 Photo by Max Smith on Unsplash Choosing the suitable roofing material for your next project has become dramatically easier in recent years, thanks to continuous roofing technology advancements. Despite this, the thought of settling on the wrong material can be daunting at best. However, if your priorities are style and durability, then concrete roof tiles are the material that you need. Concrete roof tiles have been utilized for decades to substitute more traditional materials, such as clay and slate. It dates as far back as the Roman Empire, where they recognize it as remarkably durable and highly versatile. Even today, it is still considered one of the most popular roofing materials in the construction industry. If you require replacing your home roof or installing a new one, concrete is a viable option for many reasons. However, as with any construction material, it still has its limitations and drawbacks. Below are the primary pros and cons to consider. But first, allow us to tell you more about concrete roof tiles.  Image by Donweilssa Homdert from Pixabay What are concrete roof tiles?Concrete tiles are a cheaper but equally durable alternative to terracotta roofing tiles. They can mimic the appearance of other common materials such as wooden shingles, slate, and stone, making concrete a cost-effective substitute to these materials. Despite initially being an alternative, concrete often surpasses its predecessor in terms of durability and versatility. In its early years, making concrete tiles was time-consuming and involved mixing concrete with water before pouring it into wooden or metal molds to harden. Today, they use a mixture of sand, Portland cement, and water under heat and high pressure in manufacturing. Property owners choose concrete roof tiles for their durability and various style, where some recognize their ability to mimic old-world charm. Concrete tiles can also minimize external noise and ensure safety because they are made from organic materials and resistant to wind and fire. They also help stabilize heat by reflecting sunlight, and similarly, in cold climates, concrete tiles help insulate heat inside, which lessens heating expenses. Pros of concrete roof tilesDurability Not only are concrete roof tiles extremely durable, but they are also dependable, sustainable, and can withstand even the most formidable forces of nature. Here are some significant weather-resistant characteristics of concrete tiles:
Overall, if you need exceptional protection from extreme weather, concrete tile is among the most suitable roofing materials you can buy. Longevity The life expectancy of the roof will all depend on the materials used. Studies show that a concrete roof far exceeds any roofing material, with just one roof replacement needed within 75 years. That means that concrete tiles can outlast an asphalt shingle roof 3-4 times. They also get sturdier as they age, enabling concrete tiles to outperform other roofing materials when it comes to long-lasting durability, With that in mind, roof tiles, in general, need to be appropriately maintained and handled with care. Depending on the property’s location and handling, tile roofing can become brittle and vulnerable if mishandled. Style and Versatility When it comes to roofing options, no material is more flexible than concrete. It can resemble its more expensive counterparts, such as slate and clay roofing tile and can even simulate the look of cedar shakes. Concrete roof tile classifies into three profiles, namely:
With minimal depth, flat tile delivers a traditional look that can suit just about any property. On the other hand, medium tiles invoke Mediterranean architecture, and high profile tiles, or high barrels, capture the beauty of terracotta tiles found on old Spanish properties. Alongside the tile profiles, concrete tiles also come in various colors to better match your needs. For instance, brown and copper shades easily mimic clay tiles, or you can opt for a more soft, pastel color or stand out with a multi-color blend. Sustainability Concrete roof tile is ahead of its game when it comes to sustainability and insulation. It has become a prime example of green initiatives through its recyclability and inherent energy efficiency properties. It is also composed of all-natural ingredients such as water, sand, cement, and iron oxide pigments, allowing manufacturers to reintroduce recycled content into the production of their tiles. The production process and physical properties of concrete tiles enable it to be one of the most energy-efficient roofing systems on the market. Its fundamental organic properties allow the tiles to reflect sunlight and release heat instead of absorbing it and releasing it throughout the structure. Concrete tiles also have thermally insulative properties, resulting in 10 to 30 percent energy savings annually. Cons of concrete roof tilesUpfront Costs Concrete tiles are more expensive than roof shingles or other roofing