Cement-sand tiles: overview of characteristics, reviews, best brands in the market

We cover everything you need to know about roofing materials in "All about the Roof." Today, we’re concentrating on cement-sand tiles, a well-liked option for their long-lasting beauty.

Cement-sand tiles are highly recognized for their durable design, which is achieved by mixing cement, sand, and water to create a solid roofing material. These tiles are prized for their resilience to adverse weather, such as intense downpours and high temperatures. They provide superior thermal insulation, allowing homes to remain warmer in the summer and colder in the winter.

Cement-sand tiles are frequently praised in reviews for their durability and minimal upkeep needs. Because they don’t fade or crack over time, homeowners find them to be a dependable long-term investment. Furthermore, their organic appearance complements a variety of architectural designs, improving a property’s curb appeal.

There are a few brands in the market that are well-known for their cement-sand tile manufacturing reputation and quality. In addition to emphasizing longevity, these brands provide a variety of hues and textures to accommodate a range of tastes. There is a brand that will satisfy both your practical and aesthetic needs, whether you’re searching for contemporary slate-like finishes or classic terracotta colors.

What is modern cement-sand tiles?

Practically speaking, cement-sand tiles are far less expensive than ceramic tiles, which have been valued for centuries.

To comprehend why this is a technological marvel, consider this well-known video:

From ancient Rome – to the present day

Beautiful, but it’s true that cement-sand tiles were used for the first time in ancient Rome! One such roof is the well-known Pantheon, which dates back more than 2000 years. Do not trust? Yes, the concrete was still made of sand, bastard lime, volcanic ash, and barely any clay at all, even though it was not the same as it is now. This sculpted the tile and comes from this.

Much later, artisanal production already closer to contemporary cement-sand tiles started, with the English company Redland releasing the first batch. Then, she was not impressed by true consumers. Still, slate and ceramics were preferred.

However, in 1926, coal was taken away from manufacturers of ceramic tiles (since clay must be baked!) It’s here for concrete, which has turned into a hit song for foggy albion, and for star hour.

In the second wave, Frankfurt Brass—yes, the same well-known brand—led the construction of a complete plant in 1946. Up until now, there have been a lot more factories and the emergence of new manufacturers. It’s true that just three are primarily supplied to Russia; we’ll go into more detail about them later.

Production of modern tiles

Let’s examine the materials used to make cement-sand tiles. Quartz sand is typically supplied as a raw material along with a cement that sets quickly, a pigment that contains iron and chrome oxides, some lime, and plain water. Because the concrete is actually kneaded, this tile is called concrete:

Consequently, the roofing is resilient to moisture and frost. By the way, the raw materials utilized determine the final product’s level of quality in tiles. Thus, an unsightly lime plaque will eventually appear on the surface of the tiles if the water to cement ratio was off, i.e., the production is obviously artisanal.

If you’re curious, take a look at how the cement-sand tile is made in the factory, how this process differs from manual modeling, and how one loose mass can become a stunning roofing:

The actual production procedure is as follows: dosed portions of the aforementioned components are added to the mixer, and the mixture’s water content should range from 9.2 to 9.8%.

The mixture is fed into a specialized device via a strip conveyor. From there, a plastic mass is moved to knives, which split the tiles in half and into regular shapes.

Special curved forms are formed separately, namely the initial and ridge tiles:

Following the formation of the cement-sand tiles, they are painted using a wet method, dried (at 60 ° for approximately a day), and then stained once more.

The aforementioned "three-layer technology" is used to create better and more costly tiles:

  • The first layer – high -strength concrete;
  • The second layer – color cement composition, which is sprayed under strong pressure, fills the pores and smoothes the outer surface of the tile;
  • The third layer – double acrylic coating.

This type of tile is impervious to moisture absorption, weather-resistant, and frost-resistant. The final paragraph is particularly significant, and it is accomplished precisely because the water does not enter the tile pores where it would condense and solidify into ice.

For this reason, when selecting a cement-sand tile, consider how pure the sound is when tapping, how well-fitting they are to a friend, and how smooth the samples are.

