Clay Tile Roofing

The derivation of clay tile roofing can be traced back from China and the Middle East. These two regions influenced and spread the use of the material throughout Asia and Europe. Even up to this time, Europeans have been using clay tiles for their roof and they also introduced this roofing material to the United States around 17th century. Clay tile roofing became famous in the US because of its durability, almost maintenance-free, and heat resistance.

Clay tile is mainly characterized by its shape and composition. Its other attributes are resistance to breakage, absorption, resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, fireproof, and long lasting. It can last up to an average of 50 to 70 years, but if the quality of clay tile is good, it can even survive beyond that. This type of material is well-known for its traditional and architectural features from centuries ago that is evidently seen in historical remnants of famous structural towers and buildings.

The clay tiles used for clay tile roofing are generally produced in two common shapes, profile and flat. Profile type may be classified into pan and cover, S-tile, and interlocking. Flat tile type can either be just interlocking or non-interlocking.

Clay tile manufacturers produce tiles of different quality. Some have superior and durable tile features; others are made of even unacceptable quality at very cheap price. The tendency of the latter is that it may corrode and wear down after some time. Unlike wood shakes and other roofing materials, this type doesn’t undergo curing like kiln drying or chemical treatment to add up to its durability. Since clay tile eventually erodes, this is best applied for dry climates where rainy seasons are not constant. Considering that clay tiles readily absorb water, location should be highly taken into account.

Clay tile roofing definitely needs strong roofing support because it is massive and is a very heavy material. If in cases of leakage or cracking, clay tiles need not be replaced but can just be repaired. Clay tiles are not only expensive and labor-intensive, installation is also a bit costly. But the use of the material conveys a distinctive look to your home or to a building that cannot be matched by any other roof.

When choosing clay tile roofing, seek the professional advice of expert roofers or roofing consultants. It’s better to pay a higher price rather than end up replacing clay tile roofs every 5 or 6 years because you unfortunately ended up with a poor quality clay tile roofing material.