Sandringham in Terracotta
As demand for a ‘premium heritage look’ continues to shape specification of roofing products, leading roofing and cladding manufacturer Marley Eternit is committed to driving consideration of clay tiles as an economical and attractive roofing solution that allows specifiers to maximise this trend, while also providing flexibility and ease of installation for contractors.
Indeed, man-made clay tiles have become increasingly popular, particularly in areas where natural materials were previously considered too expensive, with figures from the Clay Roofing Tile Council showing an increase in year on year sales between 1997 and 2007 of almost 30%1.
But with the fall in new build housing starts in recent years, Marley Eternit is keen to demonstrate the benefits of Clay for a greater breadth of projects.
Sandringham clay interlocking tiles for example provide the traditional yet premium aesthetic impact of a natural clay tiled roof, combined with the modern benefits of precision-engineered interlocking technology.
Richard Bishop, campaign manager at Marley Eternit, explains: “Clay has been used to cover British roofs for more than 800 years but recently we have witnessed a resurgence in its popularity. The price of clay tiles has reduced significantly making it more accessible and we are confident that our specifiers and installers will find Sandringham titles to be a reliable, cost effective product that allows them to capitalise on the demand for a more traditional look.”
Chairman of the Clay Roof Tile Council (CRTC), Alex Patrick Smith, added: “Clay roof tiles are now more affordable than ever with prices significantly lower in real terms than five years ago. After being driven down by manufacturers such as Marley Eternit, prices for some clay tiles are now roughly on a par with concrete roof tiles, which should encourage specifiers to look at clay in a different light.
“This fall in price means clay roofing is now affordable to a much broader audience than ever before, with specifiers choosing to opt for clay due to its superior aesthetic.”
Benefits from Marley Eternit
For specifiers, Marley Eternit’s Sandringham tiles are an affordable way to achieve the heritage aesthetic associated with clay. The large format of the tiles (403mm x 325mm) means they have an impressive covering capacity of 9.9 tiles/m². This, in turn, makes them more affordable than other smaller clay tiles as fewer are required to cover the same surface area.
Richard Bishop added: “Sandringham interlocking tiles are also an ideal option when an area’s planning requirements specify the use of clay as a roofing material to conform to local architectural vernacular. They allow specifiers to adhere to this while keeping material costs low.”
Available in an attractive Terracotta Red, this robust range of clay pantiles boasts a minimum pitch of just 22° allowing a greater choice of suitable roofs. The precision engineering of the tiles ensures perfect edges and exact fitting, a real benefit for installers as installation is much more straightforward. Also, as the tiles have a variable headlock this adds an additional degree of flexibility during installation as contractors have a greater choice over batten spacing.
A full range of bespoke fittings and accessories including vents, ridge and verge tiles are available as part of a complete roofing solution which helps provide a stunning finish. Additionally, to help make life easier for its customers, Marley Eternit offers a useful range of free support services. These include a technical advisory service staffed by experts with specialist product knowledge who can answer any queries before or after purchase, as well as a sample request service.