Tile Roofs

Tile roofs endure some of nature's toughest elements, yet despite the harshest weather concrete and clay can withstand wind, hail, rain, earthquakes and even fires. This resilience enables manufacturers to offer some of the longest warranties in the roofing industry.

The color palette for concrete and clay roof tile includes hundreds of selections with options ranging from a single-color tile to a matrix of up to five colors. Styles range from flat to barrel-shaped tile, and either will change the appearance of a roof dramatically. There is also a wide selection of carefully blended hues that range from subtle tints to vibrant colors, and wood and slate textures that simulate nature.

It is no wonder that for quality roofs of unsurpassed beauty, versatility and safety, nothing compares to tile.

In addition to tile's unique beauty, most concrete and clay tile manufacturers typically offer a minimum 50-year limited warranty on their products. For consumers, this warranty covers their roofing material for as long as they own their homes.

Both concrete and clay tiles are made from naturally occurring materials that do not deplete precious natural resources making them environmentally friendly.

CLAY

Most people are familiar with round, red clay tiles, often called Spanish, "S", Mission or Barrel tiles, that create rolling or rippled patterns on the roofs of many buildings in the Southern and Western united States. However, modern innovations have allowed manufacturers to develop new styles and colors for clay tile roofs that retain their original elegant, handmade appearance while expanding their architectural range to include contemporary and historic as well as Mediterranean designs.

For instance, flat tiles, also known as shingle tiles, can overlap or interlock to form distinctive French or English style roofs. Some manufacturers also offer lightweight clay tiles suitable for re-roofing projects and special tile products for roofs with steep slopes.

Although terra cotta red is clay's natural color, the ultimate color of a modern clay tile roof depends on several factors: the natural color of the underlying clay, temperature of the firing kiln, application of color blending techniques and the use of a glaze or finish.

CONCRETE

Concrete tiles primarily consist of cement, sand and pigments, and are available in an array of colors an styles, appropriate for any climate or architectural preference.

Modern concrete tile designs can simulate the appearance of traditional clay tiles, wood shake, slate and stone. Manufacturers achieve these distinctive styles by altering various aspects of the tiles' structure and placement. For example, like clay, concrete tile surfaces can be textured or smooth, tile edges can be uniform or ragged, and architects may select tiles of all one color, blended colors, or combine two or more shades and place them in a uniform or random pattern.