Totally agree about Ludowici—my neighbor has their tiles, and honestly, their roof looks brand new even after some pretty harsh winters. When we bought our place, the previous owners had installed cheaper concrete tiles, and we're already noticing some discoloration and minor cracks after just three years. Definitely learned the hard way that investing a bit more upfront can save you from constant maintenance headaches later on...
Ludowici does seem solid, but I'm curious—has anyone here had experience with Boral or Eagle tiles? I've heard mixed things about their durability, especially in colder climates. My uncle swears by Eagle, but honestly, his roof hasn't faced anything harsher than a mild frost. Wondering if they'd hold up as well as Ludowici through tougher winters...
I've looked into Eagle tiles myself, mostly because their pricing seemed pretty reasonable compared to Ludowici. From what I've gathered, Eagle tiles are decent quality, but the real question mark is how they handle freeze-thaw cycles. Ludowici has a solid reputation for durability in harsh winters, but Eagle seems to have mixed reviews on that front—some folks swear they're fine, others complain about cracking after a few tough seasons.
Boral tiles, on the other hand, seem to have a slightly better track record in colder climates, at least from what I've read. But again, it's hard to separate marketing hype from real-world performance sometimes. Has anyone here actually had Boral tiles installed for more than a few winters? I'd be curious to hear if they've held up without issues like cracking or fading...
I've installed Boral tiles on a few projects here in the Midwest, and honestly, they've held up pretty well. One client had them put in about six years ago, and despite some brutal winters—I'm talking heavy snow, ice dams, the works—they've shown minimal wear. No cracking issues yet, and fading has been pretty subtle. Of course, proper installation and underlayment make a huge difference, but from my experience, Boral's a solid choice if you're worried about freeze-thaw cycles.
Good to hear your experience matches mine. I've inspected quite a few roofs after severe storms—hail, wind, ice dams, you name it—and Boral tiles consistently hold up better than many alternatives. You're spot-on about installation and underlayment; those details really can't be overstated. I've seen some roofs with premium tiles fail prematurely simply because the underlayment or flashing wasn't done properly.
One thing I'd add is that regular maintenance checks after harsh winters can make a big difference. Even the best tiles benefit from periodic inspections to catch minor issues before they escalate. But overall, your assessment aligns closely with what I've observed in the field. Boral definitely seems to handle freeze-thaw cycles better than most, and it's reassuring to hear similar feedback from others who've dealt with tough Midwest winters.
