Introduction A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such

as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as table tops. Alternatively, tile can sometimes refer to similar units made from lightweight materials such as perlite, wood, and mineral wool, typically used for wall and ceiling applications. In another sense, a tile is a construction tile or similar object, such as rectangular counters used in playing games (see tile-based game). The word is derived from the French word tuile, which is, in turn, from the Latin word tegula, meaning a roof tile composed of fired clay. Tiles are often used to form wall and floor coverings, and can range from simple square tiles to complex mosaics. Tiles are most often made from porcelain, fired clay or ceramic with a hard glaze, but other materials are also commonly used, such as glass, metal, cork, and stone. Tiling stone is typically marble, onyx, granite or slate. Thinner tiles can be used on walls than on floors, which require thicker, more durable surfaces. Roof Tiles Roof tiles are designed mainly to keep out rain, and are traditionally made from locally available materials such as clay or slate. Modern materials such as concrete and plastic are also used and some clay tiles have a waterproof glaze. A large number of shapes (or "profiles") of roof tiles have evolved. These include:

Flat tiles - the simplest type, which are laid in regular overlapping rows. An example of this is the clay-made "beaver-tail" tile common in Southern Germany. Flat roof tiles are usually made of clay but also may be made of stone, wood, plastic, concrete, or solar.

Imbrex and tegula, an ancient Roman pattern of curved and flat tiles that make rain channels on a roof.

Roman tiles - flat in the middle, with a concave curve at one end at a convex curve at the other, to allow interlocking.

Pantiles - with an S-shaped profile, allowing adjacent tiles to interlock. These result in a ridged pattern resembling a ploughed field. An example of this is the "double Roman" tile, dating from the late 19th century in England and USA.

Mission or barrel tiles are semi-cylindrical tiles laid in alternating columns of convex and concave tiles. Originally they were made by forming clay around a curved surface, often a log or the maker's thigh. Today barrel tiles are mass-produced from clay, metal, concrete or plastic.

Interlocking roof tiles are similar to pantile with side and top locking to improve protection from water and wind.

Antefixes: vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of a tiled roof.

Roof tiles are 'hung' from the framework of a roof by fixing them with nails. The tiles are usually hung in parallel rows, with each row overlapping the row below it to exclude rainwater and to cover the nails that hold the row below. There are also roof tiles for special positions, particularly where the planes of the several pitches meet. They include ridge, hip and valley tiles. These can either be bedded and pointed in cement mortar or mechanically fixed. Similarly to roof tiling, tiling has been used to provide a protective weather envelope to the sides of timber frame buildings. These are hung on laths nailed to wall timbers, with tiles specially moulded to cover corners and jambs. Often these tiles are shaped at the exposed end to give a decorative effect. Another form of this is the socalled mathematical tile, which was hung on laths, nailed and then grouted. This form of tiling gives an imitation of brickwork and was developed to give the appearance of brick, but avoided the Brick Taxes of the 18th century.

Different types of tile profiles:

Different types of tile fittings:

Concrete roof tiles are an outstanding example of a high quality, cost effective solution for roofing. They have proved their worth over many years of trouble-free use, providing maximum protection against the elements. Concrete roof tiles are manufactured in an extensive range of profiles, colours and finishes which enhance the visual appearance of any roof and provide designers with a wide scope for expression.

a) Manufacture Concrete roof tiles are manufactured from selected raw materials such as washed graded sand, portland cement, inorganic pigments and water. The tiles are extruded under pressure resulting in a product of high quality. The strength of concrete roof tiles increases with age. b) Quality standards Concrete roof tiles manufactured by members of the Concrete Manufacturers Association meet the requirements of SANS 542-2004 Standard specification for the manufacture of concrete roofing tiles. They are manufactured in accordance with the SANS ISO 9002 Quality Management System.

c) Surface coatings Concrete roof tiles are manufactured in a vast range of finishes which will vary from one manufacturer to another. Surface finishes for tiles are categorised in accordance with SABS specifications. All surface coatings are applied under factory controlled conditions. d) Colours Large selections of standard colours are available. Fittings are available in colours to match tiles. For further information, colour charts, special colours and samples, contact the manufacturers. e) Definitions For the purposes of this publication, the following definitions shall apply: Abutment: An intersection on the roof surface and a part of the structure that rises above it. Apex: The intersection of two or more roof slopes at the highest position on the roof. Apron flashing: A flashing, the lower edge of which is dressed over the roof covering, and the upper edge of which is dressed up a vertical surface. Bargeboard: A component fixed along the edges of a gable and covering the ends of the horizontal roof members. Battens: Timber or steel members of small section fixed parallel to the line of the eaves, at right angles to the rafters, onto which tiles are fixed. Bedding: The setting and pointing of tiles and fittings in mortar. Bedding pieces: Small pieces of broken tile that are used to reinforce areas of bedding where excessive mortar shrinkage can occur. Boards: Lengths of flat timber that are nailed to the rafters to form a soffit and act as a support for the underlay. Cleat: A specially formed strip of corrosion resistant material (eg. of the same material as the valley liner) that is used to hold the valley liner in place. Coastal area: The area between the sea and a line 5km inland.

