How To Age Roof Tiles

Their centuries old track record.

How to age roof tiles.

Flat roofs the lifespan of a flat roof depends on the material covering it. With proper installation and routine maintenance a tile roof can withstand fires and in some instances offer greater protection against high winds hail and freeze thaw climates providing years of worry free performance. Roofs last a long time with the typical asphalt shingle roof lasting between 15 to 25 years depending on the type of installation. If you are adding tiles to a roof that did not previously have them or to a design which did not originally incorporate them the roof may not be capable of carrying the excess weight.

Manufacturers of both clay and concrete roof tiles typically guarantee their products for 30 years but often suggest that 60 years is a reasonable expectation of their service life. Concrete tiles which are usually lighter than clay tiles can easily place over 10 pounds of weight per square foot on a roof. Estimating roof age is difficult. This number will not provide the colour reference but should give the design and approximate age of the tile.

Obviously the best way to know your roof s age is by keeping records from the last time the roof was replaced. While clay roof tiles have been used on roofs for centuries concrete tiles have become more widespread over the last half a century. From this it may be possible to obtain secondhand tiles from a roofing or salvage merchant. As it turns out tile roofs don t just sound tough and long lasting.