Understanding the Differences
When selecting a roofing material for your next custom build or reroof it is imperative to understand the differences between several products on the market. Two such alternatives to asphalt shingles that offer upgraded curb appeal are concrete roof tile and metal panels. To ensure you are picking the best possible roofing solution for your building, take a look at the comparison below to see how metal roofs measure up against the more durable, colorful and energy efficient product with proven long-term performance: concrete roof tiles.
Concrete Roof Tile
Eagle Roofing Products has the widest selection of beautiful colorways and stunning concrete roof tile profiles available, providing the perfect look for any structure. In addition, tile’s class-leading durability and superior energy efficiency traits create the perfect balance of functionality meets appeal.
- Concrete roof tiles are a green product manufactured using all-natural, nontoxic materials, those being sand, cement, water, and oxide
- Concrete tiles are 100% recyclable
- Lasts the life of the structure; only needing to be replaced once every 75 years or so
- Concrete tiles are an inherently energy efficient product. They are naturally reflective and its high thermal mass enables them to absorb and store heat during the day and slowly release it at night; helping reduce cooling and heating costs throughout the year
- Concrete roof tiles can withstand extreme weather events
- Class A Fire Resistant
- Withstand sustained wind speeds of up to 180mph
- Class 3 and Class 4 Hail/Impact Resistant
- Freeze-Thaw Rated (excluding slurry/color bonded tiles)
- Eagle Roofing Products offers the best warranty in the industry. This Lifetime Transferrable Limited Product Warranty covers structural integrity and specific manufacturing defects of the individual tiles at no cost
- Concrete roof tiles are aesthetically versatile
- Available in three profiles – high, medium and low. Each profile is suited to beautifully complement a variety of architectural styles
- Surface texture and color can emulate traditional roofing materials, such as clay, slate and wood shake. At Eagle, it’s at no additional cost
- Rich pigments produce a wide array of ranges and blends to choose from
- While rare, should a concrete roof tile break, you can easily switch out the broken piece with a new one
Metal
Metal roofs can be an attractive roofing option, so we included some of the Pros & Cons of owning a metal roof but they do have a variety of disadvantages to look out for.
- Metal roofs are a green product manufactured using all-natural materials and may contain up to 40% of recycled steel
- Metal roofs are 100% recyclable
- Metal roofs can last 30-45 years before needing to be replaced
- Metal roofs are inherently energy efficient
- Higher end options can reduce energy costs even further
- Metal roofs can be noisy during rains and tropical storms if they are not installed with extra layers of solid sheathing or insulation
- Metal roofs expand and contract as it warms and cools. Over time, this can cause fasteners that secure your roof to come loose and need to be replaced quickly
- Metal roofs can withstand extreme weather to a certain extent, and some types of metal are prone to rusting more than others
- Class A Fire Resistant
- When installed correctly, metal roofs can withstand winds speeds up to just 140mph
- Hail/Impact Resistant: However, depending on the size of the hail it can cause cosmetic damage such as dents and scratches, which many times are not covered by insurance
- Freeze-Thaw Resistant
- Warranties vary by manufacturer, but in the event of inclement weather, aesthetic damage, such as dents or scratches to the roofscape are not covered under any warranty
- Metal roofs are aesthetically versatile but it comes at a compromise and/or price
- Not available in variety of profiles – thickness and shape are similar to each other
- Can be painted and installed to emulate other materials, such as wood shake, asphalt shingles and slate but comes at a higher price point
- The inherent composite of metal roofing limits the range of hues available to predominantly solid colors unlike the diversity of ranges and blends that concrete tile has to offer
- Metal roofs are more costly. This is because metal sheets are more complex to install than concrete roof tile and thus create higher labor costs
- Metal roofs are notorious for being difficult and expensive to fix because the entire sheet of metal would need to be swapped out and replaced with a new one
