Although roofs have been tiled for
thousands of years, it wasn't until the 1890s that the
first machine-made terra cotta roof tiles came to
Australia from France and challenged the supremacy of
slate in quality housing. Century-old Marseilles
tiles still look handsome and function perfectly in
suburbs such as Camberwell, Kew and Hawthorn. Today's
terra cotta tiles have improved even further. However
since the 1960s there have also been significant
developments in competitive materials such as painted
metal sheeting. So how does terra cotta stack up
against this (relative) newcomer?
Initial
cost On average, a metal roof will be
somewhere between the cost of a concrete and a terra
cotta tiled roof. The cost differential between terra
cotta and metal narrows with more complex roof
formations. Lifecycle cost No
contest: terra cotta will not corrode or fade over its
considerably longer
life. Warranties The colour and
structural performance of terra cotta roof tiles are
warranted for up to 50 years. And tiles are usually sold
as supply and install, giving a single point of
contact. Resale value It's a
simple fact that buyers prefer the traditional good
looks of terra cotta tiles. The terra cotta tiled roof
of Rippon Lea, our oldest Victorian-era suburban mansion
and estate. Designed in 1868, the house was originally
roofed with handmade terra cotta shingles.
The terra cotta tiled roof of Rippon
Lea, our oldest Victorian-era suburban mansion and
estate. Designed in 1868, the house was originally
roofed with handmade terra cotta shingles.
Photograph by Christopher
Groenhout, courtesy National Trust (Victoria).
Colour Terra
cotta wins again with more colours, including
multi-colours, blends and special colours for large
orders. Terra cotta glazes are kiln-fired into the
tile body and don't
fade. Texture Tiles come in a
variety of profiles from high rolls to flat shingles,
adding texture and interest to a roof.
Absorption One
of the furphies about tiles is that they absorb 'tons'
of water, overloading the building structure. Under the
Australian Standard, tiles must not absorb more than
10 per cent of their weight following 24 hours immersion
in water! Most come in at about half that
figure. High winds In practice,
wind places much higher loads on a structure than does
water absorption. Tile weight helps counter
wind uplift. Terra cotta tiles interlock firmly
thanks to head and side laps and they can be nailed or
clipped if required. Flexible pointing minimises or
eliminates capping
dislodgment. Corrosion Tiled
roofs are not subject to corrosion at
penetrations.
Water collection No
significant difference, a small amount of water is
absorbed into an unglazed tile, almost none if it's
fully glazed. Tile glazes are
non-toxic. Storm
damage Individual tiles are easily replaced
if they are damaged, for example, by falling tree
limbs. Quietness Tiles don't
creak with expansion and contraction and a downpour
doesn't drown conversation under a tiled
roof. Condensation A tiled roof
'breathes' to minimise condensation. This is assisted by
larger roof space volume under most tiled roofs. With
such a long list of advantages, it's no wonder that
terra cotta continues to set the standard in value,
appearance and performance in Australian
roofing.
This article sourced from the
Victorian Roofing Tile Association
Inc.
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