ᐅ Roofing Materials – Clay Tiles or Concrete Tiles?

It’s quite simple.

Glazed means that glass-forming additives are applied to the roof tile. Once finished, it closely resembles a glaze and completely seals the roof tile.

Engobe involves applying a type of slip; you have probably seen blue roofs before. Engobed tiles, unlike glazed ones, are vapor-permeable.

Engobed surfaces are matte to satin-finish, while glazes can be made to be high-gloss.

Edit: High-gloss roofing is rarely permitted because it “can” interfere with air traffic.

Best regards, Bauexperte
Bauexperte

Hello,
I am facing the same decision: clay versus concrete?
We want a shiny roof where moss can grow.

Could someone break down the pros and cons of clay versus concrete?
What else should be considered when making the choice?

We also chose concrete.
1. More affordable
2. Stronger, heavier, which means better sound insulation and, in my opinion, a safer roof

Maybe they won’t blow off so easily in a storm either

We chose concrete.
1. No extra cost (compared to the "show home").
2. My parents have a clay tile roof (okay, 25 years old), but on the north side it has basically become a moss roof, so I can’t imagine concrete being any worse... so in the end, I didn’t care.
I also can’t keep accepting extra charges for every part of the house; the budget would explode eventually.
And if I climb onto the roof in 10 years and remove the gunk, it will be fine again.

For us, only Jacobi roof tiles type J13 were an option. The building contract included only engobed tiles, but our favorite was the "Avantgarde" glaze, which is later given a matte finish. The price difference was 50% for the tiles and 110% for the shaped pieces. In direct comparison, the engobed tile feels rough. When you rub something over it, for example wood, material is abraded and gets stuck in the pores. The glazed tile surface is smooth. Now, on the finished roof, the color appears much richer and "deeper" compared to the engobed roofs. More dust from the construction site also settles on the engobed roofs. The cheapest concrete tiles in the neighborhood look the worst; they simply appear very dull. However, I don’t know what the surface finish is called there. I do believe all variants last 30 years. So, it’s more a matter of appearance.