When your roof has sprung a leak, is sagging, or shedding its top layer, roof replacement’s an emergency operation.
Roof replacement protects your family’s health and it also boosts your home’s value. Replacing your roof can bring an ROI of over 65% according to the latest cost-vs-value report, so it’s always worth it.
Once you’ve decided to bite the bullet and go ahead with your roofing alteration, the next big question is what type of roofing do you want.
Let’s compare shingle roof vs tile roof to help you decide.
Shingle Roof vs Tile Roof Cost
From a cost perspective, there’s no comparison between tile vs shingle roof. Tile roofs are way more expensive than shingles and can cost as much as $25,000 for a 1,500 square foot roof.
Shingles are far more affordable with an average cost of $3,350 for the same size roof. Tile does have several benefits that justify this exorbitant cost though.
Tile Roofs and Shingle Roofs Explained
Tile Roofs consist of molded slate or terracotta tiles. They’re installed in parallel rows overlapping at the top and bottom to keep the rain out of your home. Contractors place an underlayment made from asphalt-saturated felt or synthetic materials under the tile.
Tile shapes vary from scalloped to ribbed, or flat.
Although these materials are heavy, you can get lightweight versions of tile roofs nowadays.
Shingles consist of a sheet of fiberglass with a layer of another material, usually asphalt, on top. They’re flat rectangular shapes and installed in overlapping rows and then nailed down to keep water out of your home.
When you install a shingle roof, your contractor secures a felt underlayment underneath them.
You also get shingles made from slate, plastic, and composite materials.
Tile Roof Pros and Cons
Apart from cost, there are a few more drawbacks when it comes to installing a tile roof on your home.
The first one is the weight. Since they’re made from heavy materials, not all homes can support the additional weight of a tile roof. You’ll need to confer with your contractor about whether your roof structure needs a reinforcing boost before considering a tile roof.
Tile is also prone to moss growth and can crack if you need to walk on it for any reason. Although tile roof performs well in any climate, it doesn’t last as long as it should in very hot conditions.
Tile roofs are still one of the most popular options for homeowners across the USA, particularly those with Spanish style homes.
That’s because tile roofs have several benefits too.
They’re extremely durable and can last for up to 100 years with very little maintenance. You can also choose from a vast range of styles to suit your home and tile roofing’s recyclable, so it’s an environmentally-friendly option.
Since it costs more to install and lasts a long time, a tile roof will increase your home’s value more than a shingle roof will. These are some of the reasons tile is the most popular roofing choice globally.
Despite these benefits, shingles remain the number one choice for homeowners in the USA. Let’s find out why.
Pros and Cons of a Shingle Roof
A shingle roof offers considerable cost-savings when you install it. It’s light and easy to install and suits most climates.
Shingles are particularly good for places that receive heavy snowfalls, as their flat profile means the snow slides straight off your roof. Shingles resist sunlight well too, so they’re perfect for any climate and can resist fire and algae growth.
You can get shingles in a wide array of colors to suit your home nowadays too and it doesn’t need much maintenance to stay in good shape for up to 20 years.
The drawbacks of tile include its short lifespan as well as limited style choices when compared to tile roofing. It’s also more prone to damage from hail and wind.
A shingle roof isn’t as environmentally-friendly as tile roofs are, although it’s a low maintenance option and enhances your home’s resale value.
Other Types of Roofs
Of course, tile and shingles aren’t your only options when it comes to picking a roof for your home or business. You can also choose from a host of other materials, all with their pros and cons.
The most popular ones are:
- Metal roofs made from aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or zinc
- Elegant and expensive slate
- Wood shakes and shingles
- Synthetic materials like plastic
You can also get some innovative roofing solutions like energy tiles or green roofs for the ultimate eco-friendly home addition.
Get Expert Help
Your first port of call when it comes to major home improvements should always be a reputable contractor. A roofing contractor can help you decide which type of roof suits your home best.
They’ll take things like your climate, the style of your house, and your budget into consideration and can help you compare the pros and cons of each roof type.
Make Informed Home Improvement Decisions
There’s no clear winner when it comes to the type of roofing you choose for your home. Ultimately, it’s your home and you’re bound by the budget available to you.
So, the decision between shingle roof vs tile roof is largely one of preference and what you can afford.
Yet, when you’ve got big home improvement questions, you need all the help you can get. So, keep browsing our website for all the best information on upgrading your home, inside and out.