We will also discuss vibration pressing, an intriguing technique for producing cement-sand tiles. You can create a tiled mixture with as little water as possible by using vibration, and the less water, the fewer pores:

Consideration is given to premium cement-sand tiles that have a low porosity and high density.

Allowable pores are restricted to a small number and are sealed. Because porous tiles are more likely to absorb moisture and have a lower resistance to frost, their strength decreases with increasing porosity.

"Cement-sand tiles provide a strong and adaptable roofing solution that blends visual appeal and durability. In this post, we examine the salient features of cement-sand tiles, offer analysis based on user feedback, and showcase a few of the top brands currently on the market. When it comes to your roofing needs, knowing the subtle differences between cement-sand tiles will help you make an informed choice, regardless of your priorities—durability, style options, or affordability."

Advantages: Why is a good concrete tile?

Because they are made entirely of natural materials, cement-and-sand tiles are in fact made of natural materials. Additionally, concrete tiles have an equally stunning appearance to ceramic tiles, making it difficult to tell them apart.

Cement-sand tiles are made to last for a number of years. Top-notch products have an anti-moss and anti-algae surface layer of paint and varnish. Ultimately, this type of coating increases the frost resistance of concrete tiles by decreasing their porosity.

The average concrete tile can withstand 100 cycles of freezing and defrosting in a laboratory setting, but ceramic tiles can withstand 150 cycles.

Not that big of a difference, do you agree? True, there is one exception: the BRAAS company offers unique quality that allows ceramic tiles to withstand 500 cycles of freezing and a cement-sand 1000 cycles.

Furthermore resistant to aggressive chemical and UV exposure, cement-sand tiles are fireproof and resistant to fire. withstands snow loads, muffles noise, is completely eco-friendly, and more resilient to biological effects than ceramic.

Fascinating fact: the risk of lightning striking the roof is greatly decreased by all the cement-sand tiles.

Cement-sand tiles weigh between 40 and 50 kg per square meter, whereas ceramic tiles can weigh up to 80 kg. The roof’s roofing and continuous elements are nearly identical:

Present-day cement-sand tiles come in over 300 varieties! Additionally, there are numerous shades and colors, geometric forms, and collections that can be used to realize any architectural style.

The roof is the first thing that attracts attention when someone approaches the house because of its color, texture, and shape. Additionally, cement-sand tiles compete fiercely in this area because the better the material "plays" the material, the closer the roof is. In fact, this type of roof appears far more spectacular and brighter than any imitation of natural tiles because of its volume and ability to be painted in any color. Furthermore, all seams are concealed because of contemporary installation technology and the wave effect that exists between tile layers.

Furthermore, concrete tiles perfectly adjust to building deformations, shrinkage, and geometric errors because of the tiny movement between the plates at the junction.

Unpleasant moments: what you have to encounter during operation?

The cement-sand roof’s primary flaw is its light weight. A slab of standard dimensions, for instance, weighs between four and five kilograms.

The second point is that not all exquisite ceramic tile samples can be replicated with concrete, and there is a limited selection of profile forms.

The next annoying thing is that, unlike clay tiles, the coating on concrete tiles is artificial and cannot be restored with regular cleaning. Glass inclusions are used in ceramic tiles to achieve the chosen color, whereas color pigment is added to artificial raw materials to achieve the desired color.

And this is what occurs: synthetic resin based on the chemical compound "Carbon-Vodorod and carbon-uglerod" is applied to cement-sand tiles. Unlike the "silicon-acid" found in natural tiles, this chemical bond is not as resilient to atmospheric changes.

As a result, undesirable phenomena like fading and brittleness appear on the surface of concrete tiles. It is true that coloring pigment is also destroyed during the breakdown of carbon ties; however, there is less damage and more washing away as the pigment just does not adhere to the tile’s surface. Unfortunately, minerals in the form of white spots frequently appear on the tile when such a surface occurs, depressing the owners of such a roof.

For this reason, cement tile needs to be cleaned occasionally. First, moss and a lime plaque are removed from it using a mechanical or chemical method. Naturally, mud is removed with water, and once cleaned, moss and algae are poisoned with specific medications. After that, apply a special impregnation that will shield the cement roof for a while.

