What are Clay Roof Tiles
Clay roof tiles have been around almost as long as construction of houses has, in fact we have found clay roof tiles that are over 12 000 years old in China. They do such a fantastic job that most ancient architecture that is still standing have sections that still maintain their original clay roof tiling.
Clay is a naturally occuring material that is plentiful regardless of where in the world you are, the main difference in the clay tiles come from the composition of the clay, in areas where the iron content of clay is low, the clay tiles normally are buffed to a brownish colour whereas areas with high iron content give more of a terracotta red hue. This natural material is normally given shape and then fired in high tempreture kilns to produce a final product and a modernisation of this technique includes glazing these tiles to provide tiles in every hue of the rainbow.
The largest difference in how we do clay tile roofing today compared to ancient times is that we now use the clay tiles as the outermost layer of our roofing with ply wood, insultation and other waterproofing layers between because we are far less tollerant of the occassional leak in the roof now then we were then.
Clay tiles as have been mentioned are one of the longest living materials available for your roof, in fact, those tiles will probably outlive your house and it’s because of this that you have to keep in mind that when you want to do a clay tiled roof, you need to use the highest quality materials to go with it to prevent failures as your roof is only as strong as it’s weakest link. So with this in mind we recommend heavy-gauge copper or stainless steel for your flashings, gutters, nails, fasteners, screws and tile clips, as alliminium and other lighter metals will simply wear away long before your tiles ever do.
Advantages Of Clay Roof Tiles?
- Reliability and durability – Clay roofing when combined with the correct supporting materials can last for hundreds of years with virtually no maintenance and thousands of years with some maintenance. It is incredibly resiliant and highly durable being able to handle even harse weather conditions with virtually little to no wear and tear.
- Insulation. Clay also offers insulating properties. Because air can circulate under the tiles, inside temperatures remain warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
- Presentable appearance – Clay roof tiles are as beautiful and unique as they are long lived. Different areas produce different shades of clay and if a natural shade doesn’t interest you, a variety of finishes are available to get even shocking purple tiles.
What are the Disadvantages of Clay Roof Tiles
Clay roof tiles have two major disadvantages when compared to other roofing methods. The first disadvantage is simply weight, clay roof tiles are some of the heaviest roofing materials on the market, up to three to four times heavier than asphalt roof tiles and so an extensive supporting structure is needed to support the roof. The second is the upfront costs, clay is a very long lived roofing material and it is quite likely that your great-great-great grandchildren could still be living under the roof you get built today, but this extremely high value and longetivity comes with a high upfront cost due to materials of equal quality needing to be used and the additional support structure necessary.
What do Clay Roof Tiles Cost
There are two prices attached to any roof that you need to keep in mind. The first is the upfront price, this is what the roofing material, installation, and finishes will total to. The second is the long term cost in maintenance, damage and eventually replacing the material when it comes to the end of its life.
Clay roof tiles have an exceptionally high upfront cost when you consider the supporting structure and materials such as high guage copper or stainless-steel but clay roofs can last centuries if not melenia and as such if you take into account the value to your family for generations to come, the overall cost of the roof will be very low, as it’s likely your family and descendants won’t have to replace the roof until the house is demolished for development