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Last edited 03 May 2023

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Tile roofing

1 What is tile roofing ?
2 A brief history of tile roofing
3 Types of Tile
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] What is tile roofing ?

Tile roofing is a very common style of roofing found throughout the world. The tiles used tiles can be made of fired or sometimes unfired clay or differing mixes of concrete, these being heard wearing, heavy materials with high thermal mass, so can be used in hot as well as temperate climates. The shape colour and finish of the tiles used can vary significantly, with many curved designs as well as simple flat designs many are designed to interlock when laid to create better seals.

[edit] A brief history of tile roofing

Indication is that clay roofing tiles were used in ancient China from as far back as 10,000 BC, as well as slightly later in the Middle East, whilst the first baked single lap earthen clay roofs are thought to date around 2700 BC.It is clear that different forms of clay roofing tiles were used in ancient Greece as well as by the Egyptians, whilst the Romans used tiles extensively and brought their fired clay tile approach to the UK. Although clay tiles were used less after the Roman occupation and relatively rarely during the Medieval period, we still refer to specific designs as Roman tiles, a simple flat surface with ribbed curves that interlock.

It wasn't until the 1200's that tiles were used again in the UK, prompted in part by a landmark fire in the London Borough of Southwark. King John as a result decreed that thatch roof covering be banned, and thus were commonly replaced with tile, more specifically a simple design of tile called the peg tile, which had simple holes to one side for fixing. This approach was further adopted by the Church and tiles later became standardised and further entrenched in British society by King Edward in the late 1400's.

Whilst alternative solutions, in particular slate roofing continued to be used, clay tile industries of various sizes developed across the country, from small local kilns to larger production centres across Shropshire, Staffs and Leicestershire. Clay tiles became a common feature of grander houses of the Tudor period up to the 1600's and the Stuarts up to the 1700's with regional variations across the UK. Around this time because costs had reduced in certain areas of the UK tile hanging became a popular way to cover wattle and daub of timber frame houses, adding greater protection against the weather. By the late 1700's this vertical use of the tile was further encouraged by the brick tax introduced by King George III and lead to a particular innovation in the tile industry called the mathematical tile. The mathematical tile was a tile hung solution that created tightly interlocking units that were fixed as normal hung tiles but resembled a brick wall from the outside. Whilst examples of the mathematical tile are relatively rare, the use of tiles and particularly hanging tiles on upper levels is found throughout Georgian period architecture and into the Victorian age. In particular, the Arts and Crafts movement from around the mid 1800's embraced the earthen crafts of the clay tile as well as its use as a facade material.

[edit] Types of Tile

There are many many different specific styles and types of roof tile, from clay or concrete, with different profiles and purposes, both traditional designs, modern interpretation of historical styles and contemporary designs, here are some examples listed in no particular order;