5 Benefits of Clay Roofing

Out of all of the home renovation projects you could contemplate, one of the most costly and difficult is a new roofing job. It’s physically complicated, as you’ll be exposed to the elements in a situation where inexperience and carelessness could lead to a misstep and a deadly fall. It’s financially complicated, depending on if it’s a simple patch job or an entire replacement. And your choices here affect many other aspects of your home, from energy efficiency to water and mold issues. The key to the process is choosing the right roofing materials, and you’ll find no shortage of options here. While you can spend weeks debating the pros and cons of each possibility, many people cut that short and decide to go with clay. Clay tiles have been a part of roofing jobs for literally thousands of years, so clearly there’s a reason they are still in use today. Here are five benefits of clay roofing.

First of all, you’ve got that extensive history to turn to. Clay has been used to put a roof over people’s heads since the very first days of constructed shelters. Archaeologists have unearthed clay roofing tiles in historic sites that date back thousands of years. That proves how useful this product has been, but also speaks to its durability. After all, if clay has been able to last the millennia in all sorts of weather conditions, it can certainly last for the lifetime of your home.

Another benefit is the variety you’ll find in clay roofing materials. You won’t have to sacrifice design in order to take advantage of this ancient material. You’ll be able to find clay tiles in practically any shape and size, and in styles both modern and classic. Since it is such a common roofing material, you generally won’t have to lean on special orders or custom jobs. Basically any type of clay tiling product you could think of has already been constructed, and should be easy enough to find online or in your local home remodeling center.

One of the best things about clay roofing is it’s strength as an insulator. This is one of the primary reason why people have been using it in building for so long. Clay is great, because it helps cool your home in the hot summer months, but also keeps the heat inside where it belongs during the long, cold winter. Clay doesn’t absorb the sun’s heat, but reflects it away from your home. That will greatly reduce the strain on your HVAC system, and probably cut down on your utility bills over time. You’ll see clay roofing in effect in many hot climates, because of how well it maintains cool temperatures. Clay tile also allows for air circulation, and although you might not think it, that will actually improve the entire roof’s insulation.

While clay is fantastic for the purposes of insulation, it’s also a solid option to combat all sorts of weather. Clay will stand up against the harsh beatings winter has been known to give out, as long as you construct the roof properly. Ask an expert to make sure you are sealing the roof properly, and using an underlayment that will extend the life of your roofing job. Clay will last forever, but if the underlayment isn’t up to that challenge, you’ll end up with a lot of work on your hands.

The final benefit of clay for your roof is that durability. You’ll notice far fewer cracked or broken tiles when you head up for a periodic roof repair job. Aside from cleaning the roof off, you won’t have to do very much else. Water damage will never occur, and clay roofing is entirely fireproof. They won’t burst during a deep freeze and the following thaw, and will actually keep insects away as well. For all of these reasons, you could do much worse than clay for your roof.