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Discussion Forum

Plastic Roof Tiles

WOODEXPERT | Posted in Construction Techniques on March 9, 2005 06:07am

I have a 1950’s masonary home with cement tiles on the roof. I am looking for a source of plastic tiles for my roof. I plan to remove the old roof, repoint the chimney,

 add 2 ” rigid insulation [for noise] new plywood and the shingles.

Thank you in advance for all help given.

Lee

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Replies

  1. BobKovacs | Mar 09, 2005 08:13pm | #1

    Hmmm....not sure I've ever seen "plastic" tiles.  I'm assuming you're looking for something similar in appearance to the concrete tiles but trying to save weight?  If so, there are several lines of metal tiles that look like concrete/clay "S" or mission-style tiles.  I'd start looking at those.

    Bob

  2. Frankie | Mar 09, 2005 08:45pm | #2

    Ciba has them for starters. Here is their site address:

    http://www.cibasc.com/index/ind-index/ind-con_pip/ind-con-applications/ind-con-app-roofing/ind-con-app-roo-rooftiles.htm

    You will have to register in order to see the page but it's easy. They seem to have quite a variety.

    Do a Google search for plasting roofing tiles.

    F

    1. WOODEXPERT | Mar 10, 2005 06:12pm | #10

      Frankie,

      Thanks for the lead. Ciba has the color I want but I am looking for a red plastic Spanish roofing tile. I am not looking for a recycled rubber roofing tile or a slate tile. Lee

      1. Piffin | Mar 12, 2005 04:28am | #11

        Is there something that leads you to believe such products exist in a plastic material?
        There are lightweight concrete tiles in that shape. I believe that Monier is one brand making them.BTW, the terminology for that style is Barrel tile 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. WOODEXPERT | Mar 13, 2005 05:21pm | #12

          Piffin,

          I believe these tiles are used in the midwest. I live in Portland, Oregon where there is a moss problem on most roofs. I believe  plastic tiles with a zinc strip should minimize the moss. I also like the shape and style of the mission tile. If you know of another alternative please let me know.

          I am open to sugessttions of any medium .

          Lee

           

          1. woodjedi | Mar 13, 2005 08:14pm | #13

            hi lee lee i think i might have found your solution Eagle roofing products of Southern California these tiles are i believe a composite material that is fire resistent,these tiles i have seen used on an estate in Maui,I was so impressed with this material the color and the vivid detail that gos into each shingle.I hope your willing to pay these babies are not cheap! good luck and hire a very qualified roofer.

        2. IraNeff | Oct 13, 2010 04:44pm | #21

          dura slate

          Pfiffen, are these shingles affected by UV due to the recycled materials.  I have a roof that has curling and lifing and is about 8 years old.  If so do you have any pictures of these tiles.  I know Royal, Dura Slate does not manufacture these anymore. Thanks

  3. User avater
    constantin | Mar 09, 2005 11:06pm | #3

    I put in DuraSlate tiles on our roof. They mimic slate quite well and should last a long, long time.

    1. User avater
      IMERC | Mar 10, 2005 12:04am | #4

      they won't.. 4 or 5 years and they start to break down,,,

      ask Piffen to show you some pics..

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

      WOW!!!   What a Ride!

      1. seeyou | Mar 10, 2005 12:32am | #5

        I'm not sure that they're all bad. Several companies that were making that stuff 7-8 years ago have disappeared. I'm not sure what brand those are on Piffen's library, but that's a heartbreaker. I've seen several other failures, but I've noticed some of the larger manufacturer's are coming out with a rubber slate product. Hopefully they've got the UV resistance problems worked out. I've had several jobs go on around me, so I'll be watching. You're almost as paranoid as the people that're trying to kill me.

        1. User avater
          IMERC | Mar 10, 2005 12:38am | #6

          I don't know the brand but IIRC these were the rubber slate look alikes...

          Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

          WOW!!!   What a Ride!

      2. User avater
        constantin | Mar 10, 2005 02:28am | #7

        I searched the archives and found the pictures that Piffen posted. Here are some observations:

        The search function here is less than perfect... but you guys probably knew that already.

        The plastic slates on the roof that piffen shows are indeed not nearly as flat and straight as the ones on the adjacent real slate roof. However, many slate roofs are irregular as well. Furthermore, piffen gave no indication as to what brand of fake slate he was dealing with.

        Royal Building Products, the manufacturing group behind DuraSlate, has over $1BN in sales and has been around since 1970. Not a fly-by-night operation, by any stretch of the imagination.

        Like most warranties, the coverage is pro-rated, but given our climate I don't see why a 50 year life should not be attainable. For that matter, most roof warranties are downright entertaining when it comes to their coverage... ever read the fine print?

        I inspected a local installation of Duraslate that was over 2 years old, black, and easily observable. Not one of the Duraslate slate shingles had deformed as shown in piffen's pictures. Perhaps his climate is much hotter/sunnier than ours.

        Our Duralslates are 26' up in the air, at minimum. You'd have to get closer than that to see minute lifting/sagging, something made all the easier in piffens pics since the roof starts at eye level.

        Given my experience thus far, I can only recommend Duraslate for the Boston environment. I'll be happy to report back in a couple of years re: the longevity of the DuraSlate product. Cheers!

