ᐅ Cost Comparison Between Concrete and Clay Bricks

Hello,

Originally, concrete roof tiles Harzer Pfanne F+ were planned for our house because the roof has a slope of only 12 degrees. Our carpenter as well as our architect thought (also considering the low slope) that it would be better to use clay tiles instead. These are Braas Rubin 9V tiles.

With this change, we would need to pay an additional charge. However, when I compare the prices of the different tiles, the price difference is not that high. Now I have heard that the labor involved in installing clay tiles is significantly higher and that the installation cost is therefore more expensive. Is that true?

Hello,

Orschel schrieb:
Originally, concrete roof tiles Harzer Pfanne F+ were planned for our house since the roof has only a 12-degree slope.

And – crystal ball mode on – nobody told you that these tiles are not suitable for a 12° roof pitch?

Orschel schrieb:
Our carpenter as well as our architect thought (also considering the low slope) that it would be better to use clay tiles.

Correct.

Orschel schrieb:
Now I’ve heard that the labor involved in installing clay tiles is considerably higher, and therefore more expensive. Is that true?

Yes, that’s true, and breakage rates are also higher. Depending on the roof area, the extra cost for a typical single-family house is between 2,000 and 3,500 euros.

Best regards

And – crystal ball mode on – no one told you that this pan is unusable in the case of DN 12°?

Well, no... Nobody said that, although according to the online description, the F+ should actually be usable... Now I wonder, if you already suspected that, is it common practice that this is offered even though the carpenter should know it is unusable?

Yes, that’s true, the breakage rate is also higher. Depending on the roof area between EUR 2,000 and EUR 3,500 for a typical single-family house.

According to our architect AND carpenter, the additional cost for the clay tiles is about EUR 5,000... However, since it was not my fault to receive the wrong offer, I would get them for only EUR 1,600. That initially sounded fair, but I have now compared prices. According to an online building materials supplier, one F+ tile costs €1.13 each, which amounts to €9.27 per m² (approximately $10.90 per m²), and the clay tile costs €1.18 each, €11.10 per m² (approximately $13.05 per m²).
The price difference between the tiles for a roof of about 140 m² (1,507 square feet) is not really high, roughly €300 when rounded up... So am I paying €1,300 more for the higher installation costs? Or how would the original price of nearly €5,000 come about? Either I am missing something (which is certainly possible since I’m not an expert) or I’m being taken for a ride...

Hello,

Orschel schrieb:
Well, no... No one said so, although according to the online description, the F+ should actually be usable... Now I wonder, if you already suspected that, is it common practice that this is offered even though the carpenter should know it is not usable?

I assume, without guarantee of accuracy, that the supplier knows this and the carpenter increases his profit margin with the necessary offer.

Orschel schrieb:
The price difference between the tiles would not be that high for a roof of about 140m² (1506 ft²), roughly €300 rounded up... So am I paying €1,300 more due to higher installation costs? Or how does the original price of almost €5,000 come about? Either I don’t understand something (which certainly can happen as a layperson) or I am being taken for a ride...

Are you referring only to the carpenter’s scope of work, or during your discussion with him?

You are making the same mistake as many construction laypeople. With clay roof tiles, it’s not just about the price difference compared to concrete roof tiles—that difference is not that significant. It’s also about the substructure, meaning the carpenter’s work. The rafters need to be spaced much closer together, which increases both material and labor costs. The roofer cannot simply lay them but must also secure them with clips; breakage is also a considerable issue. Altogether, for a roof of the size you mentioned, the extra costs often run into thousands of euros 2–3; where the difference comes from beyond that is outside my knowledge.

Kind regards

Thank you for your reply! That is good to know. I have now asked for clarification because the carpenter is visiting our architect again today. Generally speaking, installing clay tiles on our house is an upgrade, and we are not paying the full quoted price (however that figure was calculated).

Still, there is something that doesn’t quite feel right about this situation.

I also don’t understand why the F+ brick is not suitable for installation at a 12° slope. Everywhere I have looked, it is specifically advertised as suitable for flat roofs starting at 7° slope. However, our architect also told us that the F+ brick might no longer be available... But that can’t be true either, since a building materials supplier can still order it with a delivery time of 5 to 10 days.