Clay tile roofs - Interlocking or sliding tiles

This document completes the and specifically covers the installation of interlocking clay roofing tiles and flat interlocking tiles.

Interlocking and interlocking tiles are the most widely used clay tile family. They are characterized by a reduced number of tiles per square meter, compared with canal tiles and flat tiles, made possible by the unit dimensions of the tiles and the reduced overlap between rows of tiles due to the presence of a system of interlocking grooves and channels to ensure watertightness.

These tiles, sometimes still referred to as "mechanical tiles", are laid in a "dry" manner on the main part of the roof and at singular points, thanks to the presence of a large number of accessory tiles specific to each model, thus limiting the use of finishes requiring sealing or grouting mortars.

The variety of interlocking clay tile shapes allows them to be adapted to different roofing "styles". Low-relief tiles, which originally made up the bulk of interlocking tiles (XIX ^and century), have evolved into tiles with a strong horn-shaped relief on one edge, simulating the general appearance of a canal tile roof. On the other hand, tiles with no relief on the extrados (flat tiles) were developed to give the roof an overall appearance closer to that of flat tiles.