Introduction to Roof Tiles

About this course.

The two main roof tile types in Australia are concrete tiles and terracotta (fired clay) tiles, and they differ chiefly in the material they are made from and how they are made, which flows through to their appearance, colour behaviour, weight, cost and some aspects of performance. Both are durable, non-combustible, long-lived roofing products used widely on houses and other buildings, and both work within the same tiled-roof system of pitch, battens, sarking, flashings and lapping described in later modules. Knowing how the two types differ helps a specifier or builder choose appropriately and set client expectations.

Concrete tiles are made from cement, sand and water, formed under pressure into shape and cured rather than fired. They are typically coloured either through pigments mixed into the tile or through a surface coating, and they are made in a wide range of profiles — from bold, deeply curved profiles to flatter, more contemporary shapes. Concrete tiles are valued for their strength, their broad availability, their range of profiles and colours, and generally a lower cost than terracotta. Because the colour of many concrete tiles is provided substantially by a surface coating or applied finish, that finish can weather over time, which is a factor in long-term appearance and maintenance (Module 5). Concrete tiles are heavy, which, like all tiled roofing, places demands on the roof structure.