The reality is that today’s plain tiles are far from plain. After all, every year millions are applied across the UK as an attractive and versatile roof cladding, especially on steeper pitched roofs. With new profile tiles entering the market all the time it is easy  to  overlook the  established  plain tile. In   this article we are keen to highlight some of the product’s benefits, because although it’s an age-old roof covering, there is still plenty of life and flexibility in the plain tile. Undoubtedly, the choice of roof coverings today is wide, but the plain tile has stood the test of time. One major factor that ensures its continued popularity is how versatile they are. The plain tile is invaluable when a design calls for a curved roof or turret. interlocking single-lap tiles or slates are inappropriate for roofs of any curvature, as they have no longitudinal flexibility in their side locks. The plain tile, however, has a flat surface, is relatively thin and can be readily tapered. Plain tiles are useful when installing Dormer windows in a roof. Significantly, plain tiles are the only tiles to be used to create an eyebrow dormer. This construction is best replicated  with plain  tiles where  the roof pitch  is  more  than 59°.  The dormer window

itself offers a huge range of design possibilities – flat, pitched or curved roofs in gabled, hipped or sloping designs and makes an attractive addition to a roof.

Despite the long plain tile tradition there is a need to constantly innovate. For our part at Marley Roofing Products, we have been producing concrete plain tiles as a popular alternative to clay for over 75 years and perhaps more than most we recognise the importance of anticipating and reflecting changing market demands. One of our responses to this challenge at Marley has been to strengthen our Heritage concrete plain tile range with the addition of two new natural colours – Berkshire Brown and Berkshire Red, joining the existing Heather, Natural Red and Burnt Red colours.

Given that pitched roofs are such a striking element of a building, as their faceted surfaces catch the changing light, any plain tiles selected for a project need to have the right profiles and textures – smooth face or granular – to best exploit these effects. In some cases the challenge may be to help a roof blend in with its environment. The textured surface and uneven leading edge of our Thaxden plain tiles for example readily soften the appearance of a roof.

Conversely designers may wish to add character and make a building stand out from its surroundings. A case in point being our Marlden plain tiles, their attractive rustic effect, irregular shape, uneven sand faced surface and colour range - combined with optional Bullnose Feature tiles – ensure that the roofscape is a strong visual focal point. Looking ahead, it is safe to assume that the long tradition of the concrete plain tile will continue as a prominent feature of the UK roofscape, with even greater choice and aesthetic appeal than ever before, driving away any notion that plain by name means plain by nature.