Originating in Mediterranean and the Middle East, ceramic tile
roofs have become popular in balmy climates for years in our own
south, southwest, and west coast. The most common tile, called
barrel tiles, has a cylindrical shape that nicely mirrors the
hand made style of its “old country” predecessors.
In fact there are still handmade tiles available.
Gorgeous and expensive (1000 a square) tile roofs provide an ancient
elegance that requires more from your workpeople, as the process
is labor intensive, requiring many steps. It also requires a strong
frame to support its massive weight. In addition to the tiles,
a waterproof membrane is needed on the roof sheathing to maximize
the seal between your home and the natural environment.
There are numerous variations on the tiling concept, including
shingles and slate shapes. MyHome only uses high-quality, hard
fired materials for our extreme northern climate so the tile does
not break from moisture exposure. While expensive, the lifespan
runs between 60 to 80 years if installed properly, which may make
your “life cycle” cost projections much lower and
perhaps a viable option for you.
