The beauty of natural clay colours is unrivalled.Ĭlay tiles mellow and improve with age. Santa Catarina clay tiles are a sustainable product, the longevity of clay means that the energy and raw materials used in their production are offset over the whole life of the roof, which in the case of most clay tile roofs, is over 100 years. Planners and architects keen to preserve regional distinctiveness are keen to specify clay roof tiles. Large format roof tiles simply do not offer this flexibility.Ĭlay tile roofs form an important part of the architectural heritage of Portugal and Europe. The small size of Santa Catarina clay tiles provides the versatility for the architect to design roofscapes of infinite interest. The permanence of artificial colours is not guaranteed. The wide range of natural burnt colours from red to Brown to blue can be imitated but never reproduced with artificial colouring. The overwhelming case for clay tiles rests upon aesthetics. The permanence of the colour with naturally burnt clay colours guarantees that the roof will never look washed out and as it ages it will improve and mellow. Many examples exist of roofs with plain clay tiles that are still standing in pristine condition after more than 100 years. This makes them much more durable than painted metal or concrete tiles, which can chip and fade with time. The Santa Catarina clay tiles offer superior strength and durability than all other roof coverings. Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County Picture: Terracotta roofs old Dubrovnik - Check out Tripadvisor members 63589 candid photos and videos of Dubrovnik. Terracotta roof tiles are made from natural clay and kiln-fired at very high temperatures in order to produce their characteristic color. The choice of roof tile will affect both the character and value of your home. In a Clay Roofing Tile Council survey of conservation officers, planners, architects, house builders, surveyors and roofing contractors, 99% agreed that clay tiles enhance the built environment with 95% acknowledged that they are sustainable building products.