The options for tile roofing systems include concrete materials that are specially designed to give your home a durable roof. When it comes to the concrete tile roofing, you want to do some planning. The following concrete tile roofing guide will help with planning the new roof for your home:
Accounting for Roof Loads with Concrete Tiles
The roof loads of concrete tiles are heavier than asphalt shingles and some other materials. Therefore, extra planning needs to go into planning the structural support for concrete tile roofing. This support needs to begin with a heavier roof structure that can support the tiles and bracing that carries the weight down to the foundation.
Choosing the Underlayments for Concrete Tiles
The underlayment of concrete roofing tile can be different than conventional materials. With concrete tile roofing, you may want to use a thin rubber membrane material that provides more of a moisture barrier. These materials can also be an additional barrier to improving your home's efficiency by reducing heat gain and energy loss. The underlayments will also need extra reinforcement in areas like valleys with concrete tiles. This will ensure these vulnerable areas of your roof don't leak.
Proper Installation of Concrete Tile Roofing Materials
The biggest difference for the installation of concrete tile roofing is how the tiles are installed. If the tiles are being installed on a steel and concrete structure, a cement mortar can be used for the installation. When the concrete tiles are being installed on a timber-framed roof structure, there are specially formulated foams that are used to install the tiles. These mortar and foam materials hold the tiles in a place like nails do with shingle roofing materials.
Adding the Finishing Touches and Caring for Concrete Tile
Like other roofing materials, there will be some finishing touches that need to be done to complete your roof. These finishing touches include sealing around the mechanical vents and areas like chimneys. If the tiles are being installed on a timber-frame structure, the attic needs to have specially designed vents installed. You will also need to care for the concrete tile roof and want to start by keeping it clean and watching for problems that need to be repaired.
The concrete tile roofing you are planning on installing needs to be well planned. Contact a concrete roof tile service to start planning the roofing project for your home's new roof.