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Cal Shake & Cal Slate
See photos of homes roofed with this new development in this light weight fire-proof roofing product.


Special Feature: Tile Rooftops

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US Tile, Claylite color: El Camino Blend
See sample colors of Claylite tile:
Golden Eagle Ponderosa
By:
Eagle Lite

 

 

Tile Rooftops

Anyone who has traveled abroad to such places as Europe, Asia, Australia or almost anywhere outside of North America, has looked up and has seen tile roofs. In many countries, with a variety of climates and environmental conditions, roof tiles have provided protection for 80 - 90 % of the population for generations. The fact is, on a worldwide basis, tile is far and away the most prevalent roofing material on earth. Why then is North America the glaring exception to the rule? It is certainly not because roof tile has gone out of "Fashion". On the contrary, roof tile is rapidly becoming the most fashionable and most logical choice due to its beauty, durability and longevity.
Golden Eagle Ponderosa By: EagleLite
The best explanation is that compared to the rest of the world, we are still a young country and it has taken a while to arrive at the point where other cultures have been for centuries. Consider the circumstances that shaped our roofing trends.
When early settlers came to the Americas they encountered trees, lots of trees. In fact they had to cut down trees to clear the land for their farms and log homes. A resourceful lot, our ancestors created roofs from rough planks and even split the stumps of some trees to create the early version of wood shakes and shingles.
Over the years, wood shake roofs came to represent rustic Americana and even as alternative materialswere developed, such as asphalt shingles, wood roofs held a certain allure that has only recently begun to wane. Wildfires, hailstorms and inconsistent quality and availability have all combined to tarnish wood's reputation as a viable roof covering. Even the large lumber companies have recognized the shortcomings and have begun to develop alternative roofing materials.

Enter roof tiles. The mainstay around the world for hundreds of years, tile provides the strength and durability to withstand conditions that devastate lesser roofing products like wood and fiberglass shingles. In addition to performing the primary roof function of shedding water, tile roofs have what it takes to outperform all others in such natural disasters as wildfires, hurricanes, hailstorms and even earthquakes.
The performance of tile roofs in the wildfire areas of California is well documented and has prompted legislation that requires "Class A" materials, such as tile, in all high fire risk areas throughout the state. Since concrete and clay roof tiles cannot burn, they prevent roof fires that start from blowing embers, even in areas not designated as high fire risk, where errant fireworks or sparks from a chimney can, and very often do, cause roof fires.
Another vicious enemy of roof coverings, and the dread of insurance companies, is hail. It is not uncommon for hailstorms to produce stones capable of destroying wood or asphalt roofs. The same hailstorm leaves tile roof unscathed, or in the worst case, requires the replacement of only the broken tiles rather than the entire roof.
This brings up another surprise aspect of tile roofs, their serviceability. While most roofing materials are double lapped and nailed through each other, tiles are fastened individually, with a minimal headlap, which makes them one of the easiest roofs to repair or replace.

An aspect that is not often considered when choosing a roof is the fact that roof tiles being made of all natural materials, are the most environmentally friendly product on the market. Unlike other roofing materials, tile roofs don't require replacement and subsequent trips to our already overtaxed landfills.

Energy efficiency is another trait not often associated with roof coverings. The tile roofs create a natural air space that makes them the ideal choice for use in hot desert climates. The lighter colored tiles dominate the selections available in areas where reflectivity can have a significant effect on the heat absorption of roofs. There are also numerous accessories, such as foil sheets and venting apparatus, which can be incorporated into a tile installation to enhance air circulation and add to tile's effectiveness as a heat barrier.
This same air permeability also helps a tile roof resist the wind uplift forces in severe windstorms and hurricanes. Extensive testing has shown that tiles can sustain in excess of 140 Mile per hour winds which would strip off most other materials long before the lOO mph threshold is of a hurricane is reached..
Tile fastening techniques have proven equally effective in resisting the destructive forces of major earthquakes as well. In fact, following the recent Northridge, California in the US and Kobe, Japan earthquakes, thorough investigations showed that properly installed tile roofs sustained little or no damage in either quake.
The operative phrase here is "properly installed", because in any major disaster, such as an earthquake or hurricane, the roof coverings, or entire structure for that matter, only perform up to expectations if they are properly installed and constructed.
Since tile roofs have amassed such a fine track record over the years, it is only natural for the owner of a tile roof to have expectations of that fine performance when conditions demand it. This is also the desire of tile manufacturers whose reputation rides on the performance of their products.
The fact is, based on their individual durability, tile roofs can last for periods of time that are totally unattainable by any other product other than slate or stone. The key then, is to match an installation method that Matches tile's ability to provide long-term protection and serviceability
The National Tile Roof Manufacturers Association (NTRMA) is an organization of tile manufacturers and their associates who have been working quietly yet steadily towards improving the standards of application and production of roof tiles for the past 15 years. Relatively unknown to the general public, the NTRMA has focused its attention on issues regarding tile performance and works closely with all related code agencies and research groups dedicated to improving the standards of the construction industry.
Because building practices evolved differently in America, traditional methods of tile application as they are applied in other parts of the world, may not be applicable here. Solid sheeted roof decks, wood frame construction and specific building codes have made it necessary for tile manufacturers to pattern their application recommendations after local practices and product availability. Tile roofs were usually installed using methods and materials that were already in place, based on whatever material was commonly being used prior to tile's arrival, and while the resourceful roofer generally made it work, it rarely resembled the more permanent assemblies that are the norm in areas with stronger tile traditions.
The NTRMA has recognized that, if tile is to become the dominant roofing material on the North American continent, attention needs to be paid to establishing responsible and available guidelines to proper tile application. Individual members are actively working to identify the best practices in different regions of operation with the intention of developing standards for the industry to follow. Efforts are ongoing with local building officials and roofing associations to determine what constitutes the best roofing practice in any given area based on climate conditions and local building practices.
While it is expected that tile roof applications will continue to evolve with the advent of new product innovation and code changes, there is already a wealth of information available for interested homeowner's use.

Did you know that manufacturers have come up with a tile that is light weight and is strong enough to stand on it?

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