Roofing: Tiled Roofs Fife and Edinburgh

History

While slates are the traditional roof covering over much of Scotland, in parts of the Eastern Central Belt tiles have been used since the 17th century.

Scotland exported coal to the Low Countries and ships coming back needed ballast that wouldn’t be ruined by the filthy coal residue in the ships’ holds.

They were cheap and light, meaning the underlying roofing structure didn’t need to be as sturdy as for slates.

Also, lightness translates to speed in the building process. Today, in Fife villages such as Kincardine, Culross and Dysart, and across the Forth as far as Berwick, pantiled roofs can still be seen.

The practicality of pantiles caught on and in 1711 the first pantile factory in Scotland was built in Kirkcaldy, using clay dug locally.

Types of Roofing Tiles

Traditional clay and concrete pantiles

Traditional clay pantiles with their curved, overlapping and interlocking shape, are still available today.

Little has changed from the original design except a more uniform size and shape due to more modern factory production techniques and they are now available in a range of colours besides the original terracotta. Concrete pantiles are also available.

Flat tiles

Roofing tiles often not shaped at all, but rectangular and flat, mimicking slate but with a thicker profile.

Benefits

Whatever the shape and design of the tile, there are pros and cons to choosing clay or concrete.

Cost

Clay tiles are generally around 20% more expensive than concrete.

Weight

Concrete tiles are heavier than clay by as much as 40% on average. This means that concrete tiles might not always be an option for your house. An experienced, qualified roofer can survey the underlying roofing structure to assess its suitability.

Porosity

More important than you might think. Concrete is twice as porous as clay, meaning that it will stain more easily and is more prone to growth of mosses and mildew. More importantly, the absorbed water increases the weight of a concrete-tiled roof, which is heavy to begin with. However, this is not an issue, so long as the underlying supporting structure is sufficiently sturdy.

Lifespan

Both clay and concrete tiles generally come with a manufacturer’s 30-year guarantee.

However, it is not uncommon for both types of tile to last for double that time. 

50-60 years can reasonably expected from roof tiles, although the underlay (or membrane) may well require replacement before that time.

It is very important to note that the installation of any roof will significantly affect its lifespan, as well as regular maintenance.

Correct installation, with appropriate underlay membranes, valleys and ridge coverings, ensuring adequate ventilation and use of the designated fixings, will extend the life a roof many times beyond that expected from a bodged or unqualified installer.

Fibre Cement Roof Tiles

Fibre Cement Roof tiles to a certain degree combine the best of clay and concrete, as they are 5 times lighter than concrete for the same square footage, have a similar lifespan but are cheaper than slates to purchase and install.

Like concrete tiles, they will never match the visual appeal of natural slate, but they do offer a viable alternative to concrete tiles.

Other Roofing Tiles

Advancing technology means that new products and materials are entering the market all the time. Ask us about plastic roof tiles, man-made slate and stone-coated steel tiles.

Pitch of roof

Your choice of roof covering will be influenced by all the factors above (as well as planning permission and listed building consent, below) but will also be constrained by the pitch (slope) of your roof. Some tiles may only be fitted subject to a maximum or minimum pitch

Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent

If you live in a conservation area or in a listed building you should seek planning permission and listed building consent to change tiles.

Even if you are replacing like with like, you should still notify your local authority planning department.

Historic Environment Scotland advise:

” You probably won’t need listed building consent if you’re replacing old materials for new on a ‘like-for-like’ basis and the repair work doesn’t affect the character of the building. But we recommend you check with your planning authority before making repairs.”

Guarantee That Means Something

All of our work is guaranteed. You may have heard that before from other builders, but let us explain why we are different.

We are trusted and recommended members of the Federation of Master Builders, Guild of Master Craftsmen, the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme.

We’ve been in our premises in Thornton since 2008, so our customers know where we are if they have any questions once we’ve finished the job.

Contact Us

If you would like more information or a free estimate, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Fife: phone 01592 747 047 Email: [email protected]

Edinburgh: phone 0131 300 0494 Email: [email protected]