3 Compelling Reasons Tile Roofs Perform Best in California

 The roof over your head is exposed to the elements, which makes it one of the most vulnerable components of your home. You might want to reconsider the roofing material currently on your home. All roofing choices have their own unique benefits, but tile roofs in particular are most suited for California. Here are three compelling reasons tile roofs perform best in California.

1. Tile Roofs are Fire Resistant

Due to recent drought conditions and natural flora, California regularly experiences wildfires that claim lives, destroy homes, and cause millions of dollars in property damage. If you live in an area prone to wildfires, your home is especially susceptible to fire because a fire gains its foothold first on the roof before spreading to the rest of the structure.

You can help lower the chances that your home falls prey to a wildfire simply by protecting your home with a tile roof. Concrete and clay roof tiles' fire rating is Class A, which means they are the best at resisting fire. To be considered Class A, roof tiles must prevent flames from spreading over the rest of the roof as well as stop the penetration of fire into the attic. Finally, Class A roof tiles should not detach from a home and create dangerous embers.

Tile roof materials can also protect your home in the event of a neighboring house fire, even if you don't live in a fire-prone area.

2. Tile Roofs are Energy Efficient

Recently the state of California enacted Energy Upgrade California, an ambitious plan to double energy efficiency by 2030. Part of this plan looks for ways homeowners can be more energy efficient, like requiring all new homes to be built with solar panels. Also, appliances, lighting, insulation, and HVAC are just a few areas where you can strive to have a more energy-efficient home.

Your roof is another way your home can become more energy-efficient. A home is considered less energy-efficient when it loses large amounts of heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. As a result, your heating and cooling units must work harder to replace that climate. You can have the best Energy Star-rated HVAC system and still lose heat out the roof.

Fortunately, the type of roof can make a big difference. Tile roofs are one of the most energy-efficient materials available. Clay and concrete tiles act as an insulator to help contain warm or cool air inside your home. Once attached to your roof, individual tiles are surrounded by natural airspace that provides a barrier for heat transfer into your attic. These amazing thermal properties are unique to clay and concrete, which are also better able to reflect heat off their surface than asphalt shingles.

3. Tile Roofs are Earthquake-Resistant

California is famous for palm trees, movie stars, beaches, and earthquakes. Most quakes are minor and shake up your nerves more than your home. However, large earthquakes can crack walls, topple water heaters, sever utility lines, and even flatten a house. While no building is completely resistant to earthquakes, many have features that can better withstand severe shaking.

Homes with a tile roof experience less earthquake damage. Tests that studied clay and concrete roof tiles during simulated earthquakes revealed astonishing seismic load capabilities. In fact, the tiles withstood shaking associated with quakes larger than the infamous 1994 Northridge earthquake, a 6.7 on the Richter scale.

Keep in mind that the roof tiles must be installed in accordance with California code to resist earthquakes. If you want your next roof to be tile, call Econo Roofing. Our professional designers and installers will make sure your new roof is built to code to stand up to challenges present in the state of California.