Concrete tile is a civil construction material that, increasingly, brings options and adds value to its segment in the market.
Ideal for residential projects, on the roofs, the material has been gaining traction over the years especially due to the countless benefits it brings: finishing, practicality, and more.
Compared to ceramic tiles, the water absorption of concrete tiles is one of the main added values and is what is transforming architectural projects.
In this article, you will understand all the main advantages, peculiarities, and other characteristics of this building material.
What is a concrete tile?
The concrete tile is an element used in construction to cover houses and buildings, protecting your roof. It works in the same way as traditional ceramic tiles. The main difference is concentrated in the origin of its raw material: concrete.
Most of the time, it is composed of cement and sand, and its size differs from other types of tiles. It takes almost 11 concrete tile units to cover the 1 square meter space. However, although the material appears heavy, they are lighter than ceramic-based tiles.
The solution is very suitable for roofs with a slope of at least 30%. Other factors that are directly linked to its use are the location of the work, as well as the height of the roof.
Production of concrete tiles
Concrete tiles are produced from the mixture of cement, aggregates, sand, and water, a process that does not differ from the way concrete is produced, for example.
The difference is that in this mixing process all the colored pigments are added that will tone the tiles.
After mixing, the mortar is taken to a steam oven. And in that process, they will be properly shaped.
Advantages of using concrete tile
Over the years, concrete tiles have had their stock and use in the US market increased. In this section, you will know some advantages of the use of tiles in your work or construction.
From fitting, resistance, and durability, there are many factors, which will convince you to hire or buy concrete tiles.
Here are the main benefits of using concrete tiles on your roof –
Strength and durability
At this point, you must be tired of knowing that concrete provides more strength and durability for your work, right?
Concrete tiles can withstand even impacts and pressures of up to 530 pound-force. In contrast, ceramic tiles withstand only 280 pound-force.
In addition, during the load itself, the tiles may break. With concrete tiles, this possibility is much less, as storage and even unloading will not bring the problems that ceramic tiles usually present.
Perfect fit
Want alignment on your roof? Concrete tiles will help you a lot. They are not deformed during manufacture, as they do not pass through the “oven”.
As they are all produced in the same way, they remain perfect and precise in their fit. This will impact even during assembly, which will be faster and will require less labor to assemble and assemble the roof.
Less permeable
Concrete tiles do not absorb rainwater as much, thus preventing possible infiltrations on your roof. The ribs present at the bottom of the tiles also prevent water from entering them.
In the upper part of the concrete tile structure, the absence of water helps to prevent the appearance of fungi that can deteriorate your roof and, in some cases, even cause allergies and health problems for the inhabitants.
Concrete tiles also pour rainwater, so you don’t have to worry about water being accumulated on the roof and damaging shingles or clogging the drain.
Disadvantages of concrete tiles
Although they are practical and have numerous advantages, it is important to pay attention to the details, as they are responsible for convincing you (or not) that this purchase is a good deal.
Let’s find out what are the possible disadvantages of using concrete tiles on the roof:
Don’t use concrete tiles on the roof if you live in an area where it gets way too hot
Although lighter tiles help with temperature regulation, they can also get quite hot.
Therefore, in cities or states that naturally have high temperatures, it is recommended that you do not place these tiles.
Price
The price of concrete tiles, compared to ceramic tiles, is higher due to strength and less porosity. The value is also justified by the finish and quality of the product, perfect fit, and dimensions. Costs can also increase if we take into account the logistics of the operation, which is not simple.
Concrete tile application
Before the application of concrete tiles is started, the wood skeleton must be ready. Timber is the wooden filament that will hold and help to structure the space in which the tiles will be placed.
Remembering that this phase must be applied with the help of a specialized roofing professional. And preferably it is someone who also develops the roof weave.
The roof weave is the set formed from the following structure: rafter, lath, and beam. In the application of concrete tile, the material is embedded in the roof slats, and then, fixed.
The fitting of the concrete tiles is done from the overlap. Each tile is placed over the tile in the bottom row.
Conclusion
You must have understood how ceramic tiles are losing space in the market due to the countless benefits that concrete tiles have.
If you are a first-timer and are purchasing your first property, pay attention to the material that is used on your roof.
Pay attention also to other details inherent in the use of these tiles, such as their geographical location, and how they can regulate the temperature of the environments.
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