Yeah, the underlayment is really the unsung hero—totally agree there. I’ve seen some pretty fancy tile brands get installed, but if the underlayment’s cheap or not put in right, it’s just asking for leaks down the line. I’m in the Southwest too, and honestly, color fade is just part of the deal. I’ve tried those “refresh” paints myself on a rental, and it looked okay from the street, but up close… not so much. At least it bought me a couple years before needing a full replacement.
I know metal roofs are supposed to be super durable, but in our heat, it’s just brutal. I’ve been nudging folks toward cool roof tiles or even green roof options—plants on the roof can actually help with the heat, though it’s not for everyone. If you’re sticking with tile, I’d say focus on a solid underlayment and maybe look into some of the newer recycled-content tiles. They’re not perfect, but they hold up better to sun and are a bit kinder to the planet. Just my two cents.
- Price is a big deal for me, so I’ve always leaned toward Eagle and Boral when it comes to concrete tile. Both are pretty common in the Southwest, and you can sometimes find deals at the big box stores or through local suppliers.
- Color fading’s just something I’ve learned to live with—no paint’s ever held up for me more than a couple years, either.
- Underlayment: I cheaped out once and regretted it. Now I go for synthetic, even if it costs more upfront.
- Looked into recycled-content tiles... honestly, mixed feelings. They claim better UV resistance, but I’ve seen a few crack early. Maybe it’s installer error, maybe not.
- Metal roofs are tempting, but the heat in summer is just wild. My neighbor’s attic basically turned into a sauna.
- Green roof sounds cool, but I barely keep my yard alive as it is.
Eagle and Boral are pretty much the go-to brands around here too, especially if you’re watching the budget. I’ve found that if you’re patient and check with local yards, sometimes you can snag overstock or discontinued colors at a steep discount. Color fading is just part of the deal in the Southwest sun—my neighbor’s roof went from deep red to a sort of dusty pink in about five years. It doesn’t bother me much, but I know some folks get frustrated.
I made the same mistake with underlayment once—went with the cheapest felt, and it started curling up after a couple summers. Synthetic’s pricier but seems to hold up way better, especially if you’re not planning to reroof for a long time.
I’m a little skeptical of the recycled-content tiles too. The idea sounds great, but I’ve seen a few jobs where they chipped or cracked early on. Could be installer error, but it makes me nervous to take the risk when regular concrete tile is already pretty tough.
Metal roofs do look sharp, but yeah, the heat transfer is no joke. My cousin tried one and ended up adding extra insulation just to keep the attic usable. For now, I’m sticking with concrete tile—seems like the best balance for price and durability in our climate.
You nailed it about the underlayment—cheap felt just doesn’t last. I always recommend synthetic for our kind of heat, even if it’s a bit more up front. Eagle and Boral are what we mostly use too, but I’ve seen some Monier jobs hold up pretty well if you can find them. Color fade just seems inevitable here, no matter what brand. If you’re picky about color, maybe go for the lighter shades—they don’t show it as much over time.
Eagle and Boral are what we mostly use too, but I’ve seen some Monier jobs hold up pretty well if you can find them. Color fade just seems inevitable here, no matter what brand.
That’s interesting about lighter shades hiding color fade better. I’m in my first house and we just replaced a bunch of broken tiles—Eagle was what the roofer recommended, but honestly, I had no clue about brands before this. The synthetic underlayment was more expensive, but after seeing how brittle the old felt got (it basically crumbled in my hands), I get why people insist on it. One thing I noticed: our neighbors have a darker red tile and theirs looks way more washed out than ours, even though their roof is newer. Guess the sun really does a number here...
