Save Your Home From Fires With Tile Roofing

Written by Thomas Burrell

Friday, 05 September 2008

by ThomasBurrell

If you live in an area where fires spring up, the type of roof you have is one of the most important factors in determining whether your home will survive. Some roofs cannot handle fires, but tile roofs most certainly can.

How many times a year does the news show files consuming neighborhoods? It seems like a few times at least. Once the fires are put out, it is interesting to notice that some homes are standing, but others are practically gone.

Undoubtedly, you have wondered why it is that some houses burn and some do not. The news people never seem to really discuss it, but there is a clear answer. The type of roofing a home has is the key. Consider the Southern California fires.

There is a huge misconception about fires in San Diego. Most people envision them spreading across fields and the like. While this occurs, firefighters can usually create break lines that save homes. Unfortunately, there is a big problem.

The primary fire threat is not on the ground. It is in the air. Burning embers float in the wind and fly long distances. When they land on roofs, they just need fuel to cause a major new hot spot.

In this case, the fuel is usually the roof itself. When they land on dry wood shingle roofs, there is plenty of fuel and the home will be severely damaged or burned to the ground. When the land on tile, the tiles do not burn so the ember does no damage.

After the fires end, a drive through the communities is like being on the moon with one odd exception. Despite the fact everything is burned to the ground, homes with tile roofs are still upright.

Why does tile do so much better than wood? To answer the question, consider how tile is made. It is essentially a form of mud. Ever seen mud burn? Nope. The worst that tends to happen to tile is it might crack under extreme heat.

The very design of a tile roof also is helpful in stopping fire threats. The key is overlapping. Each tile overlaps the one below it, which means there is no open space for embers to get down into and cause problems.

If fire is a potential threat in your community, you need to seriously consider converting your home to a tile roof. Failure to do so can result in the saddest of situations when you return to a home that is nothing but charred remains.

Article Author:

Thomas Burrell is with 866FixMyRoof.com - an Orange County roofing contractor who stands behind their work by guaranteeing it in writing.

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