Beyond its practical role, a roof can also be a well-designed and aesthetically pleasing part of your home, adding character and improving curb appeal. Achieving the best visual effect with clay roof tiles involves careful consideration of design, colour, installation, and maintenance, harmonising form with function.
ORDERING
Roof tile manufacturers supply products via various routes to market including distributors/merchants and contractors. The following information should be supplied for all plots to be roofed on the order:
• Housebuilder Name (If Relevant)
• Site Name
• Plot Number (If Relevant)
• Tile Type and Colour
• Tile Quantity
For new housing developers, this recommendation should be included within the trade specification document so that roofing contractors know the information that has to be supplied to the tile manufacturer when placing product orders.
ON-SITE ROOF TILE STOCK MANAGEMENT
Before roof tiling commences, shipments should be checked for any discrepancies or defects. When the roof tiles and fittings are received on site, a visual inspection should be carried out by the contractor or developer. This inspection should include comparing the tile colour from each pallet within each shipment to ensure colour consistency, immediately reporting any major variances. Clay fittings are commonly manufactured and fired separately from the roof tiles which may lead to slight colour variations. To guarantee the most uniform finish, avoid using tiles and fittings from different shipments or batches on the same roof/plot.
MIXING ROOF TILES
It is a requirement of all roof tile manufacturers that products are mixed from different pallets, normally a minimum of three. This mixing is a crucial step to ensuring a pleasing visual effect, mitigating the risk of slight colour variations within the batch grouping together. A final check should be carried out before dropping any scaffolding to ensure that there are no obvious colour variation issues. This check is best done when the roof tiles are dry.
COMPLAINT HANDLING
Whilst roof tile manufacturers do not guarantee tile colour or appearance, the aesthetics of a roof can be as important as the performance. There are many factors outside of a tile manufacturer’s control, but if issues with the final appearance of the roof do arise, it is important to raise them as soon as possible. This way, an investigation can be conducted and solutions implemented whilst the scaffolding is still erected, something that becomes significantly more complex once the scaffolding is dropped. There are a few simple, but often overlooked, tips to make this process easier:
• Take time during installation to take a step back and look at the tiles, preferably from ground level and during dry weather
• Provide appropriate information of any problems in advance, e.g. site address, location of purchase, involved parties and batch date
• Ensure photographs have been taken, particularly when investigating colour variation complaints
• Keep the label from the packaging as this will show batch date
Achieving the best visual effect from clay roof tiles requires cooperation across the supply chain. By following the guidance above, you are setting yourself up to create the most visually pleasing roof, with minimal disruption in the process.
At Lifestiles, we are more than just a supplier. We work hand-in-hand with our customers to ensure success on projects both big and small. Guarantee success on your next project and contact us today!
