Roof Tile Types: Concrete, Clay, Plain, Interlocking and Slate

The main types

Where you live shapes what's usual. Wienerberger, which makes clay tiles, says natural slate is common in Wales, plain tiles in the south east and clay pantiles along the east coast of England. Marley also makes cedar shingles for roofs from 14°, and slate-look concrete tiles. For metal, see metal roof costs.

Clay or concrete?

Wienerberger says the two perform almost identically for keeping water out and lasting, so the choice mostly comes down to looks, budget and planning. Marley says much the same: similar lifespans, both low maintenance.

• Concrete is usually cheaper and is the most popular roof covering in the UK. Its painted finish can fade over time, and it can show temporary white staining (efflorescence).
• Clay costs a little more and its colour lasts the life of the tile. Handmade clay tiles cost more again.
• Weight depends on the shape as much as the material: on Marley's figures, clay plain tiles are lighter than concrete plain tiles, and concrete interlocking tiles are lighter than both.

Our view: on a house that already has concrete interlocking tiles, we'd stay with them unless you want a different look and the pitch and weight allow it. Clay is worth paying for where the look matters most: an older house, a street of clay roofs, or a conservation area.

Plain or interlocking?

Plain tiles are small and rectangular, and have to be laid with a double overlap to keep the weather out. That gives the traditional look, but it takes about 60 tiles to cover a square metre and needs a steeper roof.

Interlocking tiles fit together at the sides, so they only need a single overlap. They're bigger, so you need far fewer (about 9.9 per square metre for Marley's Modern tile), which Marley says makes them quicker and more cost-effective to lay. They also go on shallower roofs.

In between are large-format "double plain" tiles, which Marley says give the look of plain tiles at a much lower cost and on a lower pitch.

Changing to a different tile

Three things decide whether you can:

• Pitch. Every tile has a minimum pitch, and Marley says it can vary with the tile's texture and overlap. A roofer can measure yours; check it against the maker's figure for the exact tile.
• Weight. The roofing trade body's competent person scheme says a change in the weight of the covering of more than 15%, up or down, needs a structural survey. Going from slate to concrete interlocking tiles is about 43% heavier on the figures above. The Planning Portal says changing to a different material, such as slate to tiles, is likely to need building regulations approval, and a much heavier or lighter covering may mean strengthening the roof.
• The look. The Planning Portal says re-roofing that doesn't materially change how the house looks usually doesn't need planning permission. Wienerberger notes councils often want a new roof to match the area, so ask the planning office early if you're changing the look. In a conservation area, or on a listed building, we'd check any change of material or colour with the council before going further.

Which tiles have you got?

Three things tell most tiles apart from the ground or a window:

• Size: plain tiles are small, about 60 to a square metre; interlocking tiles are much bigger, around 10 to 18.
• Shape: flat rectangles (plain tiles or flat interlocking), an S-shaped wave (pantiles) or alternating flat and curved sections (Roman tiles).
• Material: concrete's painted finish can fade over the years; clay keeps its colour for the life of the tile.

For a repair, the match matters more than the type. Marley says replacement tiles should be a close match, ideally the same tile from the same maker, so the size, shape and interlocks work with the ones already there. We'd take a spare or broken tile to a roofer or a roofing merchant to match it.

How long roof tiles last

Marley says its roof tiles are typically expected to last around 60 years, and that this is the expected life in normal conditions when correctly installed, not a guarantee. What shortens it, by the same maker's account: walking on the roof without crawl boards, pressure washing, poor installation, pollution, high winds and frost.

Marley suggests checking the roof twice a year, in autumn and spring, and after big storms: look for cracked, loose or missing tiles, damaged flashings and blocked gutters. Leave the pressure washer out of it: Marley warns it can crack tiles and force water into the roof. Repairs are on roof repair costs, and a whole new roof on new roof costs.

Frequently asked questions