The Good and Bad of Terracotta Roofing in Florida

Terracotta roofing has a storied history in Florida that has continued to the present day. But despite their undeniable popularity, especially in the Greater Tampa Bay area, terracotta tile roofs are not for everyone. So how are you supposed to decide if terracotta roofing is right for your home?

Well, one option is turning to experienced local roofers for advice! We’re Classic Roofing and Construction, and with hundreds of five-star reviews and over two decades of local roofing experience, we’re uniquely qualified to explain the good and the bad of terracotta roofing. But before we get into the pros and cons, let’s talk about what sets terracotta roofing tiles apart from other tile roofing options.

What Is Terracotta Roofing?

If you’ve been in Florida for any length of time, you’ve seen terracotta roofs. Known for their distinctive red hue, these sloped roofing materials first came to North America via the Spanish settlers immigrating to Florida.

But what sets terracotta roofing apart from other types of tile roofing?

Well, the next most common type of tile roofing is concrete. This material is often used as a cheaper alternative to terracotta roofing, thanks to the reduced cost of shaping cement compared to baking and molding clay into terracotta. However, while they’re more affordable, they simply can’t compete with terracotta roofing when it comes to durability and longevity.

Pros and Cons of Terracotta Roofing

Now that we’ve got a good overview of terracotta roofing tiles, let’s look at the good and the bad of this luxury roofing material.

Pro: Terracotta Roofing Is Built to Last

Naturally, many homeowners prioritize a roof that won’t need replacing anytime soon. And if you want a long-lasting roof, there’s no better option than terracotta roofing. A traditional shingle roof will only last 25 years at the most, but terracotta tile roofing can last for over 100 years!

It’s important to know that you may not keep all of the individual tiles for that length of time. But while a shattered or otherwise damaged tile can be annoying, replacing tiles is a quick and easy repair, especially when compared to the cost of removing and replacing your entire roofing system.

Con: Terracotta Tiles Are Not Cheap

People choose terracotta roofs because they’re beautiful, timeless, and reliable. However, they certainly don’t choose them because they’re cheap to install. In fact, as a luxury roofing material, terracotta tiles are some of the most expensive roofing materials that you could choose for your home.

So how much do they cost? Well, without knowing your roof, the best we can give is a rough estimate. With that in mind, terracotta tiles can cost anywhere from $9 to $26 when including material and labor costs. So for a 3,000-square-foot roof, that means you can expect to pay between $27,000 and $78,000.

For many homeowners who can afford it, though, terracotta roofing is worth the price tag. Its unbeatable longevity makes it an excellent investment in the long-term protection of your home.

Pro: Tile Roofs Have a Classic, Local Beauty

Tile roofs have been a staple in Florida roofing for around five hundred years. In terms of aesthetics, they perfectly suit the local climate and can give your home that perfect finishing touch. This is another reason that homeowners are willing to invest in terracotta roofing: It drastically increases your home’s curb appeal.

And while terracotta roofs are certainly worth appreciating solely for their beauty, that isn’t the only advantage of their great aesthetics. Having higher curb appeal also translates to higher resale value for your home. And since tiles are a timeless feature of Florida living, you don’t have to worry about them losing value with age or falling out of style. So even if you don’t plan to sell your home in the next decade, getting a tile roof today could still pay off in the long run.

Con: Terracotta Roofing Is Heavy

One of the biggest hurdles to getting a terracotta tile roof is making sure that your roof is ready for its weight. Terracotta tiles are remarkably heavy, weighing between 600 and 1,5000 pounds per 100 square feet of material. If your roof isn’t prepared for that kind of weight, it could cause your entire roofing system to collapse.

The best way to make sure your roof is ready for this weight is to get an inspection with a licensed roofing contractor. If they find that your roof needs additional support to handle this weight, they can add these supports during the roof replacement process. However, you should know that this will further increase the costs of your terracotta roof replacement.

Pro: Terracotta Roofing is Florida-proof

No roofing material can guarantee protection, but terracotta roofing is excellent at resisting some of the most common roof killers in Florida. Let’s look at the ways that terracotta tiles stand up to the local weather patterns:

• High wind resistance, including winds of up to 180 mph
• Class A fire resistance
• UV-reflective, so they move heat away from your structure
• Immune to rot and highly resistant to pest infestations

This is the kind of protection that can outlast hurricanes. So in addition to being an investment in beauty and longevity, terracotta roofing also represents an excellent investment in security.

Get Your Free Terracotta Roofing Estimate

The only way to know how much a new terracotta roof will cost you is by collecting estimates. And at Classic Roofing, we’re happy to provide free roofing estimates that you can schedule online. Because why would we make it harder to get that perfect new roof you’ve been looking for?

At Classic, we’ve been providing world-class terracotta roof replacements since 2003. If you want to see how we earned that kind of longevity in the competitive business of roofing in Florida, give us a chance and see why, after all this time, we still do things the Classic way.