Roof tiles

Roof tiles are overlapping tiles designed mainly to keep out precipitation such as rain or snow, and are traditionally made from locally available materials such as clay or slate. Later tiles have been made from materials such as concrete, glass, and plastic.

Roof tiles can be affixed by screws, nails, wire clips, or self-supporting lugs and interlocking designs. In desert or tropical climates tiles are sometimes installed directly on laths and battens, but in temperate climates tiles are typically installed atop an underlayment system to protect the roof against water intrusion.