Been trying to decide between clay tiles and concrete for our roof replacement. Heard clay lasts longer but concrete is cheaper and easier to find around here. Anyone have experience with durability, maintenance, or regrets after choosing one over the other?
"Heard clay lasts longer but concrete is cheaper and easier to find around here."
Yeah, clay definitely has the edge in longevity—I've seen clay roofs still going strong after 50+ years. Concrete's solid too, but keep in mind it can fade and discolor more noticeably over time, especially if you're somewhere sunny. Also, concrete tiles tend to absorb moisture more readily, so moss growth can be a bigger issue. Have you checked if your roof structure can handle the extra weight of clay? Might influence your decision...
Good points about moss and fading. I've had concrete tiles for about 15 years now, and while they're holding up fine structurally, the color definitely isn't what it used to be. Clay seems like it'd age better visually, but I'm curious—does anyone know if clay tiles are more brittle in colder climates? Heard somewhere they might crack easier with freeze-thaw cycles...
Had clay tiles on my old place in Minnesota for about 10 years—here's my quick take:
- Visually, clay definitely ages nicer. Even with weathering, it just looks more natural.
- But yeah, freeze-thaw cycles can be rough. Had a few tiles crack after harsh winters.
- Trick is proper installation and good underlayment. Makes a huge difference.
- Concrete might fade, but it's pretty forgiving structurally.
Honestly, either choice has trade-offs...depends if you mind replacing a tile or two every few years or living with faded concrete.
