As South Africa continues to address the growing demand for affordable housing one aspect of development that often goes unnoticed but plays a vital r
As South Africa continues to address the growing demand for affordable housing one aspect of development that often goes unnoticed but plays a vital role is the choice of roofing material. Among the many options available concrete roof tiles have quietly proven themselves as a staple in large-scale housing projects offering durability and a sense of character and permanence.
Nowhere is this more evident than when flying into Cape Town International Airport. Looking down over the expansive housing developments of Mitchells Plain and Blue Downs a sea of neatly tiled rooftops greets the eye. These homes many built in the 1970s, were originally roofed with concrete tiles specified as the sole roofing material during the development of Mitchells Plain. Half a century later those same roofs are still intact weathering time and climate with minimal maintenance.
Caption: Bronberg-3-1
The reasons for this long-term success are clear. Concrete tiles offer a superior living environment with excellent thermal insulation and acoustic dampening qualities especially valuable in densely populated urban areas. Their resistance to corrosion makes them particularly well-suited to coastal regions where metal roofs often struggle against the harsh, salt-laden air.
Caption: Tuscan with Ridging
Unlike metal roofing systems which can fade, rust or require periodic repainting and repair, concrete tiles age gracefully. Their colour can be incorporated into the manufacture of the tile itself reducing the need for cosmetic upkeep. They endure and contribute to the aesthetic identity of a community. As urban expansion continues and new housing projects take shape the example set by Mitchells Plain remains relevant. The enduring performance of concrete roof tiles both visually and functionally serves as a compelling case for their continued use in South Africa’s residential architecture.
The Eco-Tile Extruder Brand that was launched was in response to the demand for a cost-effective solution for the manufacturer of extruded concrete roof tiles. The Eco-Tile Extruder is capable of producing the same high quality Double Roman tiles that are being produced on the more expensive PROTILE high speed extrusion plants thus enabling precision extruded concrete roof tiles to be accessed in more remote areas of the country at a very favourable cost.
The Eco-Tile Extruder also known as the P08T is capable of extruding tiles to the thinner, more
cost-effective range of interlocking tiles to meet SABS quality requirements (ie 11.0mm thick, 4.2kg per tile or 42kg/m2 on the roof). Normally the low-capacity machines find it difficult to achieve this quality.
Equally important is the fact that due to the easily achieved tile quality on extrusion the tiles can be specified to be fixed on the roof at 17½ degrees pitch with 100mm overlap
Caption: Eco-tile Extruder P08T
Providing the Government institutions such as SEFTA come to the party promoting and offering effective financial packages without the inappropriate creative sometimes requested this will help to create infrastructure, growth and jobs in outlying parts of the country placing the manufacturer within reach of the small business entrepreneur, an industry very much underdeveloped up to now. Business risk is relatively low since the actual concrete product is already widely produced and used in South Africa in the low cost and economical housing market, and the technology is well proven, already being used throughout South Africa and in over 20 African countries.
