Abraham Lincoln Roofing
Installs The Highest Quality Concrete/Clay Roof Tile Products.
We provide services both for new construction as well as restorations or full replacement. Everything depends on your needs. In the past, you couldn't replace shake or composition with a tile roof because the tiles were too heavy for your roof's structural support. But that's no longer true. New lightweight materials allow tiles to be placed on most homes. At ABRAHAM LINCOLN ROOFING we are experts in determining just what materials you can choose from, whether it's terra cotta, concrete tiles, fiberglass shakes or other materials. We can advise you on how to transform your roof, whether it's new construction or replacement of your old roof, into the pride of the neighborhood. We use only the finest, most trusted materials and can help you decide which material is most suitable for your structure and what is most affordable in your environment. If fact, we have so much confidence in our premium-grade materials and experienced workmanship that we provide a
lifetime warranty on the installation of every new tile roof we sell.
It's the best warranty in the roofing business. For details, either send us e-mail or give us a call.
Abraham Lincoln Roofing
concrete/clay roof tile
expertise also includes:
Interlocking Tiles
Greek, Italian & Roman
Pans & Covers
French Tile
Rustic Style Flab Slab
Shingle Tiles
Tower Tile
Standard Fittings
Custom Fittings
Crude Style Flat Slab
Shingle Tiles
Spanish Tile
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A Brief History of Clay Roofing Tile
The origin of clay roofing tile can be traced independently to two different parts of the world: China, during the Neolithic Age, beginning around 10,000 B.C.; and the Middle East, a short time later. From theseregions, the use of clay tile spread throughout Asia and Europe. Not only the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, but also the Greeks and Romans roofed their buildings with clay tiles, and adaptations of their practice continue in Europe to the present. European settlers brought this roofing tradition to America where it was established in many places by the 17th century. Archeologists have recovered specimens of clay roofing
Tiles from the 1585 settlement of Roanoke Island in North Carolina. Clay tile was also used in the early English settlements in Jamestown, Virginia, and nearby St. Mary's in Maryland. Clay roofing tiles were also used in the Spanish settlement of St. Augustine in Florida, and by both the French and Spanish in New Orleans.
Dutch settlers on the east coast first imported clay tiles from Holland. By 1650, they had established full scale production of clay tiles in the upper Hudson River Valley, shipping tiles south to New Amsterdam.
Several tile manufacturing operations were in business around the time of the American Revolution, offering both colored and glazed tile and unglazed natural terracotta tile in the New York City area, and in neighboring New Jersey. A 1774 New York newspaper advertised the availability of locally produced, glazed and unglazed pan tiles for sale that were guaranteed to "stand any weather." On the west coast clay tile was first manufactured in wooden molds in 1780 at Mission San Antonio de Padua in California by Indian neophytes under the direction of Spanish missionaries. By far the most significant factor in popularizing clay roofing tiles during the Colonial period in America was the concern with fire. Devastating fires in London, 1666, and Boston in 1679, prompted the establishment of building and fire codes in New York and Boston. These fire codes, which remained in effect for almost two centuries, encouraged the use of tile for roofs, especially in urban areas, because of its fireproof qualities. Clay roofing tile was also preferred because of its durability, ease of maintenance, and lack of thermal conductivity. Although more efficient production methods had lowered the cost of clay tile, its use began to decline in much of the northeastern United States during the second quarter of the 19th century.
In most areas outside city designated fire districts, wood shingles were used widely; they were more affordable and much lighter, and required less heavy and less expensive roof framing. In addition, new fire resistant materials were becoming available that could be used for roofing, including slate, and metals such as copper, iron, tinplate, zinc, and galvanized iron. Many of the metal roofing materials could be installed at a fraction of the cost and weight of clay tile. Even the appearance of clay tile was no longer fashionable, and by the 1830s clay roofing tiles had slipped temporarily out of popularity in many parts of the country.
