Editing Tile (section)

== Roof tiles ==
{{Main|Roof tiles}}
[[File:Dinkelsbuehl Kirchturm West.jpg|thumb|right|Roofs with "beaver tail" tiles in [[Dinkelsbühl]], Germany]]

Roof tiles are overlapping tiles designed mainly to keep out [[precipitation]] such as [[rain]] or [[snow]], and are traditionally made from locally available materials such as [[clay]] or [[slate]]. Later tiles have been made from materials such as [[concrete]], and [[plastic]].

Roof tiles can be affixed by [[screws]] or [[nail (fastener)|nails]], but in some cases historic designs such as ''Marseilles'' tiles utilize interlocking systems that can be self-supporting. Tiles typically cover an [[List of commercially available roofing materials|underlayment]] system, which seals the roof against water intrusion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shingle Tile Installation Manual |url=https://ludowici.com/wp-content/uploads/Ludowici-Shingle-Tile-Installation-Manual-2022.pdf |publisher=Ludowici Roof Tile |date=2022}}</ref>

Clay roof tiles historically gained their color purely from the clay that they were composed of, resulting in largely red, orange, and tan colored roofs. Over time some cultures, notably in Asia, began to apply glazes to clay tiles, achieving a wide variety of colors and combinations. Modern clay roof tiles typically source their color from kiln firing conditions, the application of glaze, or the use of a ceramic [[slip (ceramics)|engobe]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Worcester |first1=Wolsey Garnett |title=The Manufacture of Roofing Tile |date=1910 |publisher=Springfield Publishing Company |location=Springfield, Ohio |pages=27–28, 93–94}}</ref> Contrary to popular belief a glaze does not weatherproof a tile, the porosity of the clay body is what determines how well a tile will survive harsh weather conditions.<ref>{{cite web |author1=William Carty |author2=Hyojin Lee |title=Ceramics for Exterior Applications & A Discussion of Heat Transfer and Storage |url=https://archceramicworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Carty-Lee-ACAW-2017-PDF.pdf |publisher=Boston Valley Terra Cotta |date=August 16, 2017}}</ref>