All Weather Products Ltd
The Roofing Store
All Weather Products specializes in supplying roofing products for the Western Canadian and Pacific Northwest region.
Torch-On Membranes
Modified Membranes
Peel & Stick Low Slope / Flat Roof Membranes
Caulking & Coatings
Copper Drains
Roof Vents
Ridge Vents
Peel & Stick Underlayment
GAF ELK
Roof AquaGuard UDLX
Shingle mate
Roofer's Select
BP Felts
Hal Felts
Polyglass
VandeHey Raleigh
PermaDri
Rubber Coatings
Emulsions
Roofer Safety Equipment
Korkers
Synthetic Underlayments
Skylights
Roof Windows
Balcony Roof Windows
Blown in Attic Insulation Machine
Pro-Shake Plus
Clay Shake Tiles.
Real Clay ... Real Light
We have just introduced our newest clay tile to our region. It looks like wood shakes. It is lightweight so that it can be used to re-roof homes with existing cedar shakes. But it is made from real clay, Grade One Clay in fact.
US Tile, the largest clay tile manufacturer in North America, owned by Boral Tile (also one of the largest clay tile manufacturers in the world), are experts in the production of quality clay tiles. They invented Pro-Shake a number of years ago, but we only recently discovered the product and its benefits.
This year US Tile has made an improvement to the look and realism of their clay shake tile, and now calls it the PRO Shake Plus. We think it is an outstanding style and replication of wood shakes. The new butt edge design has improved the look and texture of the roofscape, and we are very excited about the quality, look, durability, over all good value of this tile.
US Tile makes quite a few styles of clay tiles, but most of them do not meet their rigorous quality requirements for severe cold climate regions such as up here in Canada (as most other clay tile manufacturers don't meet as well). All their tile is good quality, but an exceptional quality is required for areas with freeze thaw severe winter weather conditions. While US Tile does not promote their standard clay tiles for this region, their Pro Shake Plus is made from clay derived from a special clay pit in Australia where the Grade One clay yields an extreme weather clay tile that is openly recommended to be used in this region.
So, Pro Shake Plus is designed and built for severe weather conditions. It is lightweight (about 5.90 lbs per square foot), only about 60% of the weight of concrete roof tiles. It comes in a few natural looking colours such as Madera, Weathered Shake, Charcoal Gray, as well as designer colours such as Kapalua Green, and Terra Cotta Red. We stock the Madera as the best wood replacement colour, but we also can get, and may stock, the Charcoal Gray as a "slate" look architectural application (or a aged greyish old cedar style).
The Pro Shake Plus costs only about $3.25 per square foot which is actually the same price today as Heavy Resawn Wood Shakes. The difference is the wood shakes can burn, will likely not be insurable (now or soon), and will probably require re-roofing again within 20 years. The Pro Shake Clay shakes are class A fire rated, will not burn, should reduce the insurance costs and risks, and won't fade or discolour like real wood.
A complete cedar re-roof in this region will cost roughly $9 to $12 per square foot including the clay tiles as well as the plywood, underlayments, flashings, vents, disposal, labour, etc. This is a great investment for maximum curb appeal, maintaining or improving the value of your home, and long term durability.
These tiles are installed on a solid deck, with a good quality underlayment (we recommend GAF Deck Armour, a breathable synthetic underlay) installed over the roof deck, then the Pro Shake tiles are either nailed or screwed into the sheathing. They are normally installed straight coursed where the butts all are in a straight line. There is an option to stagger the butt courses, but this takes more work, more material, and the roof is not as walk-able if installed in this manner. Pro Shake Plus Clay tiles can be walked on, but like any clay tile one must use caution and special care whenever getting on the tiles.
Each proceeding row of tiles is installed so that two tiles are offset by at least 1.5" sideways. The normal installation practice is to either make every second row line up, or to randomize the courses (following minimum offset procedures). Each tile requires either two nails or two screws. The size of the tiles is 14" long x 8.5" wide, and it requires between 150 to 160 tiles to cover 100 square feet of roof. The weight per square based on the minimum 2.25" head-lap is 590 pounds per square.
The flashings, venting, and trims finalize the necessary components for the Pro-Shake Plus clay tile system. Pro Shake Tiles come with a standard ridge cap that imitates wood capping, as well as a steeper pitch cap for those steeper roofs, as well as rake piece for the English Cottage effect on the gables. The gables can also be finished using metal edge flashing to either hide the side view of the tiles, or to hang it over the edge like traditional wood shakes.
Pro Shakes are a great looking architectural style choice for nice looking homes. They are for homeowners who wish to protect or improve the value of their homes, while enjoying the long term beauty of these durable real clay tiles.
Copyright All Weather Products Ltd 2007