Why Are American-Style Asphalt Tile Roofs Rare in Australia?

When you think of American television series and famous Hollywood films, perhaps you picture their homes to look like white picket-fenced suburban homes with asphalt roofs. It’s certainly an image that makes a lasting impression, and perhaps it makes you wonder why those asphalt shingled roofs have never really taken off here in the land down under. Asphalt tiles are a cheap material, in all senses of the word, offering robust protection at affordable prices. Since they’re made of bitumen, however, they tend to be relatively flimsy and sensitive to extreme heat. That latter point should be a giveaway as to why they haven’t really caught on in Australia. Why is that? Why are American asphalt shingle roofs not so popular here and is that a good or bad thing?

American-Style Roofing Generalised

Despite the stereotypes shown in popular media, asphalt shingles are not prevalent everywhere in the good ol’ USA. Around three-quarters of all American homes indeed use asphalt tiles (or ‘shingles’ over there), but that doesn’t mean they’re widely used in every state or, more accurately, in every climate zone found in the country. The overwhelming majority of asphalt roofs in the US are found in the northern states and in climates where a cold winter is common while hot summers are relatively short and bearable. Extremely humid or dry climates, such as the South Western states, are not the best climates for asphalt tiles and terracotta and other resilient roofing materials are generally preferred. Notable examples are the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural styles commonly found in these old Spanish colonies (or missionary outposts, to be precise).

Australian-Style Roofing

Australian roofing materials tend to differ quite a bit from the asphalt tiles used in America, mostly because of the hot climate that can outright melt bitumen and ruin your roof. Historically, many of the homes in New South Wales (back when it was quite a bit bigger than it is today) colonies used Welsh slate, imported from Wales, of course. Nowadays, heritage homes still often boast this wonderfully durable roofing material and some modern homes also opt for slate. Terracotta, concrete tile, metal, and synthetic tile roofs tend to be much more popular and better suited for Australia’s climate zones.

Why are American and Australian Roofs so Different?

The United States and Australia both have roots in the Old World from Britain, for different reasons, but their roofing materials are very different from one another today. In America, particularly the colder and/or milder northern states are quite well-suited to bitumen asphalt tiles since it rarely gets hot enough (and for long enough) to melt the roof. Moreover, it’s quite cheap to purchase and install, and most roofers are highly accustomed to working with this material. In Australia, on the other hand, our roofs need to be much better at resisting heat and so most of our roofing materials, although more costly than asphalt tiles, offer greater durability and longevity. In short, cost is not the only reason why our roofing styles are so different but rather climatic conditions tend to be the primary reason. Which roofing material is best for your home? Speak with a qualified roofer to explore your options today.

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