Revival Styles Renew Interestin Clay Roofing Tiles
Since clay tile frequently outlasted many of the earliest, less permanent structures, it was often reused on later buildings.By the mid19th century, the introduction of the Italianate Villa style of architecture in the United States prompted a new interest in clay tiles for roofing. This had the effect of revitalizing the clay tile manufacturing industry, and by the 1870s, new factories were in business, including large operations in Akron, Ohio, and Baltimore, Maryland. Clay tiles were promoted by the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, which featured several prominent buildings with tile roofs, including a pavilion for the state of New Jersey roofed with clay tiles of local manufacture. Tile making machines were first patented in the 1870s, and although much roofing tile continued to be made by hand, by the 1880s more and more factories were beginning to use machines. The development of the Romanesque Revival style of architecture in the 1890s further strengthened the role of clay roofing tiles as an American building material Alternative substitutes for clay tiles were also needed to meet this new demand. By about 1855, sheet metal roofs designed to replicate the patterns of clay tile were being produced. Usually painted a natural terra cotta color to emulate real clay tile, these sheet metal roofs became popular because they werecheaper and lighter, and easier to install than clay tile roofs.
Clay roofing tiles fell out of fashion again for a short time at the end of the 19th century, but once more gained acceptance in the 20th century, due primarily to the popularity of the Romantic Revival architectural styles, including Mission, Spanish, Mediterranean, Georgian and Renaissance Revival in which clay tile roofs featured prominently. With the availability of machines capable of extruding clay in a variety of forms in large quantities, clay tiles became more readily available across the nation. More regional manufacturing plants were established in areas with large natural deposits of clay, including Alfred, New York; New Lexington, Ohio; Lincoln, California; and Atlanta, Georgia; as well as Indiana, Illinois and Kansas.
The popularity of clay tile roofing, and look alike substitute roofing materials, continues in the 20th century, especially in areas of the South and West-most notably Florida and California-where Mediterranean and Spanish influenced styles of architecture still predominate.
Early Tiles
During the 17th and 18th centuries the most common type of clay roofing tiles used in America were flat and rectangular. They measured approximately 10" x 6" x 1/2" (25cm x 15cm x 1.25cm), and had two nail or peg holes at one end through which they were anchored to the roofing laths. Sometimes a strip of mortar was placed between the overlapping rows of tile to prevent the tiles from lifting in high winds. In addition to flat tiles,interlocking S shaped pan tiles were also used in the 18th century. These were formed by molding clay over tapered sections of logs, and were generally quite large. Alternately termed , crooked, or Flemish tiles, and measuring approximately 14 1/2" x 9 1/2" (37cm x 24cm), these interlocking tiles were hung on roofing lath by means of a ridge or lug located on the upper part of the underside of each tile. Both plain (flat) tile and pan tile (S shaped or curved) roofs were capped at the ridge with semicircular ridge tiles. Clay roofing tiles on buildings in mid18th century
Moravian settlements in Pennsylvania closely resembled those used in Germany at the time. These tiles were about 14"15" long x 6"7" wide (36cm38cm x 15cm18cm) with a curved butt, and with vertical grooves to help drainage. They were also designed with a lug or nib on the back so that the tiles could hang on lath without nails or pegs.
The accurate dating of early roofing tiles is difficult and often impossible. Fragments of tile found at archeological sites may indicate the existence of clay tile roofs, but the same type of tile was also sometimes used for other purposes such as paving, and in bake ovens.
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Selecting your roofing tile
When selecting the appropriate material for your roofing project, three elements must be considered.The overall Design of the project, the Quality of the material selected to supplement the design,and can the selected material fit within the Budget of the project.
Design
The overall design of a project is captured in the selection of roofing style. A beautifully designed roof sets the tone or ambiance for an entire building, while enhancing the beauty and textures of other exterior building products and landscaping. Clay tile has traditionally been used with Spanish, Mediterranean, or Oriental-Style architecture, but the vast array of glazed colors and textures MCA offers has opened the doors for the use of clay tile in other applications. From the traditional to contemporary designs, MCA tile has been used extensively on commercial, residential, military, and institutional installations. Various standard profiles are available, including MCA's One Piece "S", Straight Barrel Mission, Corona Tapered, Oriental, or MF108 Flat. Color ranges from peaches and buffs to dark reds and browns to muted blues or greens to high gloss Glazed blues, greens or metallic silver are possible. Smooth or pebbled textures are offered in most profiles. Where standard products do not meet your needs, custom sizes and colors may also be available.
Quality
All tiles are not created equal, and when selecting your roofing products you should carefully review the manufacturers' certifications to insure that you are purchasing products that will meet or exceed your building needs. You will want to select a roofing tile that will maintain its beautiful appearance.
