Introduction To roof tiles
It can be a difficult decision to make when having a newly built roof or a re-roof, having to choose what tiles you’d like on your roof. It usually seems quite simple, with clay, slate and concrete being the most common types of materials. But most people forget that there is a plethora of different colours, sizes and shapes that you can choose from… But which one to choose?
Each type of tile comes with their own benefits, so it’s good to research and see what suits you, and your home, best.
Clay
Clay tiles are the most traditional and common roofing material in the UK. They have been used for hundreds of years, often found on homes with mediterranean or gothic influences, which proves their durability as some clay roofs can exceed 100 years of age and still be functional.
That is just one of the many positives that come with clay tiles, they also are known for their colour retention, keeping their rich colours for years. In terms of colours, clay tiles can come in a large variety of them, such as the classic reds and oranges, as well as browns, greys, blues, blacks and more. The profile of a tile is also something that should be considered when choosing clay tiles, as there are many choices available, such as single pantile, double pantile, single roman, double roman, plain, and flat.
Clay tiles can be expensive due to the sheer amount of them that you would need for a roof, especially rosemary tiles that are small, requiring you to have more tiles per square metre. This is something that also affects their weight, as a clay tile roof can sometimes outweigh a concrete one. Over time, they will also become fragile, so walking on clay tiles should be avoided, that is why we use cat ladders along with protection to stop the ladder from putting a lot of pressure on the tiles, which helps against damaging any of them.
Sandtoft Actua
Lagan Shetland
Slate Effect
These are the tiles we offer and recommend, but we can install tiles of your choice upon request.
Slate
Slate is made out of natural rock, with quarries in Wales, Scotland, Spain, as well as many other countries. This is another durable material for roofing tiles, with some slate tile roofs holding on since the 19th century, one of the most common roofing materials for heritage homes. The most common shape of the slate tile is rectangular, however, you can find roofs with patterns made by cutting the slates and creating floral, geometric and many more designs on roofs. These are also made using different colours of slates.
Since they are sourced from natural rock formations, the colours will vary and can be unique, no slate tile looks the same. Slates can come in their common black and grey colours, but you can find green, purple and red, with the cause of these colours being the minerals that are within them. Their thickness can also range from thin to very thick since they are split by hand. However with, for example Welsh slate, they are usually consistent with their thickness.
Slate is known as one of the most attractive roofing materials, and with its durability, they can be rather expensive. The installation of slate can also be pricey due to the fact that it has to be installed by specialist roofers and because it is time consuming, since they have to be individually cut, punched and fitted. Based on its thickness, a slate roof can be heavy, though lighter than its concrete and clay counterparts.
Siga 32
These are the tiles we offer and recommend, but we can install tiles of your choice upon request.
Concrete
Concrete tiles are usually made out of sand, cement, water and pigments, with modern concrete tiles having a surface coating for improving colour retention, water resistance, and appearance. This is usually the cheapest choice of roofing material, thanks to the easy and fast production, as well as easier installation and repairs.
It is widely available and has a large variety of colours available. In terms of their profile, they are rather large tiles, which helps with making a roof cheaper, as you need less tiles to cover the roof. The profiles available are similar to that of clay tiles, with the choices of single pantile, double pantile, single roman, double roman, plain, and flat.
Because this is the cheapest choice, it does show through the lifespan, as it is long and can last between 40 and 60+ years, but it is definitely the shortest of the materials available. It is also the heaviest tile on average, which could cause extra costs when preparing the structure of your roof. Though they come in many different colours, they are known to fade over time, possibly adapting a ‘washed granular’ appearance after 10 to 20 years. In addition to this, moss is more likely to grow on concrete, potentially accelerating deterioration.
Planum
These are the tiles we offer and recommend, but we can install tiles of your choice upon request.
Metal
Metal roofs can come in tiles or large sheets, making them very fast and easy to install, cutting labour costs. Compared to the other roofing materials, they are the most lightweight ones available. The lifespan of these tiles can vary, with the average being 40-50+ years, thanks to their great weather resistance.
