Clay roofing tiles are one of the oldest materials used for roofing houses. Clay roofing products can withstand hurricane winds and adverse weather. Manufacturers make clay roofing materials here in the US, or clay roofing suppliers import them from Europe to sell.

If clay roofs are beyond your price-range, roofing tile products of other materials are also available, such as the concrete roof tile and vinyl tile roofing. Tile roofing materials require roofing tile products that are often available through the manufacturer or supplier, as well as through building supply stores. When examining the right options for your business, consider these basics.

1. Explore clay roofing tiles.

2. Look into the concrete roofing tile.

3. Try vinyl tile roofing.

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Depend on clay roofing tiles for longevity and beauty

Clay roofing tiles are distinctive, beautiful and come in a range of styles. The styles include Roman, Double Roman, Byzantine, French and Dutch. You can find them in the familiar 'barrel' configuration or even interlocking with one another. Clay roofing tiles can even fit around cones or domes, and can include decorative end tiles, finials and other decorative details.

I recommend: Some of the big names in clay roofing tiles are Forever Clay, Ludowici Roof Tile and The Tile Man. The Tile Man includes recycled or salvaged clay tiles in his catalogue, while Forever Clay, based in the US, imports theirs from Greece. The Ludowici family has a long tradition of making clay tiles, dating back to the 1600s.

Enjoy the beauty and price of cement roofing tiles

Cement roofing tiles look very much like their clay counterparts. So much so, it's difficult to tell them apart, never mind discerning the difference once installed on a roof. With textures and colors, the design of cement tile has come long way. They are also less expensive then their clay counterparts.

I recommend: Two manufacturers who create beautiful concrete roofing tiles are Eagle Roofing and Hanson Brick and Tile. For convenience, both companies allow you to view the cement roofing tiles available in your area.

Look into vinyl tile roofing

As more companies try to incorporate the 'renew, reduce, recycle' motto into their business plans, advances have come in engineered building products. An example of this is vinyl and plastic tile roofing. These products look very much like roofing tiles, and yet are plastic, recycled vinyl and cellulose fiber.

I recommend: Two companies who make vinyl tile roofing are Re-New Wood and Ecostar. Both companies pride themselves in the use of recycled products in the creation of their products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Using clay and tile roofing materials basics, contractors can better choose tile roofing products and clay roofing material. If you still have questions, ask manufacturers to provide information about tile roofing supplies.

Clay and tile roofing materials are generally required by building codes in areas of the world where the climate is hot and dry. Clay roofing tiles and concrete roof tile products are also preferred in high risk fire zones because they are fire resistant. When selecting clay and tile roofing materials for one of your roofing projects you need to factor several things into the estimate of the project costs:

1. Cost of the roofing tiles.
2. Cost of the clay roofing materials.
3. Cost of the tile roofing supplies.

Clay and tile roofing materials come in several colors and designs. Prices can vary greatly based on the popularity of the color and design.

The composition of the tile roofing supplies will also impact the overall cost of the products. Tiles can be made from concrete, clay and even vinyl. If price is a concern for your client, vinyl tile roofing is going to generally be the least expensive.

The size of your order is the final factor that is going to impact the cost of your clay roofing material and tile roofing supplies. Small orders for tiles will generally produce a higher per square foot cost than if you are able to order in wholesale lots. Combine orders of similar tiles so you can save your company and clients money.

To price your next clay and tile roofing project you will need to:

1. Determine the square footage for your projects.
2. Price underlayment and tiles.
3. Determine shipping costs.
4. Use a calculator to determine your final cost for materials.

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Determine how much clay and tile roofing materials to order

The basis for all your costs is the size of the area that needs to be tiled. To figure this out you will need to measure the dimensions of the roof you are working on and determine the area in square feet.

I recommend: Service Magic offers a great online tool for determining roof dimensions, area as well as other factors. Improve Net also offers a great online tool for calculating roof dimensions for a roofing project.

Price tile roofing supplies and shipping costs

To complete this step you will need to use the measurements you just completed to determine the cost of tiles, underlayment, tile roofing supplies and shipping for your project.

I recommend: Start with local home improvement stores like the Home Depot and Lowes. Then expand your search out to tile vendors and roofing companies like Ludowici Roof Tile and Monier Life Tile.

Calculate the total cost for your tile roofing supplies

Use a handheld or online calculator to determine your total costs for tiles, supplies and shipping.

I recommend: You can find simple to use basic calculators and pocket calculators online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buying wholesale lots of popular roofing tiles can save you thousands of dollars. You can then pass this savings on to your clients or reap a larger profit margin.

