Concrete, terracotta or fibre-cement roofing: pros and cons

Different options for your roof

The roof protects your home from the elements, so you want it to be robust and resistant. But how do you choose from the many types of roofing? Let’s compare three commonly available roof materials: concrete tiles, terracotta tiles and fibre cement slates.

• Concrete tiles are made from cement and marble powder. It is mixed with mineral pigments and water and poured into metal moulds before being compressed using a hydraulic press.
• Terracotta tiles are made from clay that is shaped and baked in industrial kilns. As ceramics, they can be glazed to have an additional protective layer.
• Fibre cement slates are made from a smart mix of cement, water, fibres and air to combine lightweight with robustness and durability.

Each of these roofing options has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s have a look which material would fit your home best and why.

Find out more about fibre cement.

The advantages and disadvantages of concrete tiles

Concrete tiles actually consist of three layers. The first layer is composed of white cement, powdered white marble and mineral pigments. The second layer is a mortar made of sand and grey cement, applied on the first layer to strengthen it. And the third layer is a thick, porous mixture that is achieved by using rich cement. These three layers are hydraulically pressed together and soaked in water for the curing process to start.

With so much concrete, you can imagine the high level of durability. It is a very malleable product: concrete can be pressed into virtually any shape and size. By playing with the pigments, you can obtain a wide range of colours. Concrete is low maintenance and withstands heat and fire very well. And there are different qualities for different budgets.

On the downside, concrete is relatively heavy. So you better have a sturdy roof structure that can support the weight of concrete tiles. Concrete is also notorious for absorbing moist and water. This can cause frost damage in winter or lead to the build-up of mould, unless it has a protective coating. However, the protective coating makes cement tiles a less economical option.

The advantages and disadvantages of terracotta tiles

Terracotta – literally ‘baked earth’ – is a natural material. Clay is extracted from the ground. It is then refined to get rid of any impurities and pressed into moulds. It is hardened in ovens at a low temperature to get an evenly baked product. Because of the natural clay, terracotta tiles come in various shade of orange, unless extra pigments or colouring is applied.

Terracotta tiles give a building that authentic, traditional look. Terracotta does not warp and decompose, so it has a high level of durability and the natural colour does not fade. It is a semi-porous but weatherproof material, protecting your home from the elements. Last but not least, it is an easy-maintenance natural material.

But, however pretty clay tiles can be, they come with a few disadvantages. Like concrete tiles, terracotta is heavy, so your roof structure needs to be able to support the weight. Terracotta tiles are also breakable and the porous nature is vulnerable to frost damage, unless they have an additional protective layer or glazing. And as all natural materials, it is a costly option.

The advantages and disadvantages of fibre cement slates

The raw materials – 60% cement, 4% fibres, 6% water and 30% air – are mixed. This fibre cement paste is sieved into the patented Hatcheck machine that deposits thin films on top of each other until the desired thickness is reached. Next, the boards are autoclaved to make them extra strong and hardened. In a final step, the slates are cut to size and sanded.

This process makes fibre cement slates a lot more versatile (more colours, sizes, shapes) than natural slates, so you can give your creativity free reign. Thanks to the air and the fibres, the slates are lightweight, yet ultra-robust. They resist to frost, heat and even fire, but are also impervious to mould and they don’t chip easily. With fibre cement slates, you can enjoy your roof for a life-time.

Discover the range of fibre cement solutions for your roof.

While traditionally fibre cement had a bad reputation, this has completely changed over the years. It is made with naturally available ingredients and all waste generated during the production process is now reused. Thanks to its light weight, its transport footprint is a lot lower compared to concrete or terracotta.