materials that will need an occasional replacement throughout their lifetime. However, of the more durable roofing materials, concrete tiles are cheaper than clay and slate. For example, the expense of installing concrete tiles on a roof 2,000 square foot property will cost around $7,000 and $9,000. Its higher price range also stems from its very tedious installation process. Concrete tiles can be tricky to install on your own, so it is essential to have their property installed by hiring a professional roofer. Weight Concrete roof tiles weigh around 820 to 1,200 pounds per 100 square feet, and their substantial weight requires more reinforcement on your roof structure than other roof materials. Although many brands offer lightweight options, they can still weigh up to 600 pounds per 100 square feet, considerably heavier than traditional roof shingles. Color Fading Concrete tiles can withstand the sun’s harmful rays, but their pigmented color is vulnerable to harsh UV rays. Color fading isn’t an issue for some as long as it continues to serve as a formidable barrier against other harmful elements. However, if you choose to resolve your roof’s inconsistent tile color, you may, of course, hire an expert to paint your roof now and then. Maintenance Regular roof inspection and maintenance are critical in preserving and prolonging your roof’s lifespan. While other roofing materials only require thorough inspections, concrete roof tiles may require more extensive routine maintenance to maintain their durability and appearance. With that in mind, you also need to consider installing a sturdy roof hatch so that you can easily access your roofing system during an inspection, like aluminum roof hatches. It is more prone to mold and mildew, which grows between the tiles, especially in wet-climate areas. Therefore, owners must wash their concrete roofs with a high-pressure washer at least once a year. Another thing to consider is the roofing underlayment because, unlike your tiles, it can only last for about 20 years. The process of replacing the underlayment includes removing the concrete tiles, replacing the underlayment, and reinstalling the tiles. This tedious task is not only time-consuming; it may also leave a massive dent in your wallet. The chore of replacing the underlayment of a 1,500 ft. two concrete tile roof costs about $5,400 to $7,660, including labor. ConclusionThe pros of installing concrete roof tiles still outweigh the cons. It makes sense that many property owners and contractors choose concrete over other roofing materials. It is remarkably durable, sustainable, and even aesthetically pleasing, assuring you that concrete roof tiles will give your property the protection it needs in the years to come. Other Useful Articles: Tips for Selecting Exterior Paint Colours for Your Home Finding contractors for your home building and renovation project What will your new house cost when you are living in it AuthorChris Jackson is an experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. He is currently employed by Best Access Doors, an access door supplier in the US and Canada, and has been working for the company for more than 12 years now. His area of expertise is on Negotiation, Roofers, Sales, Project Estimation, and Facility Management (FM) Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
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These days, many families find themselves in a position where their current home simply doesn’t meet their needs, currently or their future needs. (Simple Tips to Make Your Small Home Feel Like A Big Space) Maybe there aren’t enough bedrooms or bathrooms. Maybe it’s the kitchen that’s too small and hopelessly outdated. (7 Signs Your Kitchen Needs Renovating) Your layout may not fit your personal style. Your home may be no longer be as desirable as it once was.
If you do find yourself in this situation, what’s your next move? Well, you have three options: remodel your current home, (7 Tips for Home Renovation on a Budget) move to a home in a new neighborhood that better suites your needs, or design and build a new home. Each option has its own set of pros and cons and your family must consider all of them and their nuances before making such an important decision. 
The accompanying infographic, Renovate, Move or Build a New Home?, offers a brief list of factors to consider before choosing. Things to consider include your budget (How much will your new house cost to build?), emotional ties to your neighborhood and home, the current real estate market, your tolerance of inconvenience, the amount of available free time, and more.
It all comes down to a balancing act. You must weigh your desire for what you want against your ability to pay for it. A serious consideration of the infographic’s reasons for choosing one option over the other will help you decide which way to go in pursuit of your dream home. Check it out — the advice is sure to help you hit a home run!