The idea of durability is also crucial. sand-and-cement tiles. There is a belief that a tile gains strength the longer it is left out in the open. However, the owners of these homes have complained that the cement-sand tiles just fall apart in front of our eyes after 11 to 15 years. This is probably a case where the manufacturer makes all the difference in terms of quality.

Moreover, due to fragility It requires very careful handling during transportation and roof-lifting of cement-sand tiles:

The idea of fragility in this context is, incidentally, more relative: three adult men are standing close by, and cement tiles can support loads of 250 kg per square meter. It’s also said that something that is fragile should not be dropped because it will break easily if struck.

Lastly, despite the exquisite painting of such a tile, it remains evident upon careful examination that this is not ceramics. Furthermore, not everyone wants to see concrete on their roof and some people even find the idea of such a sight unsettling. However, considering that these are still large, premium natural tiles that provide the richest color spectrum, why not?

What modern manufacturers offer?

Therefore, as we’ve already mentioned, the tile’s quality directly affects how long it lasts. Furthermore, the form plays a crucial role both practically and aesthetically when it comes to fastening locks. Let’s examine what makes the roofing market happy right now and how to pick the top goods.

BRAAS: The leader of the construction market

It’s likely that you heard about this well-known company. BRAAS manufactures extremely high-quality natural tiles with a shelf life ranging from 30 to 100 years! Furthermore, roofs are made entirely of natural materials:

BRAAS cement-sand tiles stand out for their wide range of shades, exceptional strength, near total resistance to heat buildup in the sun, and noiseless rainmaking. Such quality is attained in laboratory settings using multiple samples in addition to contemporary technologies:

Furthermore, a tile of this kind would naturally be expensive and heavy.

VALTIC TILE: Beautiful Tiles Sea Wave and Benders

This manufacturer is well-known for its premium Sea Wave tiles, which can be identified by unique visual cues. Practice-wise, there are additional benefits as well: the lowest surface that is wet, i.e., rain and snow easily slide off such a roof.

This manufacturer, who has been in the roofing materials business since 1998, founded the Sea Wave production in collaboration with the Swedish company Benders. offers a 35-year guarantee for its products, with a service life of up to 100 years. And to everyone’s delight, Sea Wave is reasonably priced.

The stunning tiles are from the Benders series.

This is a helpful video evaluation of the tile:

Aura a-Tiilikate: Finnish technologies

Any roofer will be delighted by these cement-sand tiles due to their precise geometric dimensions. It’s a pleasure working with her in particular, like gathering a constructor. Cement-sand tiles are made by Aura in three primary varieties:

Aura’s characteristics are comparable to those of Sea Wave and BRAAS, but it also offers better thermal insulation. Its weakness is its only drawback.

Because of their strength and aesthetic appeal, cement-sand roofing tiles are becoming more and more popular. These tiles, which are made of a cement, sand, and water mixture, have exceptional weather resistance and can be used in a variety of climates. They are renowned for their capacity to tolerate severe weather, strong winds, and torrential rain, offering homes long-term protection.

The durability of cement-sand tiles is one of their main benefits. With the right care, these tiles can outlast conventional roofing materials by several decades. Their resilience against rot, insect damage, and fire enhances their allure as a dependable and eco-friendly roofing material. After these tiles are installed, homeowners appreciate how little maintenance they require, which makes them an affordable option in the long run.

Several names stand out for their quality and reputation when it comes to selecting the best brands available. Cement-sand tile brands such as Superior Roof Systems, XYZ Tiles, and ABC Roofing have gotten great feedback time and time again. These businesses make sure that their products satisfy strict industry standards by placing a high value on environmental sustainability, durability, and aesthetics.

Cement-sand tiles are a popular choice for roofing solutions because they combine style and practicality. These tiles offer a flexible and dependable option that will stand the test of time, whether your goal is to improve the exterior appearance of your house or to provide long-lasting protection against the weather.

Video on the topic

Cement -sand tiles – a profitable offer in the market

Cement-sand tiles or ceramic: what is the difference?

Cement-sand tiles: pros and cons of. Composition, properties, disadvantages

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Alexander Sorokin

The owner of the roofing company, an expert in the roofing markets. I'll tell you about the novelties of the roofing industry and help you choose the best option for your home.

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