ROOFING

Roof tiles

Weight is the decision, not preference. A clay roof is several times heavier than sheets and the structure has to take it.

What this category covers

Mangalore tiles

The traditional Goan roof. Clay, interlocking, in standard patterns. Still the right answer on a heritage property, a restoration, or anywhere the roofline matters.

Clay roof tiles

Country, half-round and pan tiles beyond the Mangalore pattern, including ridge and hip pieces.

Concrete roof tiles

Heavier, more uniform, wider colour range. Longer expected life than clay in most conditions.

Ridge, hip & valley

Ridge tiles, hip tiles, valley tiles, gable and eave closers — the pieces a roof needs and an estimate usually forgets.

Fixings & battens

Tile clips, nails, wire, treated battens and counter-battens, breather membrane and underlay.

Ventilators & specials

Roof ventilators, glass tiles for light, and replacement matching for repairs.

Tiles or sheets

	Clay or concrete tiles	Metal sheets
Appearance	Traditional, suits Goan and heritage roofs	Modern, industrial
Weight	Heavy — the structure must take it	Light
Structure needed	Battens, rafters, purlins — more timber	Purlins only
Rain noise	Quiet	Loud in monsoon unless insulated
Heat	Cooler under a clay roof	Hotter unless insulated or colour-coated
Repair	Replace individual tiles	Replace a whole sheet
Speed to lay	Slower, more labour	Fast
Slope needed	Steeper pitch required	Works at lower pitch

Weight is the decision, not preference. Re-tiling a roof that previously carried sheets means the structure must be checked first. A clay tile roof is several times heavier per square metre, and the rafters were sized for what was there before.

What to send for a roofing tile quotation

Roof area

Sloping area, not the plan footprint. A pitched roof covers more than the room below it.

Pitch

Steeper roofs shed water better but use more tile per square metre of floor.

Ridge and hip lengths

Priced separately from field tiles and consistently under-ordered.

New or replacement

Matching an existing roof is a different problem. Send a photograph and a tile if you have a spare.

Battens and underlay

Whether they are included in the requirement or supplied separately.

Access

Tiles are heavy and arrive on pallets. How close can a vehicle get, and is there anything to unload with.

Order breakage allowance. Clay tiles break in transit, in handling and in cutting at hips and valleys. Add 5 to 10% on a straightforward roof, more where there are several hips and valleys — and keep the remainder for future repairs, because matching a discontinued pattern later is often impossible.