Your tile should be warranted against color fading. We recommend a minimum fifty (50) year limited warranty for both color fading and durability. Avoid tile that has a black core or center, which is caused by incomplete firing in a kiln. Only the surface of the tile is "cooked" leaving carbon (or a black core) trapped on the inside of the tile. In essence, the tile is only "half baked" and moisture resistance, protection from salt intrusion, and strength will be compromised. Black Core can indicate structural weakness of clay products. Your tile should be strong enough to withstand the climate. Water absorption should be low to protect against excess weight and roof deck saturation during rainstorms. Tile should withstand cycles of temperature change such as freeze/thaw to demonstrate durability.
ASTM C1167 Grade 1 is the highest rating for resistance to frost action and water absorption. Other environmental issues, such as earthquake risk, high wind applications should also be considered in your selection process.If you are building in a coastal zone, consider using an ASTM C1167 Grade 1 tile to avoid salt intrusion and subsequent tile deterioration upon exposure to sea air. Avoid tile that was produced using lead to color the tile. Lead residue in the rain run-off of your roof could cause soil and subsequent water table contamination. Your tile should be fire resistant. As a front line in fire protection, your roofing material is essential to the safety of your building. For maximum protection, roofing tile should be rated "Class A" ASTM E108 (UL 790).
Budget
Material costs, plus transportation and supplemental installation supplies and labor must all be considered in establishing your construction budget. The number of pieces of tile per roofing square can significantly affect these construction costs. The fewer pieces per square, the less the supplemental costs.
Your tile selection should come from a manufacturer that provides the look and quality of tile you require, while offering several profiles to compliment your budget needs.Long term costs should also be evaluated.
Is there an energy cost savings with your selection of roofing materials? Does the roofing material have the durability to last the life of the building? Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many fly-by-night contractors' below-cost bids seem attractive, but these contractors often are uninsured and perform substandard work. Remember, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism, experience and quality workmanship also should weigh heavily in your decision.
Energy star
Selecting a tile with the ENERGY STAR label will reduce your building's air conditioning costs.
Warranty
You will want to select a roofing tile that will maintain its beautiful appearance. Your tile should be warranted against color fading. We recommend a minimum fifty (50) year warranty for bothcolor fading and durability
The truth about lightweight tile
If you are considering using a so-called "lightweight" tile in your new or re-roofing project, we encourage you to closely weigh the pros and cons of this roofing solution. Tile is classified as "lightweight" if is does not exceed 600 pounds per roofing square at oven dry weight. Some building departments do not require a structural engineering report if lightweight tile is to be used. There are drawbacks though to manylightweight tile solutions. Some products are highly porous and sacrifice both strength and low water absorption for light dry weight. High water absorption can mean extra weight following rain, which could compromise the integrity of your building. Always check the water absorption rate for the tile. Increase the weight per square of the tile by the absorption percentage to determine truestructural requirements for the tile. For example, a "lightweight" tile with per square weight of 590 pounds with 10% water absorption truly requires the structural support for 649 pounds (590 lbs multiplied by 1.10%). Many "lightweight" products are actually more costly than their standard counterparts. Any "savings" by avoiding the expertise of a structural engineer might actually be spent on the premium paid for the lightweight product.
The advantage of ceramics
While some manufacturers may use color additives in their clay mixes, all roofing tiles are made with the same, high quality clay body. This assures the consistent strength, and low water absorption in all our products. The natural beauty of the tile is enhanced by our coatings without compromising our qualitycharacteristics.
Manufacturers use centuries-old knowledge of ceramics to produce our beautiful matte and high gloss colored tiles. These techniques allow us to offer a wide variety of standard and specialty colors.
Custom colors can also be produced. Ceramic coating are durable and will not fade. High gloss glazed coatings will actually increase the moisture and mildew resistance of the tile.
Half-baked tile (Black Core) "Black coring in clay roof tile is not to be considered desirable,in fact, it is considered to be an indicator of inferior product quality."
When clay products are incompletely kiln-fired, only the surface area of the tile is fully "cooked." Carbon is trapped in the center of the product, which is commonly referred to as "Black Core." Black core can indicate structural weakness in roofing tile.
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Timeless Beauty
Glazed Roofing Tiles Offer Color Permanence, Durability & Resistance to Nature's Elements
The proper selection of roofing tile for a building or home can be as important as an artist selecting a frame for an art masterpiece. The artist strives to select a frame that will enhance the artwork, while maintaining the beauty of the painting. When choosing clay roofing tile, a product with up to a 75 year warranty, it is also important to select tile that provides a special look to enhance the building structure. Ceramic glazed roofing tile is often the best choice.
