The importance of roof design and its relationship with other elements within
the external envelope and the surrounding environment cannot be over emphasised.
The roof constitutes up to 40% of the visible exterior of a building, and design
features can limit the choice of tile. Our advice, therefore, is always to design
the house with the roof tile or slate in mind. Use our
tile selector to help you determine what kind of tiles are available and suit your needs.
Then obtain literature to understand how tiles can be used (
request literature) and ask for samples of your chosen tile / colour to submit with your planning
application. (
order sample).
From a planning perspective, seek the guidance of your planner at the earliest
stage possible. While it is unusual for a planner to be prescriptive about the
choice of roofing materials outside conservation areas, each planning office has
some freedom to interpret national guidelines in accordance with local needs.
When choosing materials, check the type of tiles in use on adjacent properties
and consider their age. Tiles mature very differently according to the material
with which they are made and the environment in which they find themselves. Clay
retains its overall colour, mellowing as it ages and is often thought of as having
a rustic charm. Its use, however, is not confined to rural areas, with products
such as the
20/20 plain tile being used in urban areas as a highly cost-effective alternative to traditional
plain tiles.
Our extensive range of colours is available to ensure you can successfully complement
your choice of brick. Recent innovations such as the
Arcadia pantile mean we can even simulate the character of reclaimed tiles. Whereas the use
of reclaimed brick is common, the use of reclaimed tiles can present problems,
not least in where to obtain them. This can be overcome however, by choosing a
product such as the Arcadia to provide a finish every bit as effective as reclaimed
tiles, but with our sixty year guarantee.
For more specialised needs, such as the restoration of listed buildings, the
Sandtoft
Heritage Service can re-create handmade tiles, ridges and finials in keeping with the exacting
needs and standards of local and national conservation bodies.
