As you would know here at Mortgage Info Centre we care about caring for your property to protect your investment and your mortgage repayments. The roof is one of the most critical aspects of your property. Here we take a look at tile roof roofs. We recommend the team at Roof Restoration Sutherland Shire if you are in that area.
When it comes to your roofing, most people will think about roof tiles. Roof tiles are one of the most common materials used in roofing, but many people do not know a lot about them. If you are going to have your roof done, you need to understand a bit more about the material that you use for it.
What Are Roof Tiles?
Roof tiles are slats which have been created to hang from the framework of the roof. The tiles will generally be attached to the frame by nails and will keep rain and other weather elements out of the home. Roof tiles were traditionally made from materials which were readily available such as slate and terracotta. However, modern roof tiles are made using a range of materials including clay, concrete, and plastic.
The Shapes
Over the centuries, the shape of roof tiles has changed. The simplest type of roof tile is the flat tile which is laid in regular overlapping rows. These tiles will generally be made using clay and are still popular today. Modern flat tiles have been made of plastic, wood, and stone.
Tegula and imbrex tiles are an ancient Roman roof tile which is curved and flat. These tiles were generally used to create rain channels on the roof. The traditional Roman tile will be flat in the middle, concave on one end and convex on the other. This allowed the tiles to lock together.
Pantiles are an S-shaped roof tile which allows for interlocking. These tiles have a pattern which resembles a plowed field. These tiles date back to the 19th century and can be found in the US and England.
Barrel or mission tiles are semi-cylindrical and will be laid in alternating columns. The first column will have concave tiles while the second will be convex tiles. Barrel tiles are still in use today and will generally be made of metal, clay, and plastic.
Solar Tiles
While the shape of tiles has changed over the years along with the materials used to make them, they have stayed relatively the same. However, in 2005, the solar roof tile was introduced by the Dow Chemical Company. This tile has a similar design to the convention roof tile, but has a photovoltaic cell built into it. This allows the roof tile to general solar power and provides electricity to the property. These tiles are not yet common on the market, but they are the largest step forward in roof tiles for many years.