Available in a wide range of colors in glossy or matte finishes, glazed roofing tiles will never fade or change in appearance. The glazed surface is an impervious, durable inorganic coating that resists mildew and seals the surface of the natural clay body. The glaze is composed of carefully selected materials which melt and fuse with the tile during the firing process. The glaze raw materials are naturally occurring minerals such as clay, feldspar, calcium carbonate and often frit, a pre-reacted glass melted from minerals and oxides. Just as the glaze coating is a combination of carefully selected natural materials, the coloring materials are often oxides of natural materials such as iron, copper, cobalt, manganese and chrome. Blues, greens, white, black, grays, yellows and even fire? engine red are all possiblein ceramic glazes.
Glazing a natural clay product has a long and distinguished history. What history museum would be complete without several examples of fine Greek pottery featuring red and black slip glazes? The red and black figured vases are early examples of ceramic glazes used to decorate and seal the surface of the natural clay body. It is not uncommon that many of these ceramic artifacts are more than 25 centuries old, and still look as fresh and vivid in color as the day they emerged from the potter's kiln. This is truly a testament to the timeless beauty of glazed ceramic products.In like fashion, the beautiful polychromatic glazes on natural terra cotta bodies produced during the Italian Renaissance are a tribute to this art technique.Often used as architectural ornamentation on royal palaces, churches and cathedrals, glazed terra cotta exhibits inherent beauty, while withstanding continuous outdoor exposure for more than five centuries.
Traditionally, several manufacturing techniques are used to create the variety of color appearances in ceramic roofing tiles. First, the selection and blending of colored clays produces the well?known reddish, red orange and buff shades of tiles. In addition, by thoroughly blending natural oxides of metals, such as iron and manganese into the clay body, the color range is extended. Another method is to apply a coating material rich in coloring oxides to the tile, or use materials present in the kiln atmosphere to produce a flash?effect on the tile's surface. The production method with the widest color range is the application of a glaze coating to the tiles. This technique involves applying a durable, inorganic coating that allows for a very broad range of both colors and textures on the tiles. The glaze and tile are fired together in the kiln, fusing the glaze and sealing the surface of the once porous clay body tile. This same manufacturing method is used in producing ceramic floor and wall tile. Consequently, the entire range of colors and textures available in ceramic floor and wall tile are available for roofing tile as well.Ceramic glazed roofing tiles allow the architect, builder or homeowner to create their own distinctive style on their home or building, while maintaining color permanence, durability and unique resistance to the elements of Nature. Ceramic glaze is truly an art of timeless beauty.
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Turrets the Easy Way
Clay Tile Turrets are Beautiful, Impressive, and Now are Easier than Ever to Install
There's no doubt about it, roof turrets catch the eye. Tile turrets in particular stand out because of their intricate nature, row patterns, and the craftsmanship required.
They can add distinction to any building and turn an otherwise average project into a source of pride and future recommendations for the architect and contractor alike. But there's a down side: they're labor intensive, can be extremely expensive and can be a constant source of leaks and problems if not properly designed and installed. There's usually a lot of cutting and a lot of waste, as the process normally involves trial and error installation practices. And those perfectly straight tile rows that look so clean? Well, you can forget it unless you choose exactly the right material and the installing crews are craftsmen that are exceptionally well versed at cutting, arranging and installing tile turrets.
How about a clay tile turret? How about a true round fan clay tile turret? Obviously,the costs go up accordingly. Because of this, many building owners will settle for an octagon rather than a true round turret, if they want any sort of turret at all. The expense, limitations of the roofing material and too few contractors willing to attempt tile turrets have limited them in the market for a number of years until recently.
The popularity of turret roofs has grown significantly in the past three years, The turret tiles are custom made for each job to specification, with larger tiles at the bottom, medium sizes in the center and small, tapered tiles at the top. Using computer design, the exact number of each size is calculated and made to fit that particular turret, in the color specified. But what about breakage, always a fact of life in a tile application. Breakage was not really a factor and was as low as 3% or 4%. We just ordered exactly what they recommended. MCA had allowed enough for breakage and everything came out fine. We saved quite a bit on labor and the owner ended up with a better, more watertight roof. There was no cutting or piecing together. At first, we were concerned about possible leakage and wind damage, and this put more pressure on us for this project. The manufacturer recommended the use of a modified bitumen type of underlayment and provided step-by-step installation instructions. Frankly, the job was much easier than we thought and best of all, the finished project looks fantastic!
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