When we really look at our roofscape, the materials and shapes used are not that varied; we generally see slates, small plain tiles, pantiles, roll tiles, or derivatives of these common shapes and textures.  However, the high costs and skill-levels required in using many time-honoured materials means that the building industry is continually looking to alternative materials to reduce costs and speed up construction times, whilst at the same time maintaining the traditional aesthetics that people still want.

Clay tiles are the ideal roofing material; whether in traditional pantile or roman shapes, plain tiles or even slate appearance, there is the perfect clay tile for the job. 

The Edilians range offers clay tiles for every market, whether it be pantiles, plain tiling or slate appearance. Great advances have been made in clay tile manufacturing technology; tiles are dried and then fired fully supported on individual ceramic cassettes, enabling much greater control over the finished shape of each tile.  Kiln temperatures are closely controlled, without variations over areas of the kiln, enabling far greater certainty of quality and long-term durability. Clay tiles also have many technical advantages; the fact that many clay tiles are pressed, rather than being simply extruded, means that additional features can be incorporated on the top surface. Of course, the great advantage of clay tiles is that their colour is permanent, lasting as long as the tile itself.  With the application of ‘engobe’ to the tile surface many colours and textures are possible.  Engobe is a ceramic material, consisting of clay, glass and manganese oxides.  The glass produces a strong, vitrified scratch-resistant surface.  Manganese oxides give the required colour. The clay content means that when the tile is fired the engobe and the tile 'fuse' together and become one, ensuring that the applied surface colours are permanent and last as long as tiles themselves. The Edilians Graphite Clay Slate is an ideal choice as an alternative to natural slate, particularly where installation time and cost are important considerations.  The designer can specify a clay alternative to slate, knowing that the life expectancy of the product is at least equal to slate and the colour will remain for the life of the product, just like slate. At a laid weight of just 39 kg per square metre, Graphite is lighter than most single lapped concrete tiles.  This may not mean lighter or a reduction in roof structural materials, but it does make life much easier for the installer and certainly provides the designer with a greater margin in regard to imposed roof forces such as wind and snow loads. Graphite Clay Slates can be laid on roof pitches as low as 22.5 degrees and each tile has two blind nail holes.  Depending on the calculated fixing specification, this can reduce the need for clips and means the fixing of cut tiles is much easier when installing at hips and valleys or around abutments such as roof windows and chimneys. This is an important consideration now that BS 5534; the British Standard Code of practice for slating and tiling, requires that each perimeter tile be twice fixed. Another great example of using Edilians clay tiles to save time and cost are the Panne S and Double Panne S range of clay pantiles.  Both are interlocking, with the Single Panne S being ideal for roof pitches down to 22.5 degrees and the Double Panne S as low as 17.5 degrees. The Double Panne S, at 10 tiles per square metre, offers the ultimate in installation speed and is fully compatible with the Single Panne S.  Double Panne S is laid cross-bonded, therefore, on roof pitches of 22.5 degrees and over the Single Panne S tiles can be used as verge fittings.  Similarly, when using Single Panne S, Double Panne S tiles can be used as cuts into hips and valleys to ensure all cuts are large enough to mechanical fix, as required by BS 5534. Plain tiles have long been one of the UK’s most popular roof coverings, used in many areas of the UK.  They are undoubtedly one the most versatile roofing products; ideal for almost any roof shape including curves, turrets and eyebrow roofs.  Edilians offers a wide range of clay plain tiles in many great colours and finishes.  In particular, the 20 x 30 tile, at just 43.5 tiles per square metre, offers installation cost savings over traditional size plain tiles and, because of its unique anti-capillary channels, can be used on roof pitches down to 30 degrees. For roofs that do not have curves, the Edilians Beauvoise and Double HP 20 are ideal solutions for saving installation costs and time.  Beauvoise can be laid on roof pitches down to 22.5 degrees and the Double HP 20 down to 17.5 degrees and both come with a full range of fittings and accessories. Edilians clay tiles offer solutions for any type of roof tile shape and offer many advantages over other materials, such as life-long colour fastness, durability and ease of installation in a wide range of colours and finishes. Visit your local MKM branch to find out more about Edilians tiles and find the right product for you.