Choosing the Right Roof Tiles

In The Gallery

1 The Antique range from Tudor Roof Tile Co starts from £650 per 1,000 tiles (01797 320202);
2 The Multi Tile from Ashbury Roof Tiles costs from £560 per 1,000 (0871 474 3185);
3 Dreadnought’s Brown Antique tiles start at £380 per 1,000, and Blue Brindle, from £400 per 1,000 (01384 77405);
4 Redland’s Rosemary Clay Craftman’s Ashcombe 89, shown here sand-finished, POA (monier.co.uk);
5 The County Tiles from Ashbury Roof Tiles, from £560 per 1,000 (as before);
6 Dreadnought’s Collingtonwood blend, from £380 unmixed, or £435 premixed, per 1,000 tiles (as before);
7 The handmade Ashbury Orange and Ashbury County, from £560 per 1,000, from Ashbury Roof Tiles (0871 474 3185);
8 Aldershaw Handmade Tiles’ blend of Medium Antique, Dark Antique and Medium Red Vertical tiles, from £670 (excluding VAT) (01424 756777);
9 Keymer’s handmade Shire tiles cost from £800 per 1,000 tiles (01444 232931);
10 Aldershaw Handmade Tiles’ blend of Dark Antique, Medium Antique, and Dark Red tiles, from £670 per 1,000 (01424 756777)

Profile

The quintessential profile is the plain roof tile. Plain tiles measure 265 x 165mm as standard, and are laid double-lapped – the top of each tile is covered by two tiles directly above – to ensure a watertight cover. You will need a shallow roof pitch; machine-made can be installed on roofs of 35°, but handmade tiles require a minimum of 40°. Plain tiles represent the most versatile product for complex roof designs.

Tile profiles vary across the country. S-shaped pantiles – which provide a soft, oscillating roofscape, and allow rainwater to drain with ease – dominate in east England and Scotland. Whereas Roman tiles, with alternating (single or double) rolls and flats, line roofs in south-west England.

Interlocking tiles are the newest breed, offering a budget choice. Uniform in size and profile, they are laid single-lapped. Interlocking may be your only option if you require a lightweight solution, or need to cover a roof with a steep pitch; some products can be installed on roofs as steep as 10°. But consider that steeper roofs are also more exposed roofs — where possible, invest in interlocking tiles with the appearance of double-lapped plain tiles or similar, to introduce character.

These tiles also provide the easiest, fastest and, consequently, cheapest installation route. As few as ten large interlocking tiles are required to cover a square metre. Compare this to plain tiles – 60 are typically required to cover the same area, as part of the time-consuming task of laying double-bond – and the true cost of specifying and installing your tiled roof becomes apparent.

Material Choice

Price will be a key factor. Concrete interlocking tiles are invariably the cheapest option. However, high-quality concrete tiles (similar in price to low-end clay tiles) can look remarkably similar to clay when laid.

It may take a keen eye to spot the difference when first laid, but the distinction will be more than apparent in ten years. While durable in form, concrete tiles fade. Choose ‘through colour’ – coloured pigment is distributed throughout the tile, not just on the surface – to improve permanence.

Clay tiles, on the other hand, improve with age — they maintain their warm hue, and eventually acquire a rustic patina. Some manufacturers offer ‘weathered’ ranges for those seeking new clay tiles with instant antiquity.

Price also varies considerably between clay products. At the high end are handmade plain tiles. However, machine-made tiles which emulate the unique appearance of handmade, at a smaller price, are available — they often described as ‘hand-crafted’.

Clay or concrete, ensure your chosen tiles comply with British and Europe standards for freeze-thaw testing, and come complete with a minimum 15-year guarantee.

The Finer Details

Holding up a single tile, it’s hard to envisage the impact colour can make when applied across an entire roof. There is a whole spectrum of colour choice, many unique to a region — from bright burnt reds to Staffordshire blues made of Etruria Marl clay. Establish from the outset whether your choice – of both colour and profile – will be dictated by the local planning authority as part of planning consent. Manufacturers, such as Ashbury Roof Tiles who offer an array of regional blends, can provide advice on products which complement your local vernacular.

Your choice should not be restricted to one colour. While a single, flat colour will sit well on a bold contemporary build, a mix of two or three similar tiles will lend both texture and warmth to period homes.

Tiles can also be finished smooth or sandfaced; the latter, while a little more expensive, provides a rustic façade.

Advice from the experts

Setting Out

John Mercer, Technical Manager, Sandtoft (0870 145 2020)

“Always set out properly. Set the first tile course to overhang the gutter by 50mm and the top course so that the ridge tiles overlap by at least 75mm — this way it will be easier to measure the distance between to find the number of courses required. If you lay a course of interlocking tiles, ensure you have a verge overhang of between 38 and 50mm by using the adjustment in the side interlocks. Make sure you strike lines every third tile to keep vertical lines straight.”

Choosing Blends

Tony Osborne, Conceptual Designer, Dreadnought (01384 77405)

“With natural colours no two roofs are ever the same, but seeing existing roofs with your chosen colour will give you an indication. Always avoid patches of colour on your roof. Mixing the tiles on site leaves this responsibility with your roofer and ultimately gives you more control. You can then keep an eye on the roof as it’s being laid, and have any corrections rectified as you go. It will be both expensive and time consuming to sort out problems once it’s all up.”

Balanced Facade

Dave Osborn, Sales Manager, Ashbury Roof Tiles (0871 474 3185)

‘’The aesthetic appeal of your property is down to your selection of the three main visible components — the roof covering, cladding and the windows and doors. To ensure you make the right decision, construct a small 1m² mock wall and roof using free samples of your chosen materials — view them in various combinations at all times of the day and in different weather conditions until you are comfortable and happy with your blend of materials.”

Further Reading:

• The Roof: A Cost Guide
• Green roofs
• A Complete Guide to Roofs