Roofing in the UK has evolved significantly, with new materials and designs offering developers more choice, while sustainability and innovation continue to shape the industry’s future, says Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles.
Tell us a bit about how roofing has evolved in the UK?
The UK’s modern architectural scenery is made up of a massive variety of styles, with housing in particular having distinctive styles depending on where in the country you live. The look of contemporary housing owes much to the history and traditions of house building dating back centuries. The results of today’s landscape are usually based on the local availability of building materials, this is reflected not only in buildings but what’s on the roof too.
Roofing across Britain is unlike anywhere else in Europe, many other countries tend to use predominantly one material. However, the local availability of raw materials in the UK over the centuries has resulted in a diverse range of roofing styles.
What is the choice available for developers in terms of roof coverings?
Concrete roof tiles first gained a real foothold in the market following the post-war housing boom, where manufacturers tooled up and invested heavily in automation. Concrete tiles now account for around 60 per cent of the market and are used widely as a standard material across the UK, concrete is in fact the most widely used man-made material.
Concrete tiles have established themselves as a mainstay due to their durability and longevity, as well as their versatility. Manufactured using state of the art technology, concrete now offers a level of strength and resilience that is far in advance of roof tiles made from clay or slate.
One of the standout features of concrete is its versatility our tiles are for example available in a wide range of profiles and colours. Whether replicating the look of natural traditional clay, slate or stone tiles, concrete tiles can seamlessly blend with any architectural style, providing a huge choice.
From a design perspective, concrete tiles can be used on different roof shapes, from hipped, mansard or traditional gable to gable styles, even incorporating dormers. Many tile designs can also be laid in a variety of options, such as half or quarter-bonded bonded to give a distinctly different look.
Your manufactured tiles are concrete derivatives, why are they a good alternative to “natural” roof tiles, how do they compare?
There is often an argument that a material seen as “naturally” occurring is more sustainable than that of a manufactured product. But the distinction is not always so clear-cut.
One area where this is specifically an issue is the concrete versus clay debate for roof tiles. Though both are “manufactured” from natural materials such as sand, water, clay and limestone.
But, using state of the art modern techniques now enables manufacturers like us to replicate the traditional character of clay, stone and slate but with all the long-term added benefits of concrete.
Concrete roof tiles provide a cost-effective, sustainable, and long-lasting roofing solution and are manufactured in a range of colours providing a visually pleasing and authentic look.
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