Concealed gutter: A pre-formed channel (manufactured from a suitable corrosion resistant material) that is overlapped by tiles and shaped to form a watertight joint at abutments (in conjunction with cover flashings). Counter battens: Timber members of small section fixed between the battens and the underlying structure, normally at right angles to the direction of the battens onto which the tiles are laid. Cover flashing: A flashing that is used in conjunction with other roof components (such as side gutters and apron flashings) and that overlaps any vertical parts of such components. Eaves: The overhanging lower edge of a roof slope. Fascia board: A member, cut from sheet material or timber that is fixed to the rafter ends, the wall face or the wall plate immediately below the eaves. Flashing: A strip of flexible impervious material that is used to exclude water from the junction between a roof covering and another part of the structure. Gable: The part of the wall above the general level of the eaves at the end of a ridge roof or of a partially hipped roof. Gutter: Any form of roof-water channel at eaves, verges and abutments. Head lap: The distance by which one course of tiles overlaps the course immediately below it. Hip: The sloping intersection of two inclined roof surfaces that meet at a reflex angle (greater than 180). Moonridge: The intersection of a single roof slope and a vertical masonry face at the highest part of the roof. Mortar: A mixture of sharp plaster sand, cement and inorganic pigment (optional) used for bedding tiles, ridges and fittings. Pitch: The angle of inclination to the horizontal of the rafters, or of the surface on which tiles are laid. Rafter: A supported structural member, usually timber, establishing the slope of the roof to which the battens, counter battens, boards or underlay are fixed.

Ridge: The horizontal junction between two roof slopes at the apex. Soffit closure: A closure manufactured from rigid materials, fitted to the underside of the roof over-hang at eaves and verges. Tilting batten: A batten that is used at eaves to support the tiles in the correct plane relative to the roof surface. Truss: A structural system of timber or metal members that supports the roof covering and forms part of the structure to support a ceiling. Underlay: A flexible under tile membrane fitted between the roof support structure and the battens. Valley: The sloping intersection of two inclined roof surfaces that meet at a re-entrant angle (less than 180). Valley liner or gutter: A strip of impervious material that is used to exclude water at the sloping intersection of two interesting roof surfaces. Verge: The edge of a roof surface at a gable. Welt: The edge of the valley liner that is so shaped that the cleats can hook onto it. Properly erected concrete roof tiles do not require any maintenance work or surface treatment to improve their durability or functional properties. For aesthetic reasons however, it may become necessary to carry out maintenance work where roofs have become unsightly due to a number of factors: a) Efflorescence Efflorescence often referred to as limebloom, is a natural phenomenon found in cementitious products such as concrete roof tiles. The cause lies in the chemical composition of the cement. When water added to cement a series of chemical reactions take place resulting in the setting and hardening. One product of these reactions lime in the form of calcium hydroxide which is slightly soluble in water and under certain conditions can migrate via capillaries in the concrete tile to the surface. There it reacts with the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere forming a white powder deposit of calcium carbonate crystals which is referred to as

efflorescence. Whilst the white deposit may appear unsightly, it is a temporary effect and should not be treated. With time and the natural process of weathering it will disappear restoring the true colour of the tile. This process can take three or four normal rainy seasons. This condition is purely superficial and does not affect the durability, the strength or the original colour of the tile. At present there is no viable method during the production process of preventing efflorescence. b) Fungal growth on roofs Small deposits of fungal lichen or moss on a fairly new roof can be removed by using water and a hard bristle brush. Where lichen has been prevalent for a number of years. It should be treated with approximately 2% copper sulphate solution to kill the growth. The roof should then be washed with a high-pressure water spray and a hard bristle brush. If the roof cannot be restored to a uniform colour, it may require repainting. This can be carried out by using an approved pure acrylic paint which can be applied either by brush, roller or with spraying equipment. c) Painting of tiled roofs Where it is required to change the colour of the roof for aesthetic reasons, the roof should first be thoroughly cleaned. All dirt and dust should be washed down with water before a coat of approved pure acrylic paint is applied. d) Health and safety instruction Many building products such as roof tiles are manufactured using natural raw materials. These raw materials contain a proportion of crystalline silica. Powered mechanical processing such as cutting or drilling of the products will release some quantities of respirable silica dust. Where exposure to this dust is high or prolonged over time, it can lead to lung disease (silicosis) and an increased risk of lung cancer. The following control measures are required:

Comparative Analysis of different types of tiles: