Tile roofing systems are a popular choice in American housing. They are beautiful as well as functional. Fort Worth roofing companies install many tile roofs because they do a great job insulating residential interiors and they stand up well to the climate extremes of this part of Texas. Most folks, however, don’t know that much about tile roofing other than how it applies to residential use.
What we have next are a few items that can help contextualize the place that tile roofs hold globally and historically and will heighten your appreciation of some of the things mankind can do, or undo.
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Nothing New –
The earliest evidence of fired roof tiles goes all the way back to Hellenic Greece, in the 3rd millennium BC! By 700-650 BC the use of tile had spread around the Mediterranean, gradually replacing thatched roofs. It’s believed that fire-resistance is the feature that led to the use of the heavier and more expensive material.
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Materials –
various materials can be used to make tile roofing, though fired clay is what most people are familiar with. Over the years tiles have been formed from stone, ceramics, metal and glass. Today, in addition to clay tiles, we see a lot of cement tile products and even some made of plastics.
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Sydney Opera House –
The “shells” of the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia are actually cement panels supported by cement ribbing and covered with a chevron-pattern exterior composed of more than 1,000,000 Swedish-manufactured tiles.
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Hospices in Burgundy –
The Hospices in Beaune, Burgundy, France are covered by intricately patterned tile roofing that dates back to the 15th Century and rivals the famed regional vineyards in tourist popularity.
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Dubrovnik –
The “Old Town” of Dubrovnik, Croatia is more than 1300 years old, but the city looks as though it were completely covered with new tile roofs. The reason, of course, is that the roofs are new, since most of the city was damaged or destroyed by Serbian bombs during the struggles of 1991-1992.
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St. Stephen’s Cathedral –
This 14th Century Austrian wonder serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna, and is covered by nearly a quarter-million glazed tiles that form images, coats-of-arms and dazzling geometric patterns.
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Wasantha Zoysa –
Though tile roofing has a deserved and enviable reputation for strength and durability, even this famed material is apparently no match for the martial artistry of Wasantha Zoysa. He holds recognized world records for breaking roofing tiles. In 1998 he set the mark for most roofing tiles broken with his body, at 525, and he also holds the standard for most roofing tiles broken in a single minute, cracking 104 tiles in just 54 seconds. Needless to say, don’t try this at home or anywhere else.
Tile roofing is best left to the Pros! For all of your own roofing needs, residential or commercial, call Old Pro Roofing for free estimates and responsible no-hassle service.
Dallas Roofing Office: (972) 975-ROOF (7663)
Fort Worth Roofing Office: (817) 929-ROOF (7663)
Tile roofing systems are a popular choice in American housing. They are beautiful as well as functional. Fort Worth roofing companies install many tile roofs because they do a great job insulating residential interiors and they stand up well to the climate extremes of this part of Texas. Most folks, however, don’t know that much about tile roofing other than how it applies to residential use.
What we have next are a few items that can help contextualize the place that tile roofs hold globally and historically and will heighten your appreciation of some of the things mankind can do, or undo.
- Nothing New – The earliest evidence of fired roof tiles goes all the way back to Hellenic Greece, in the 3rd millennium BC! By 700-650 BC the use of tile had spread around the Mediterranean, gradually replacing thatched roofs. It’s believed that fire-resistance is the feature that led to the use of the heavier and more expensive material.
- Materials – various materials can be used to make tile roofing, though fired clay is what most people are familiar with. Over the years tiles have been formed from stone, ceramics, metal and glass. Today, in addition to clay tiles, we see a lot of cement tile products and even some made of plastics.
- Sydney Opera House – The “shells” of the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia are actually cement panels supported by cement ribbing and covered with a chevron-pattern exterior composed of more than 1,000,000 Swedish-manufactured tiles.
- Hospices in Burgundy – The Hospices in Beaune, Burgundy, France are covered by intricately patterned tile roofing that dates back to the 15th Century and rivals the famed regional vineyards in tourist popularity.
- Dubrovnik – The “Old Town” of Dubrovnik, Croatia is more than 1300 years old, but the city looks as though it were completely covered with new tile roofs. The reason, of course, is that the roofs are new, since most of the city was damaged or destroyed by Serbian bombs during the struggles of 1991-1992.
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral – This 14th Century Austrian wonder serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna, and is covered by nearly a quarter-million glazed tiles that form images, coats-of-arms and dazzling geometric patterns.
- Wasantha Zoysa – Though tile roofing has a deserved and enviable reputation for strength and durability, even this famed material is apparently no match for the martial artistry of Wasantha Zoysa. He holds recognized world records for breaking roofing tiles. In 1998 he set the mark for most roofing tiles broken with his body, at 525, and he also holds the standard for most roofing tiles broken in a single minute, cracking 104 tiles in just 54 seconds. Needless to say, don’t try this at home or anywhere else.
Tile roofing is best left to the Pros! For all of your own roofing needs, residential or commercial, call Old Pro Roofing for free estimates and responsible no-hassle service.
Dallas Roofing Office: (972) 975-ROOF (7663)
Fort Worth Roofing Office: (817) 929-ROOF (7663)