Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Masonry roofing materials—including slate, tile, concrete, and fibrous cement—won’t rot, blow off, catch fire, or become termite fodder.
Ceramic tile and slate, revered for centuries because of their elegance and durability, have inspired an assortment of newer masonry materials that are neither as heavy nor as expensive as the originals ($3 per square foot as opposed to $4–$7 per square foot).
Imitation tile and slate roofing materials are made from concrete and fiber cement. Concrete, in both flat and Spanish-style tile units, is extruded under high pressure to make a rugged, dense, durable tile. Concrete tile is available in both flat and Spanish-tile patterns. It presents a thick profile and is very durable, though it will crack if walked on carelessly.Although conventional concrete tile weighs about 10 pounds per square foot, lightweight varieties are available at about half that. Installed, concrete tile roofing runs in the range of $5 to $10 per square foot.
Thinner fibrous cement tiles—manufactured using Portland cement, reinforcement fibers, and a lightweight mineral aggregate such as perlite—is flatter, lighter in weight (about 5 pounds per square foot), and looks more like slate or wood shakes; it can also handle foot traffic better than concrete. Though priced competitively with wood shakes, they are highly resistant to fire, termites, moisture damage, ultra-violet breakdown, and other problems associated with wood. All masonry roofing is heavy—up to 1,000 pounds per square. In general, the heavy weight of masonry roofs may call for more structural support than required by other roofing and can increase the cost of delivery and installation. Even so, most homeowners agree that the costs are outweighed by the benefits of a solid, durable, trouble-free roof that will last as long as the house.
