That's a fair point—material quality really does play a role, especially with tile roofs. Ludowici is definitely top-notch, but if you're looking for something reliable yet more affordable, Boral and MCA have pretty good track records too. Proper installation still matters though...
"Proper installation still matters though..."
Couldn't agree more on this. Even the best tiles won't hold up if they're not installed right. When we redid our roof, we went with Boral because it fit our budget better, and honestly, it's been solid so far. But one thing I learned the hard way—make sure your installer knows how to handle flashing and underlayment properly. Curious, did anyone else run into unexpected issues during installation that others should watch out for?
Yeah, flashing can be a sneaky one...seen plenty of roofs fail early because someone skimped on that step. Another thing to watch is ventilation—if your installer doesn't get airflow right, even top-tier tiles won't save you from moisture buildup and mold down the road.
"Another thing to watch is ventilation—if your installer doesn't get airflow right, even top-tier tiles won't save you from moisture buildup and mold down the road."
Yep, seen that plenty. Had one homeowner proudly show me his fancy imported tiles...meanwhile, attic was like a rainforest. Good tiles + bad airflow = expensive indoor swimming pool.
Yeah, ventilation is definitely underrated. When I first moved into my place, previous owner had splurged on some premium concrete tiles but skimped on proper ridge vents. Took me months to figure out why the attic insulation kept feeling damp. Ended up retrofitting ridge and soffit vents myself—huge improvement. Tiles matter, sure, but they're only half the battle; gotta let that roof breathe a bit or you'll regret it later...