Other Useful Articles:
How to save money when building or renovating your home Cost Should Not Be The Only Factor When Building Your New Home Bathroom Design Essentials - What You Should Consider When Designing, Building and Renovating Your Ultimate Bathroom - Part 1 AuthorGuest post Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  A basement that is being remodeled (Photo by Real Twin Photos on Unsplash) Need some extra space in your home?Looking for some extra space in your home? Maybe somewhere for you to have time to yourself, indulge in a hobby, or catch-up with friends. Do you have a basement? Perhaps it's dark, uninviting, cold, and packed with junk. Even if the basement is at the bottom of your home, it shouldn’t be forgotten when it comes to remodeling. Often, you may convert it into a functional space rather than just storing things in it. You can have a new room, a play space, or a workshop that you always dreamed of. To give you some inspiration, here you will find some basement remodeling ideas to try this year. All you will have left to do is to find the right time to start your remodeling project. #basementremodeling Renovating your BasementSafety first. Before getting started, you should review the space capacity and safety of your basement. First, make sure that it is well isolated and floodproof. Then check that the sockets, outlets, and switches are operational. If needed, you can install more, but only if you are sure of what you are doing. If not, it is best to consult with a professional. Also, before beginning to work on the walls, take all the necessary precautions. Examine the house plans for any electrical circuits that may run through the walls. You wouldn’t want to run into them when drilling a hole to hang some shelves or artwork. Do not hurt yourself while renovating or building your home. Safety tips. Finally, measure the basement to see what you can fit in that space. This way, you can avoid buying too large furniture, for instance. #basementrenos Ideas to Transform Your BasementMake your basement into a playing room If your kids’ room is too small, this could be a fantastic solution to give them more space. They will enjoy having a space to call their own where they can be creative. You can find some furniture that will fit their needs and can have multiple purposes. For example, a work desk that can be used for studying as well as for arts and crafts, or wooden cubes that can be used as chairs and have storage spaces. Also, you can add some nice touches that will keep kids occupied. A hammock or a swing, climbing ropes, and even a chalk-friendly wall. The basement will become your kids’ favorite room in the house. And the best part is that you can make the remodeling a family project. Involve your kids in the process, and you can have loads of fun organizing the room together. Create a spare guest room Most of us enjoy having friends and family in the house for holidays or just for a fun game night. However, not all of us have enough space or rooms in our homes to accommodate overnight guests. Here is where having a basement can come in handy. It can become a spare bedroom where your guests can stay over whenever you or they want. If you have enough space, you can make it as comfortable as possible. Add a small bathroom, a kitchen, and a dining area, and your guests will feel right at home. Also, the attic can look great too if you remodel it as a guest spare room. The attic can be just as flexible as the basement, and with two cozy new rooms, you can have loved ones stay over all the time. #homeremodeling  A basement remodeled into a bedroom (Photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash) Have your own home theatre If you ever dreamed of watching movies on a big screen from the comfort of your home, now you have the chance. Making a home theatre is one of the best basement remodeling ideas to try this year. First, you will need some building materials to soundproof the basement. That way, you can have the best audio experience and not bother the neighbors. Then, you can cover the windows to create the perfect pitch-black cinema room. Of course, you should place some light sources to see the room when you aren’t watching your favorite movie. Finally, you can clear a big enough wall and install a projector. Bring some comfortable chairs or sofas, a fridge with drinks, and a popcorn machine, and your home theatre is ready. Just make sure to have a movie-watching schedule prepared. Otherwise, you will end up spending hours and hours in your new basement cinema. Work from your basement office Because of the current pandemic situation, more and more people started working from home. The problem is, not many of us have a spare room to create a home office. Most of us need to clear out a small corner where we need to stuff too many things. Well, that corner can become a much bigger space if you have a basement. Most likely, you will need to repaint the walls, so choose a color that will brighten the room. Especially if you don’t have windows in your basement or they are too small. Also, if you don’t have enough natural light coming in, choose lights that won’t bother or fatigue your eyes. After all, you might be spending half of your day in that room, so you need good lighting. At last, bring in your desk and laptop, and start enjoying your new office. And, don’t forget your coffee!  