Laura Bourland
Concrete Roof Tiles
Flat, rectangular tiles made of concrete and laid horizontally from the bottom edge of a roof upwards, with each new row overlapping the previous one. Roof tiles work for roofs with a relatively steep slope.
Concrete roof tiles are often made to look like clay roof tiles, and come in a wide variety of colours, so you can choose what you like for the style of your home. Look for a good warranty and a roofing contractor with good references. Note that, like all tile roofs, concrete tiles require at least a medium slope and are not for low-slope or nearly flat roofs.
Concrete roof tiles are durable, and lighter than slate roof tiles, and they can be returned to the earth, just as stone, when you are done with them. However, production of concrete takes a lot of energy and generates a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
Tiles have been used on roofs for more than 5,000 years, but making them from concrete started in Bavaria in the 1800s.