For hundreds of years, concrete roof tiles have provided permanence and durability unparalleled by cheaper alternatives commonly used today, such as asphalt shingles. They have become the epitome of green building and sustainability through their recyclability, inherent energy efficiency properties and unmatched lifespan.
Concrete roof tiles are composed of all-natural ingredients, including sand, cement, water and iron oxide pigments, that are locally sourced. This makes concrete roof tiles even more sustainable due to lower fuel consumption to and from the manufacturing plant. The use of raw materials allows manufacturers, such as Eagle Roofing Products, to easily reintroduce pre-consumer recycled content into the production of their tiles. This includes anything from unused or rejected tiles, waste material that falls from conveyor belts to all wet-mix matter. In fact, Eagle’s conventional weight concrete roof tile consists of 2.5 percent pre-consumer recycled content, while their lightweight concrete roof tile consists of 65 percent pre-consumer recycled content. Rejected tiles that cannot be reintroduced into the manufacturing process can be repurposed for other construction projects, such as road fill, which is used as a base for roadways.
The manufacturing process and physical properties of high-strength concrete conspire to make tile roofs the most energy-efficient permanent roofing system on the market. Their inherent energy efficiency properties enable the tiles to reflect sunlight and release heat for greater energy performance instead of absorbing and transferring it from the roof deck into the structure. The result is 10 to 30 percent energy savings annually and a reduction of the overall roof temperature.
In addition, studies show that concrete roof tiles possess a lifespan that far exceeds that of any other roofing material with just one reroof needed within a 75-year time period. That means a concrete tile roof can last three to four times as long as a temporary asphalt shingle roof, costing one-third of the price at the end of its life. They also gain strength as they age, enabling concrete roof tiles to outperform other roofing materials when withstanding extreme elements such as hail and wind storms. A lower lifespan and lifecycle costs also mean less landfill usage!
For more information regarding concrete roof tile and its sustainability, visit
www.eagleroofing.com, or view Concrete Roof Tile Sustainability Attributes.
