Custom Roof Tile Project
We have, for many years now, supplied both reclaimed and new roof tiles for projects all over the United States. In most cases the Architect and or Home Owner has an aesthtic look in mind and we can supply the right solution in terms of colors, barrel or Roman Pan, flat tile, ridge tiles etc.
We now have been comissioned by an Architectural Firm to find a solution to a particular design requirement of theirs - They are looking to recreate the terracotta rooftiles used on Greek Stoas. The Stoa (or Colonnade) was a common building type found in ancient Greece and many had a flat pan (also known now as a "Roman Pan") with an angled "barrel cap" between the pans. Some Images can be seen here .
So armed with some sketches and photos from books
we contacted our Italian suppliers to see if they could help us. They came up with a number of drawings and solutions and then made some mockups with various color clays and finishes, and Alessio, together with the Architect visited the factory in Italy just before Christmas to inspect the various options:
The first decision is color and finish and a number of mockups are prepared
The next issue is the cap and the very particular bird stop that, in the case of Greek Stoas has the formal name of antefix. A bird stop is exactly that, a tile (or some form of barrier, in some cases wire mesh, in others a trowelfull of mortar) that is applied at the end of the barrel caps. This is to prevent birds from nesting inside the roof tile! Greek Antefix's can be very decorative affairs and we have begun exploring possible design solutions
.jpg "Antefix 1")
.jpg "Antefix 2")
This, we hope, will prove to be a very interesting project.