We had a tile roof on our last place, and while it looked great, it definitely wasn't maintenance-free. Tiles cracked occasionally, especially after storms, and replacements weren't exactly cheap. Architectural shingles might not have the same charm, but they're easier to patch up and generally cheaper long-term. If budget's a big factor for you (like it was for us), shingles might be the safer bet... even if tiles do look amazing.
I've heard similar things about tile roofs, but I'm curious—did you find certain types of tiles cracked more easily than others? Like clay vs concrete? Wondering if material choice makes a noticeable difference in durability...
"Wondering if material choice makes a noticeable difference in durability..."
Honestly, I've seen both clay and concrete tiles crack pretty equally—usually from foot traffic or hail rather than just age. Material matters, sure, but installation quality and weather conditions seem way more critical in my experience.
I've noticed something similar in my experience managing multiple properties. A few years back, we had two buildings side-by-side, one with clay tiles and the other with concrete. Initially, I thought clay would outperform concrete, but honestly, both roofs ended up needing repairs at roughly the same intervals—mostly due to weather events like hailstorms or heavy winds. The real difference came down to how well the tiles were installed and how quickly we addressed minor issues like loose or cracked tiles. Regular inspections made a huge difference too; catching small problems early prevented bigger headaches later on. So while tile roofs are definitely durable, calling them maintenance-free might be stretching it a bit...
Tile roofs are definitely tough, but "maintenance-free" is a bit of a marketing stretch. I've seen plenty of tile roofs with cracked tiles or slipped flashing causing leaks. Proper installation and regular checks are key—no roof is truly set-and-forget, unfortunately.
