Do roof tiles become porous?

Conservatory refurbished with a Metrotile Lightweight Roof System Shingle Charcoal and Velux Window

For those who don’t know, porous in this case means the concrete roof tiles will let water through. Understandably when you’re dealing with a concrete roof this is a big concern, because they are so exposed to the elements the last thing you want to happen is to have your concrete tiles fall off your roof.

But you can rest easy because it’s all a myth, concrete roof tiles don’t become porous. When you look at old homes and buildings with their roofs still intact it becomes obvious that the stories behind porous concrete roof tiles aren’t true.

This doesn’t even have anything to do with waterproof sealing either (although that does help) it’s because of how the tiles are laid. On a pitched roof, the rainwater simply runs into the guttering by crossing over each tile. Even other materials like clay can be used in roof tiles without the risk of becoming porous.

So do I need to seal them?

Now you know that concrete roof tiles can’t become porous, you’re probably wondering whether you really need to even bother with sealing them. While sealing your roof tiles won’t actually affect whether they become porous or not (because that isn’t going to happen anyway) it can still benefit you in a number of ways.

Even though rain water and other harsh weather won’t make concrete tiles become porous, it can certainly damage the surface. Cosmetically this is going to make even the most colourful tiles start to look worn and washed out.

But if you seal your tiles you can stop the rain from weathering the surface, people spend a lot of money making their roofs stand out so if you want to protect that investment sealing is a great idea. Sealing will also prevent water from entering any hairline cracks, once the water has entered it will freeze and expand.

If this happens the tiles lifespan will be cut drastically and it will likely fracture and break within a short amount of time. So, sealing your concrete roof tiles is always a good idea if you want to better protect your roof and reduce maintenance costs.

The Metrotile Solution!

But while sealing is no doubt useful for people who already have concrete roofing tiles if you’re looking to enhance and modernise your home or business then Metrotile’s roofing service can help. We offer a modern roofing solution using only the highest quality materials.

You’ll be guaranteed a lighter and more environmentally friendly solid conservatory roof that will help you stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You also have a huge range of different tiling options so you’ll be sure to stand out and best of all Metrotile’s roofs have incredibly low maintenance needs.

Get in touch with our team by calling 01249 658 514 or fill out our contact form.