| While composite shingles are the least expensive | | | | in Southern California and Florida as well as Latin |
| type of roofing, they are unlikely to last more | | | | America. |
| than fifteen years, at which point they will need | | | | Advantages |
| to be replaced completely. On the other hand, | | | | Not only are Mediterranean roof tiles such as |
| Mediterranean roof tile, which has been around for | | | | mission and pan and cover roofing very |
| thousands of years, can easily pay for itself in this | | | | attractive, adding a great deal of visual appear to |
| regard, even though the initial investment is | | | | the homes exterior – they are also incredibly |
| significantly more. Mediterranean roof tile made | | | | durable. Pan and cover roofing material may be |
| from kiln-fired clay or terra-cotta can last for | | | | made from terra cotta or clay, or even ceramic |
| over a hundred years – and can be the | | | | – in which case they are not only beautiful, |
| ultimate finishing touch on an upscale, custom-built | | | | but virtually indestructible. If this seems |
| home. | | | | counter-intuitive, remember that ceramic is used |
| Variety | | | | for high-end brake linings – possibly the most |
| Mediterranean roof tile dates back as much as | | | | extreme conditions that any material can be |
| 6000 years; archaeologists in Greece have found | | | | subjected to. |
| such roof tiles dating back to the time of the | | | | What To Keep In Mind |
| semi-legendary King Agamemnon. Mediterranean | | | | For wall its beauty and strength, Mediterranean |
| roof tiles made during the Bronze Age are still | | | | roof tile is not appropriate for every home. Aside |
| recycled and used on homes in the region to the | | | | from the fact that such roofing material requires |
| present day – a tribute to their durability. | | | | a great deal of skill to install correctly, the primary |
| During Roman times, the use of such shingle tile | | | | issue is weight: Mediterranean roof tiles weigh |
| grew in popularity, particularly among the wealthy | | | | considerably more than their composite or cedar |
| and aristocracy. As the empire grew, Roman roof | | | | shake counterparts. If you are building a custom |
| times were exported to Hispania, Gaul, Britannia | | | | home, you should plan the architecture with this in |
| and other provinces that later formed the nations | | | | mind. If you are thinking of installing Mediterranean |
| of the present-day E.U. | | | | roof tile on an existing home, make certain that |
| The descendant of Roman shingle tiles, Mission | | | | the structure is able to bear the added weight |
| roof tiles arrived in the New World by way of | | | | before investing in this type of roofing. |
| Spanish colonists. Mission roof tiles are still popular | | | | |