Unlike asphalt roofing shingles, clay and tile roofing materials require additional supplies in order to ensure the longevity of the roof. Without the proper supplies for clay and tile roofing materials, the roof could fail. Fortunately, the supplies required for the various tile roofing materials is readily available.

If your company is interested in selling clay and tile roofing materials, or if you are a contractor who works with these materials, you need the information you need to ensure the proper installation of a clay or tile roofs. Consider these supplies for clay and tile roofing materials as you work on your project.

1. Install the proper membrane for clay and tile roofs.

2. Get the proper fasteners for tile and clay roofing.

3. Protect the clay and tile roofs from inclement weather.

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Start with the proper foundation for the roofing tile materials

The first item on the list of supplies for clay and tile roofing materials is the proper roofing membrane. The membrane provides an effective protective layer for the roof and the clay roofing material and tile roofing products that helps to protect the roof from water infiltration. Materials that work well for this installation are asphalt organic saturated felt or EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber.

I recommend: A good sources of asphalt organic saturated felt is Tarco. Look to Firestone Building Products for EPDM rubber.

Select the proper fasteners for clay and tile roofing materials

Part of the success of clay and tile roofing materials is due to the fasteners. The fasteners for the roofing tiles must be able to withstand the elements and not rust. If the fasteners fail, the roofing tiles will fail. Manufacturers of roofing tiles list fasteners that are stainless, galvanized or copper among the list of recommended tile roofing supplies.

I recommend: Good sources of fasteners for concrete roof tile, clay roofing tiles and vinyl tile roofing are Stainless Fasteners and Best Materials.

Keep the roofing tile products safe from the elements

To ensure that the clay roofing products and any concrete roof tile withstands the force of hurricane winds, include hurricane clips in tile roofing supplies. These clips help secure the concrete, vinyl and clay roofing products to the roof--a necessity in areas that have frequent hurricanes. When securing the tile roofing products to saddles, open valleys as well as hips of the roof, you should use a combination of surface bonding cement as well as mason mix.

I recommend: Newport Tool and Fastener has a wide selection of hurricane clips for tile roofs. Wire Works also has a hurricane clips as well as wide selection of fasteners. Quikrete is a good source of bonding cement and mason mix.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While clay and tile roofing materials are known for their longevity and beauty, they do require supplies for clay and roofing materials to help ensure their longevity. Contact the manufacturer of clay and tile roofing materials that may be able to supply additional information about the installation of their products, as well as supply fasteners as well.

In many parts of the world, clay tile roofs have been the norm for centuries. During the 1800s, cement tile roofs were developed. Designs include many types of tiles, such as S-tile and the pan and cover, as well as tiles that look like slate. The Tile Roofing Institute works to set standards for the industry in the United States, to ensure that tile roofs meet standards for durability, water-tightness, and to make that problems such as black core are avoided.

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Clay tile roofing

Clay tile roofing is made by mining clay from the soil, shaping and molding it into the desired shape, and firing it in a kiln. Roofs made from clay tiles are durable, lasting 40 to 50 years.

I recommend: RoofHelper describes the benefits of clay tile for roofing.

Black core

If clay tiles are not fired completely in a kiln, only the surface will be baked. Inside, the tile will be a black core of carbon, leaving the structure of the tile very weak.

I recommend: Forever Clay Roof Tile describes the firing process needed to avoid the occurrence of black core.

Tile Roofing Institute

The Tile Roofing Institute is a major force in the concrete and clay tile roofing industry. It consists of producers and associates in the industry and works on code development and testing for products.

I recommend: Learn more about the Tile Roofing Institute at its website.

Concrete tile roofing

Concrete tile roofing is created from a slurry of water, cement and sand. Some tiles also contain fiber. Like clay tiles, concrete tiles are long-lasting and strong. Concrete tiles come in a variety of shapes and colors, and can even imitate the look of wood shakes and slate roofs.

I recommend: McGraw-Hill Continuing Education talks about shapes and colors of concrete roof tile.

S-tile, pan and cover, interlocking

S-tile, pan and cover, and interlocking are names for types of profile tiles. These are tiles which are not flat, but rather have a raised profile. The S-tile, or Spanish-tile roof is the most traditional and consists of a semicircle shape with a lip that fits under the neighboring piece. The pan and cover consists of a semicircular tile facing up, interlocking with a semicircular tile facing down.

I recommend: Architecture Week discusses what shapes are best to use for certain climates.

Hurricane clips

Hurricane clips are metal straps used to lock down the edges of roof tiles or the ridges on the tops of roofs. These clips help keep the tiles in place in extreme weather.

I recommend: Hurricane Retrofit Guide offers photos and information on hurricane clips.