Metal roof tiles also come in a large variety of colours, with brighter and more vibrant colours. In terms of their profile, there are many to choose from, such as tile effect, slate effect, flat sheet panels and more. There are some concerns that people usually have in terms of their aesthetics, as they are viewed as quite industrial with obvious fixings.
There are some common issues with metal roofs, such as increased noise due to harsh weather and condensation caused by rapid temperature changes. They are mainly designed for buildings such as garages and sheds, but they can be used for homes.
Tile Profiles
Profiles refer to the shape of the tile, with many to choose from. However, some are considered better than others in terms of UK weather. The reason behind tiles coming in a variety of shapes is to make them more well adapted to the climate, some are made to interlock for better waterproofing and the durability can be improved due to better weight distribution. Majority of the time, certain tile profiles are chosen for aesthetic reasons and to match the architectural style.
Plain
Flat
Single Roman
Double Roman
Single Plantile
Double Plantile
Common Questions
Can roof tiles be reused?
Yes, roof tiles can be reused. These are called reclaimed tiles, which have been taken off old roofs, cleaned and repurposed. Reclaimed tiles are sought after due to their unique character and their compatibility for heritage roofing.
We do offer reclaimed slate. During a re-roof, we take all of the slate off and grade it, leaving usually around 50% of the original tiles. These tiles are installed at the front of the property, with the rest of the roof being made up of new, reclaimed slates. This process isn’t linear so how many slates can be reused, and the price of the job, heavily depends on the quality and condition of the existing slate.
Which roof tiles should I choose for a low pitched roof?
For low pitch roofs, metal tiles are the best choice thanks to their low amount of joints and great water shedding properties.
Concrete is also seen as being better than other roof tiles at lower pitches thanks to their size, as they lower the amount of joints. They also do really well against weather conditions. Manufacturers do produce larger, overlapping tiles made specially for lower pitches.
Which roof tiles are considered the cheapest?
Concrete is the cheapest material used for roof tiles, however this does affect their quality. Their lifespan is the shortest out of all of the choices of materials, and they are considered the least attractive tile choice, but this is quite subjective.
When should you replace your roof tiles?
Usually, the best time to replace tiles is when you’re noticing roof leaks or damp in your property. If your roof keeps water and moisture out, then it isn’t necessary, unless you have concerns about its age and just how long it may be until it leaks.
Slipped, cracked and missing tiles are one of the most obvious signs of a possible reroof being needed, as if your tiles are missing and slipping, it points towards nail fatigue, which can only be repaired by stripping the whole roof. It is a sign of age and weathering, so if you decide to repair your roof, you will most likely have frequent repairs of which the price will add up and overtake the price of a simple reroof.
However, there doesn’t have to be a reason behind needing a reroof, some want to freshen up their property or prefer the looks of different tiles.
Can you paint roof tiles?
It is not recommended to paint roof tiles. One of the reasons behind this is that it can affect the performance of your tiles. Painting over them may sound like a great idea, as it would fill in the gaps between the tiles and make the roof more watertight… But that isn’t exactly how it works. A roof needs to breath, this is to stop moisture from getting trapped and rotting your roof timbers.
There is also an aesthetic concern in terms of painting your roof. Many found it to look unpleasant, which keeps people from painting tiles in the first place. But for those who were not deterred, they most likely started facing paint peeling off really quickly. This is due to the fact that tiles expand and shrink based on temperature, and this would lead to water getting into the tile and getting trapped, possibly causing your tiles to crack.
What if you already painted your roof and would like to remove the paint? Things such as power washing and scrubbing could damage your tiles and your roof. In this case, it is best to get a reroof.
Does the choice of tile add value to your home?
Based on which tile you choose for your home, it can increase the value of your property. More expensive materials such as slate and clay tiles can significantly increase the value of your property, especially if it originally had concrete tiles.
