Tiles as Detailing in Paving Projects
Roofing tiles, or more correctly, slips of roofing tile, are useful materials for adding interest
to paving designs, by providing the designer with a range of ideas, either as ‘stand-alone’
features both in paving and walling schemes, or as integral detailing.
‘Slips’ are produced by breaking/cutting/sawing tiles in half (usually lengthways) to both save
on cost and materials, but also to match the probable depth of other paving products in the
scheme. Used full width, they will require a bed of over 150mm, which may be impractical.
The tiles should be as straight as possible (for most designs) and hard fired, which generally
means using top quality products. Often referred to ‘Creasing Tiles’, they are the first row to
be laid at the start of a roofing project, simply because they are flat/straight in profile. Soft,
curved clay tiles should be avoided, as they are not intended for in-ground use and may not
be frost-proof.
The examples shown below include an area to the front of a house, where the tiles have been
laid neighbour against neighbour, then slurry pointed. Others show how tiles can be integrated
into a design to highlight other materials by their contrast.
All have been set into full bed mortar over a concrete base for strength and to maintain
rigidity, as well as control the depth to allow for a flat, level finish with no lips or trip hazards.
