A roof is a major investment that will be with you and your home for many years. How long depends on what type of roofing material you choose. If it’s a choice between asphalt shingles or clay tiles, that difference in years can be up to a century.
As our company name suggests, Western States Metal Roofing manufactures metal roofing, not shingles or clay tiles. You may wonder why we would discuss a product we don’t even sell. Well, it’s because we realize that when you’re looking for a new roof, you have more options to consider besides metal.
We aim to teach homeowners the common alternatives to metal so you get a well-rounded understanding of your roofing choices to help decide which is best for you.
Asphalt shingles happen to be the most popular type of roofing in the United States. While clay tile is not as common, it has been used for roofing dating all the way back to the 1600s.
Truthfully, these two roofing types are complete opposites in almost every way. Besides personal preference, the decision comes down to a choice of price or performance.
We’re going to compare asphalt shingles and clay tiles in the following areas:
- Appearance
- Durability
- Cost
- Installation
- Maintenance
Appearance
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingle roofs consist of shingles that are generally made up of a blend between asphalt, mineral fiber and cementitious fillers. Shingles come in different thicknesses and textures and are most often used in neutral colors such as gray, brown, or black.
Shingles have a tendency to visibly age quickly. Even if the roof is still fully functional, aesthetically it can appear old looking after only 5-7 years.
Higher quality shingles, such as dimensional shingles, can keep their original appearance for longer as they tend to be thicker which increases their durability and curb appeal. However, it also increases their price tag.
It’s important to look at the different shingle options to see which one best matches your needs and budget.
Clay Tiles
When you visualize clay tiles, you might picture a terracotta orange that is synonymous with the Southwestern desert region of the United States. However, clay tiles are much more diverse than that.
While clay is often used in natural earth tones, it can be found in a variety of different colors and comes in glazed or unglazed finishes.
Clay tiles are made by baking molded clay. They are baked at such high temperatures that the color permanently attaches to the clay tile without any peeling or fading to worry about in the future. A clay tile roof will maintain its original color throughout its lifespan.
There are different profiles of tiles to choose from that also impact the roof’s appearance including:
- S-shaped tile
- Flat Shingle
- Interlocking
Durability
Asphalt Shingles
Durability is one of the biggest issues with asphalt shingle roofing. They have the shortest lifespan of all roofing materials that you’ll find on the market. Generally, asphalt roofs will last you an average of 10-20 years before needing to be replaced. However, the lifespan will vary depending on which type of shingle you choose.
The different grades of roof shingles all vary in quality. The better the shingle, the longer it will last. Dimensional shingles tend to be thicker which means they are also more durable. They usually also come with a longer warranty than the standard 3-tab shingle.
Shingles themselves are lightweight, which can be problematic in stormy conditions. It’s not uncommon for shingles to blow off a roof and need to be replaced.
For more information on the difficulties of asphalt shingle roofs, we suggest reading:
7 Problems With Asphalt Shingle Roofs
Clay Tiles
A clay tile roof is an investment that will last you a lifetime. They can last anywhere from 50-100 years with minimal maintenance. The weight of clay tiles makes them very resistant to high winds so they are great in areas that are prone to hurricanes. They are also fire-resistant.
There are three grades of clay tile that further detail their durability. The tile grade is based on how much moisture is inside the tile. The less moisture in the tile, the higher grade of tile.
Less moisture means less chance of mold. It also means that there is a smaller chance that the tile will break from freezing temperatures.
As you can see below, a Grade 1 tile is the most durable because it has the least moisture content.
- Grade 1 – 1% moisture content – Least chance of mold
- Grade 2 – 3% moisture content - Higher chance of mold
- Grade 3 – 6% moisture content – Highest chance of mold
The downside to the durability of clay tiles is that they are brittle and can be cracked and damaged by any heavy impact. For this reason, clay tile roofs should not be walked on as they can chip or break from a person’s weight.
Cost
Asphalt Shingles
Arguably the biggest advantage of asphalt shingles is that it’s the most affordable roofing material.
The cost of a new shingle roof will range from $4 per square foot up to $7 per square foot installed. That may seem like a big range, but it’s dependent on the type of shingle you choose.
Higher quality shingles, which are also thicker, will cost more than the thinner shingles.
Clay Tiles
Clay tiles are in the range of $10.50 to $18.50 per square foot installed.
If the weight of clay tiles, 600-650 lbs per square, exceeds your home’s roof load-bearing capacity, then you’ll have to get a structural engineer involved. Your home will need to be structurally reinforced to handle the weight of clay tiles to prevent your roof from collapsing from the extra weight. This extra expense that can cost you up to $10,000.
Installation
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are often viewed as being the easiest and fastest type of roofing to install. Most homes typically only take a day to have a whole new roof installed. Asphalt shingles are lightweight and so working with them is not strenuous.
Homeowners that like to tackle home improvement projects may choose to install an asphalt shingle roof themselves to avoid installation costs. If you hire a professional, the installation price will be less for asphalt shingles than with other roofing materials. This is because an asphalt shingle roof is a faster, less labor-intensive installation compared to other roofing.
Clay Tiles
A clay tile roof is a more costly and time-consuming installation compared to asphalt shingles. A big contributing factor to the installation time is that the installation requires working with very heavy material that cannot be easily moved. Clay tile roofs can take up to one week to be installed.
The extra time and labor also means that the installation costs will be much higher. The installation alone can be $7 to $8 per square foot.
We do not recommend trying to save on labor costs with a clay tile roof as this is not a DIY friendly material. A clay tile roof installation requires a professional roofing contractor with extensive tile installation experience.
Maintenance
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingle roofs should be inspected annually to check for issues. It’s not uncommon for shingles to need to be replaced either from buckling, curling, or just missing altogether.
Luckily, replacing an asphalt shingle is a quick and easy process that, like the installation, is possible to do on your own. In fact, most asphalt shingle maintenance, in general, can be done yourself. This includes tasks like gutters being cleaned out and any debris should be cleared from the roof.
Clay Tiles
Clay tile roofs have minimal maintenance. Routine annual inspections should be performed to check for any damaged tiles, flashing, or underlayment. These inspections help ensure that your roof remains weathertight. Gutters should also be cleaned out and any debris should be cleared from the roof.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Roofing Material
There are big differences between asphalt shingle roofing and clay tile roofing especially in terms of cost, installation time, and lifespan.
When deciding between these two roofing types, it’s important to determine what your biggest concerns are for your roof to help make your choice easier.
You should choose an asphalt shingle roof when:
- Cost is a primary concern
- You won’t be living in your home for a long period of time, so lifespan is not a major factor.
- You want to install the roof yourself, or your home requires a lightweight roofing material.
You should choose a clay tile roof when:
- You want a very long-lasting roof that will most likely never have to be replaced.
- Cost is not a primary factor
- You want a roof that will keep its original color
If a clay tile roof seems too expensive, or an asphalt shingle roof might not last as long as you’re looking for, you might want to further compare different roofing materials to see if there’s a better fit for you. Check out how an asphalt shingle roof compares with a metal roof:
Metal Roofing v. Asphalt Shingles: The Advantages And Disadvantages
