Protect and Beautify Southeastern Homes with Tile RoofingConcrete Roof Tile Offers Aesthetics, Durability and Energy Efficiency

CHICAGO, IL - April 2007 - When shopping for a new home or considering a remodeling project, residents of the Southeast are seeking options that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Since a roof occupies approximately 40 percent of visible space on the average house, choosing a material that offers both a unique look and superior protection from the elements can significantly enhance the home's exterior appearance while also offering piece of mind.

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One of the fastest growing roofing materials is concrete tile. In recent years, roof tiles have evolved from the traditional red, rounded style to include a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to coordinate with different roofing styles and architectural preferences across the country. With the introduction of modern, more resilient materials, concrete tile offers an unmatched combination of aesthetics, durability and energy efficiency.

According to Mike Sanders, president of Fidelis Signature Homes in Alpharetta, Georgia, "The popularity of concrete roofing is continuing to grow in the Southeast, and it's becoming the preferred roofing material for our developments. As a result of the many unique styles offered by manufacturers like MonierLifetile, concrete roof tile creates a distinct look that has resulted in many of our most beautiful home designs."

Alexia Gallagher, an Atlanta-area RE/MAX real estate agent, also recognizes the value of roof tile. "Since concrete roof tile not only looks great but typically lasts for the lifetime of the home, it's an incredible sales feature," she states. "When a prospective buyer learns that they will never have to replace the roof, which includes a transferable lifetime warranty, that that can be their deciding factor in choosing the home."

Through innovative new production techniques, manufacturers are now able to produce tiles to suit almost any architectural style, from authentic Spanish and Mediterranean to historic or even contemporary. For example, the inspiration for all MonierLifetile styles comes from old-world materials like wood, clay and slate. This relentless innovation results in a roof that not only looks beautiful, but offers unsurpassed performance and protection to ensure the integrity of the structure.

Roof tile, which has withstood the world's most extreme weather and climates for thousands of years, offers protection for homeowners in areas prone to tornadoes, hurricanes or extreme winds. The design and construction of a concrete roofing system allows high air permeability, which protects the roof by relieving wind stress. According to the Tile Roofing Institute, a non-profit association of producers and associates of concrete and clay tile and one of the leading industry experts, independent testing has shown that with proper attachment, concrete roof tiles can sustain winds in excess of 125 miles-per-hour, a wind speed that would strip off most other roofing materials. Concrete roof tiles are also non-combustible and can resist damage from hail as large as 1.5 inches.

With today's movement toward green building and cool roofing, concrete tile is also an increasingly popular choice for buildings that are designed for energy efficiency. When built with an elevated batten system and other MonierLifetile roofing components, a tile roof allows air circulation underneath the tile, which reduces heat transfer to a home's attic. According to Dr. William A. Miller, Ph.D., of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, "Venting offers a significant 50 percent reduction in the heat penetrating the conditioned space compared to direct nailed roof systems that are in direct contact with the roof deck." Due to this design, tile not only saves energy but also reduces heating and cooling costs.

Terry Dickerson, president of The Roof Depot in Alpharetta, Georgia, states, "Concrete tile is simply a superior building product. It protects the home, lasts a lifetime, looks great and lowers air conditioning costs. Especially with the high temperatures in the Southeast, that's a smart investment."

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Contact:
Emily Towey
312-946-6143