A home office in a basement. (Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash) Use your basement to make more room in the house Some other basement remodeling ideas to try this year can help you gain more space in the house. Creating a laundry room, for example, will give you more space in the bathroom. Or the kitchen, depending on where you have your washing machine installed. Also, you can use the basement to make a home gym. You can store all of your equipment in there and no longer have to worry about stumbling over dumbbells while going around the house. A hobby-designated room is also a great idea. Set up your workbench in the basement to clear some space in the house. Or, move your drum kit there to practice your hobby without the whole neighborhood knowing. As you can see, having a basement is like having a multipurpose room. You can remodel it each time your home has a specific need but not enough space. #basementtransformations  If your hobby is too loud or takes too much space in your home, you can move it to the basement. (Photo by John Matychuk on Unsplash) Adding Value to Your HomeYour basement doesn’t need to be a room full of cobwebs that looks more like a dungeon. Or kept just for depositing stuff that you will never use again. It can become just as cozy and homey as any other room in your house. You just need to use your imagination or get inspired by some of our basement remodeling ideas to try this year. #homeimprovement #homerenovation AuthorPatricia Mitchell is a home décor enthusiast who works as a writer and content creator. Her articles cover a wide range of topics, but she specializes in moving services. She is currently working for Allstate Moving and Storage, writing helpful articles about the moving process. Other Useful Articles: Designing stairs in your new home Are you wasting money or adding value with your home renovation? Simple Tips to Make Your Small Home Feel Like A Big Space Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses? Click on picture to view books on Amazon Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Image by David Mark from Pixabay Unfortunately numerous homes burn down each year. Not only do people lose their home, but they lose their personal effects, treasured memories, and sometimes even their pets and their own lives. House fires can be devastating and they take hold very quickly. Causes of house firesHouse fires are caused by:
 Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay Preventing house firesAccidents are difficult to design against, although proper design and construction can eliminate faults and even protect against lightning strikes. Installing smoke alarms will assist with the early detection of fires enabling occupants to escape and early action to be taken to fight the fire. Having a fire extinguisher and fire blanket readily accessible may help to extinguish small fires.  Building materials and construction techniques must comply with fire codes for your area. In particular wall and ceiling materials must have the required fire rating to prevent the rapid spread of fires. (Grenfell Tower cladding discussions focused on ‘appearance and price’ rather than fire safety, architect tells inquiry). Fire resistant materials should be used in all areas that could be subject to heat build-up, such as around fireplaces and stoves. All electrical installations and fittings must comply with the codes. For adjoining houses where walls touch there should be firewalls extending up inside the roof void, closing tight against the underside of the roof covering to limit the spread of fires between the houses. Use licensed contractors for installing gas and electrical systems. Leaking gas lines and faulty electrical wiring result in many homes burning down each year. Importantly use material and equipment that is sourced from a reputable supplier and which complies with your country's codes and regulations. Regrettably there are many second rate products available from overseas suppliers which do not comply with safety regulations and are dangerous. Don't try and save a few hundred dollars only to have your home destroyed when a substandard product catches fire. The threat from wildfires Image by sippakorn yamkasikorn from Pixabay Wildfires are becoming more common. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in recent wildfires in California, Greece, Spain, Australia, and elsewhere. (Australia bushfires: Dozens of houses destroyed or damaged) In areas prone to bush fires there’re a number of things that can be done. (Are you living in an area prone to fire - See Fire and Flood risks in America). These include:
Designing and building a safe homeYou can prevent your home from burning down by:
Other Useful Articles: How to make your home green and environmentally friendly and save money Understanding Electrics in Your New Home Build Designing Cooking Kitchens - Practical Advice For Your Dream Kitchen Part 1  This is an extract from the author's book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home' © 2021 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses? Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook. |
AuthorI’m a construction professional, author of several successful construction management books, and a home owner. I’ve made mistakes in construction management, I’ve seen others make mistakes, but importantly I’ve had multiple successful construction projects and I’ve learned from the mistakes. I want to share these lessons and my knowledge with you. 
Also available from:
Amazon Au, Amazon DE, Amazon ES, Amazon CA, Amazon IT, Amazon FR, Amazon NL, Amazon India and 'An Introduction to Building Houses - Volume 2 Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home'
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