- Totally get the overwhelm—tile options are wild these days.
- If you’re leaning eco-friendly, Boral’s concrete tiles have been solid for me. They’re heavy but last forever and are made with recycled content.
- I’d skip the super cheap imports... had a neighbor with cracking issues after just a couple winters.
- Don’t forget to check if your structure can handle the weight. Some older homes need extra support.
- It’s a pain up front, but you’ll love the lower maintenance and energy savings down the line. Worth it.
Boral’s a solid pick, especially if you’re in a spot that gets hammered by storms or big temperature swings. I’ve seen their concrete tiles hold up after some nasty hail—just a couple chips, nothing major. That said, the weight thing is real. Had a client with a 1920s bungalow who needed extra bracing in the attic before the city would sign off. Not cheap, but better than a sagging roof.
I’m with you on skipping the bargain imports. I’ve replaced more than a few roofs where the tiles just couldn’t handle freeze-thaw cycles—cracks everywhere, and water getting underneath. Not fun.
One thing I’d add: check the warranty details. Some brands look great on paper but have weird exclusions for wind or impact damage. Also, if you’re in a hurricane or tornado zone, ask about how the tiles are fastened down. Some systems are way better than others at staying put when the weather gets wild.
Anyone here tried clay tiles lately? I keep hearing mixed things about how they handle big storms compared to concrete.
Had clay tiles put on my place about six years back—mostly because I liked the look, but also figured they’d last. I’m in central Texas, so we get hail and the occasional big wind. Honestly, they’ve held up better than I expected. A couple cracked after a really bad storm, but it was easy enough to swap them out. The main thing is, they’re heavy, just like concrete, and you really have to make sure your framing can handle it. My house is from the ‘70s and already had a tile roof, so that helped.
One thing I noticed: clay seems to chip less than concrete when hit by hail, but if you get a direct hit, it’ll break clean through. Concrete just gets ugly chips but usually stays put. Also, clay tiles are a bit more slippery if you ever need to get up there for repairs—ask me how I know...
I’d say both types are solid if you’re not cutting corners on install or materials. Just depends on what look you want and how much hassle you’re willing to deal with for repairs down the line.
- That’s cool to hear clay’s holding up for you, especially with Texas hail.
- I’ve heard the same about concrete—chips but doesn’t always break.
- Swapping out cracked tiles sounds way less stressful than I thought it’d be.
- The weight thing kinda worries me on older houses, but if your framing was already set up for tile, that’s a win.
- Appreciate the heads-up about how slick clay gets... I’d probably eat it up there.
- Sounds like you made a solid call, even with the tradeoffs.
The weight thing kinda worries me on older houses, but if your framing was already set up for tile, that’s a win.
That’s a big one. I almost went with concrete tiles but had to get an engineer to check my rafters first—turns out, not all old houses can handle the extra load without beefing up the framing. If you’re budget-minded like me, it’s worth getting that checked before you fall in love with a brand. Also, swapping cracked tiles is easier than I expected, but matching colors after a few years can be tricky. I keep a couple spares in the garage just in case. For brands, Eagle and Boral both held up well in my neighborhood (central TX), but price and availability swung a lot depending on the year.