Clay Roof Tiles

Clay Roofing Tiles - US Tile
Clay Roof Tiles - Mission Tile - US Tile

Introduction To Clay Roof TIles

For thousands of years, natural clay has been used for roofing, due to its extreme durability, wide availability, and natural beauty. Modern technologies and designs have catapulted clay roofing tiles to the forefront of green home design.

The Benefits of Clay Roof Tiles

Clay Roofing Tiles - US Tile
Clay Roof Tiles - ProShake - US Tile

We depend on the roof over our heads to shelter and protect us from the elements, and it's not an easy job. Any roofing material is subjected to extremely harsh conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year in and year out. It needs to be able to endure wide swings in temperature, the sun's damaging UV rays, rain, snow, hail, and wind.

Since the early days of civilization, clay has demonstrated the ability to stand up to the severe conditions up on the roof with great reliability and style. Today's clay roof tiles are made with clay and sand fired in a wood kiln, making them hard and extremely durable. They are also coated with materials to keep them strong and prevent cracking and fading over time.

Clay's durability is one of its' main environmental qualities. Properly installed, a clay roof will last for generations; in effect, for the life of the house. Many clay roof tile manufacturers offer warranties of 50 years or more. The 2,000 year old clay tiles still in place atop the Coliseum in Rome are testament to clay's extreme durability.

Clay roofing tiles are made from a completely natural, widely abundant raw material. Some clay roof tiles also contain recycled clay, making them even more environmentally responsible.

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Clay Roofing Tiles - Ludowici Roof Tile
Clay Roof Tiles - Ludowici Roof Tile

Once removed from a roof, clay roof tiles are 100% recyclable into new products, including new tiles. This eliminates any material from ending up in landfills.

Clay roof tiles are also effective at preventing heat gain through the roof, which will reduce a home's cooling costs (and energy usage) during the warm summer months.

Many clay roof tile manufacturers offer clay tiles that are Energy Star and CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) Cool Roof certified tiles for their high levels of solar reflectivity.

These qualifications indicate that the clay roof tile does an excellent job of reflecting the sun's energy and heat away from the roof, instead of absorbing that energy into the roof, and the house itself.

If you're planning a green, LEED-certified home, clay roof tiles that have the Energy Star and CRRC Cool Roof stamps of approval are an extremely viable option for roofing material.

Other Attractive Qualities of Clay Roof Tiles

Clay Roofing Tiles - Ludowici Roof Tile
Clay Roof Tiles - Ludowici Roof Tile

In addition to their environmental benefits, clay roof tiles offer more attributes to consider:

Clay Roof Tiles are Great, But......

Any type of roofing material is going to have a few drawbacks, and clay roofing tiles are no exception. There are a few things to consider when deciding whether clay tiles are the right choice:

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