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 which 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 best at resisting fire. To be considered a
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 be built with
solar panels. Also, appliances, lighting, insulation, and HVAC are
just a few areas 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
provide 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.
