—gave me more confidence than flashy marketing. Might be worth checking those out directly to cut through the hype...
"Eagle and Boral both had detailed PDFs online showing testing standards and specs—gave me more confidence than flashy marketing."
Fair point, but honestly, even those spec sheets can be a bit misleading sometimes. I've managed properties with roofs from both Eagle and Boral, and while they're generally solid, I've seen some real-world issues that never showed up in the manuals or warranty docs:
- Color fading way faster than expected (especially in sunny climates).
- Occasional cracking or chipping during installation—even when following their guidelines exactly.
- Warranty claims being tougher to navigate than you'd think from reading the fine print.
Not saying they're bad brands—far from it—but just keep in mind that even detailed specs don't always translate perfectly into real-world performance. If you really want to cut through the hype, I'd suggest talking directly to roofing contractors who've installed these tiles regularly. They're usually pretty blunt about what holds up over time and what's mostly marketing fluff.
Also, if you can, check out some roofs in your area that have been around for 5-10 years. Seeing how they age firsthand beats any PDF or brochure out there...
That's a really good point about spec sheets not always matching reality. I've had similar experiences myself. A few years back, we put Boral tiles on our place here in Arizona, and at first, I was pretty impressed. Installation went smoothly, looked great, and the specs seemed solid—especially regarding UV resistance and color retention.
Fast forward about six years, and honestly, the fading is noticeable. It's not terrible or anything, but definitely more than you'd expect from reading their PDFs. And yeah, warranty claims... don't even get me started. Had a neighbor who tried to file one after some tiles cracked prematurely (no storm damage or anything obvious), and it turned into a months-long back-and-forth hassle. Eventually, he just gave up and replaced them himself.
"If you really want to cut through the hype, I'd suggest talking directly to roofing contractors who've installed these tiles regularly."
Couldn't agree more with this advice. Contractors deal with these products day in and day out, and they're usually pretty straightforward about what holds up and what's just marketing fluff. When we were shopping around, our roofer recommended looking into MCA Clay Roof Tile as well. They're pricier than Eagle or Boral, but from what I've seen around our neighborhood, they seem to age better under the harsh sun here.
Another thing worth considering is the tile profile itself—some shapes seem more prone to chipping or cracking during install. Flat tiles might look sleek, but I've noticed they can chip easier than the curved ones. Our installer mentioned something similar, saying certain profiles are just more forgiving during installation.
At the end of the day, no brand or spec sheet is perfect. Even the best tiles will fade or wear somewhat over time. But checking out roofs in your local area that've been up for a while is probably the best real-world test you'll find...