        1. Piffin | Mar 10, 2005 05:18am | #8

          I am still hpefull of findiong a decent product and have not heard of Duraslate before. Will look into them. one of the two jobs I photed was of Eternit rubber slates. Don't know brand name of the other. I do know the other one is now a source of leaks. The Duraslate is what material???
          concrete or other? 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. User avater
            constantin | Mar 10, 2005 04:00pm | #9

            You know, that's a really good question. My understanding was that Duraslate basically consists of shredded car bumpers, but I can no longer find any references pointing to that online. The info at Royal Building Products is somewhat scarce, but it does mention that the Duraslates are made with recycled materials.

            Duraslates definitely do not feel like rubber in the hand, however. They are quite stiff, even in warm conditions. Cutting them with anything but a cutoff-wheel is a laborious process of scoring, cutting, scoring, etc. DuraSlate feels like somewhat rubberized solid PVC and since Royal is one of the largest PVC manufacturers in the world, this wouldn't be too surprising!

            We used a ice and water shield layer from Grace under every roofing material, be it standing-seam copper or the DuraSlate. Since all roof rafter bays are filled with Corbond, the roof seems to remain at outdoor temperatures all the time. The combination should ensure the absence of ice dams and water-tightness.

            The only disappointment I have had with Duraslate to date was the absence of a ridge end-piece (if that's what it's called). This would be a end-piece for ridges that end with three roof-planes intersecting at the same angle. I have to think that this sort of intersection is quite common on Mansard and other roofs, yet Duraslate (and most of ther manufacturers) can't seem to be bothered to make an end-cap. Not enough demand, I imagine.

            We tried "reforming" ridge pieces via a jig in which the ridge pieces were deformed mechanically while heat was applied with a MAPP torch. Two observations come to mind: Reforming a piece is very difficult and takes a lot of patience (lotsa springback). Duraslate roof tiles are flammable and have a very low thermal conductivity and mass. Therefore, you have to heat them slowly and evenly to get a result that looks roughly OK.

            Lastly, I don't recommend anyone follow in our footsteps, as it's easier, safer, and classier to form such end-pieces from copper sheathing.

          2. IraNeff | Oct 13, 2010 04:43pm | #20

            dura slate

            Pfiffen, are these shingles affected by UV due to the recycled materials.  I have a roof that has curling and lifing and is about 8 years old.  If so do you have any pictures of these tiles.  I know Royal, Dura Slate does not manufacture these anymore. Thanks

          3. IraNeff | Oct 14, 2010 02:10pm | #24

            Dura Slate is a recycled rubber and plastics the word I heard is the UV caused fading and a break down of the material.  They are not virgin material.  The recycle was considered unstable.

        2. IraNeff | Oct 14, 2010 02:15pm | #25

          Dura Slate pic

          Anyone seen this happen? 

          1. DanH | Oct 14, 2010 06:53pm | #26

            Classical curling, just like with asphalt.  Any material that is not dimensionally stable with age/heat/sunlight is apt to do the same.

  4. kkj | Mar 15, 2005 11:56pm | #14

    I can second Woodjedi, I looked at them as an alternative to concrete tile. 

    They are a fireproof composite, very lightweight and look good.  They are made primarily for reroofs on framing that won't support slate or concrete tile weights.  My neighbor used them for a patio area on a Santa Fe style house 5 or 6 years ago in the Phoenix area.  They look good and have held up well

    They are very pricy. about $175-$180/square if I remember correctly.  If you are interested I can chase down the manufacturer's name again

    1. WOODEXPERT | Mar 16, 2005 04:04pm | #15

      K,

      I would be interested if you could find the manufacture.

      Lee

      1. kkj | Mar 18, 2005 06:47am | #16

        will get it for you tomorrow am

        -K

      2. kkj | Mar 19, 2005 10:19pm | #17

        I checked with Roofing Wholesale, Inc. in Mesa, Arizona (where I had inquired about this roofing material about 4 months ago).

        They said the name is Maxi-Tile and that is also the name of the company.  Also said that delivery time right now is about 180 days and cost is around $180 per square.

        It comes in a flat and "S" profile.  The S that I saw was around 30"x36" for each piece.  I was around this on a neighbors house for six months and never noticed that it wasn't clay/concrete until he pointed it out to me.  He used it for a veranda because he didn't want to have to have the framing engineered for heavy tile.

        I haven't Googled the name or looked any further, because the price was 2 1/2 times that for concrete tile, and there wasn't a big price difference in the truss cost for the tile over trusses for composition shingles.

        Hope this helps.

        -K

         

        1. WOODEXPERT | Mar 20, 2005 04:47pm | #18

          K,

          Thank you .

          I will check this out this week

          Lee

  5. IraNeff | Oct 13, 2010 04:42pm | #19

    Dura Slate Shingles

    Pfiffen, are these shingles affected by UV due to the recycled materials.  I have a roof that has curling and lifing and is about 8 years old.  If so do you have any pictures of these tiles.  I know Royal, Dura Slate does not manufacture these anymore. Thanks

    1. Scott | Oct 13, 2010 08:01pm | #22

      FYI....this thread is over six years old and many members abandonded this site about a year ago after a big change in forum software. Piffen shows up occaisionally, but not very often. You may not hear back from him.

      Sorry, I'm not much help with your shingle question.

    2. User avater
      xxPaulCPxx | Oct 14, 2010 01:36pm | #23

      It's also annoying to post the same question 3 times in the same thread

    3. User avater
      constantin | Jan 17, 2011 05:11pm | #27

      5 years later...

      ... and the Duraslate still looks great. Not a single failure, nor a curl that I can see.  I have been happy with the stuff.

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