Clay tile roof in Batumi: a roof for decades
We lay clay tiles in Batumi only on roofs designed for their weight: an engineer checks the rafters, seismic ring beam and frame, and we fix every tile to the battens so the rows do not slide in a tremor or a storm. Under the tiles go a membrane, counter-battens and a ventilated ridge. A clay tile roof with materials starts from 310 ₾ per m², rafters extra.
from 310 ₾/m²on existing rafters: membrane, battens, tiles with fixing, ridges. The final price is confirmed once agreed.
- Timeline: a 120–150 m² clay tile roof usually takes 3–5 weeks after the batch arrives
- Warranty: Tile laying has a 2-year warranty
Who it’s for
You are building a villa or Mediterranean-style house with a tiled roof
You want a roof that does not rust by the sea or drum in a downpour
The design already allows for a heavy covering and you need a roofing crew
You are comparing clay and concrete tiles on price
A mountain house that needs frost-resistant tiles on steep slopes
What’s included
- check of the rafter and frame design for the tile weight
- choice of range and a full set of fittings
- breathable membrane and counter-battens
- battens set to a string line at the tile gauge
- laying with every tile fixed
- valleys on a metal strip with cutting
- ventilation tiles and a ventilated ridge
- bird mesh at the eaves and photos of details
Clay tile roof in Batumi: pros and cons
Clay tile is fired clay, the same material as on old Mediterranean houses. It does not rust, does not fade, does not drum in the rain and outlasts any other covering if the roof beneath it is built correctly. A clay tile roof in Batumi handles salt and moisture well, and it is a favourite for villas and Mediterranean-style houses, covered in more detail on the Mediterranean houses page.
Its main drawback is weight. A square metre of clay tile is roughly ten times heavier than metal tile, and all that mass sits at the very top of the house. In a seismic zone this is a load the engineer builds into the rafter, frame and foundation calculation in advance. Clay tile cannot be put onto a house designed for a light covering without a check.
Weight, earthquakes and rafters
In an earthquake a heavy roof sways the top of the house more than a light one. So the rafter system for clay tile is designed with closer spacing and larger sections, and the fixings to the seismic ring beam are strengthened. On an existing house we do not swap a light covering for clay tile until an engineer has checked the walls and the beam. How roof weight enters the design of a house is explained on the seismic design page.
The other side of earthquakes is the tiles themselves. If they just rest on the battens, rows slide and fall in a tremor. So every tile is fixed to the battens with a screw, clip or wire, and ridge and verge pieces always are. For the yard and the entrance this is also a safety matter.
Battens, membrane and ventilation
Under the tiles we lay a breathable membrane, counter-battens and battens at the spacing the manufacturer gives in the instructions for the specific model. Battens are set out to a string line: if the spacing wanders by a centimetre, tile rows sit unevenly and the interlocks do not close. Ventilation under the tiles comes from the counter-batten gap, ventilation tiles in the upper rows and a ventilated ridge.
Fittings and details
Each tile range has its own ridge, verge, ventilation and pass-through pieces, and we order them as a full set from the start. Valleys are built on a metal strip with an underlay, tiles in the valley are cut with a diamond blade and each one is fixed. At chimneys and walls we fit flashings tucked under the tiles further up the slope. The eaves row is protected with bird mesh: by the sea sparrows and swifts readily nest under curved tiles.
Clay or concrete tile
| Clay | Concrete | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Fired clay | Cement, sand and pigment |
| Colour over time | Hardly changes | Gradually fades |
| Weight | Heavy | Usually even heavier |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
Concrete tile looks and installs much like clay, but its colour fades over time and it is usually even heavier. If you want a classic roof for less, it works, but the rafters are designed for the same or greater weight. For a mountain house we check the frost resistance of both in the data sheet; by the sea this hardly matters.
How much a clay tile roof costs
A clay tile roof with materials on existing rafters costs from 310 ₾ per m²: membrane, counter-battens, battens, tiles with every row fixed, ridges and junctions. Concrete tile starts from 245 ₾ per m². A rafter system for the tile weight costs from 135 ₾ per m² of slope on its own, and copper gutters from 320 ₾ per linear metre of eaves. The final price is set from the design with the engineer's calculation and the agreed estimate.
Stages and timelines
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Design check
3–7 days
We check the rafter design for the weight of the chosen range and calculate the set.
-
Order and delivery
2–6 weeks
Tiles are imported; we wait for a batch with fittings from one firing.
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Underlay
4–7 days
Membrane, counter-battens, battens to a string line.
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Laying
2–3 weeks
Rows from bottom to top with fixing, valleys, junctions.
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Ridge and handover
3–5 days
Ridge and verge pieces, ventilation, inspection after rain.
Local specifics in Batumi
Tiles come to Georgia from Turkey and Europe, and a batch does not arrive overnight. We order them with a margin for cutting and breakage, all from one firing: tiles from different batches differ in shade, and on a roof it shows as patches. We leave the owner ten or twenty spare tiles for future repairs.
In the humid climate, moss and lichen eventually appear on tiles on north slopes under trees. This harms clay less than bitumen, but moss holds water in the interlocks. We remove it with a soft brush and never use a pressure washer: it drives water under the tiles and can damage the glaze.
Materials and brands
Imported clay tiles, glazed or engobed, with a frost resistance certificate for mountain houses. Concrete tiles as a more affordable option. Fittings only from the same range. A vapour-open breather membrane, battens from treated timber sized for the rafter spacing. Stainless steel fixings, valleys in coated steel or in copper if the gutters are copper.
What makes up the cost
Timeline: a 120–150 m² clay tile roof usually takes 3–5 weeks after the batch arrives
- delivery time and cost of the batch
What raises the cost
- complex shape with hips and valleys
- strengthened rafters for the tile weight
- glazed tiles and copper fittings
- lifting heavy material to height
What lowers the cost
- simple gable roof with a steep pitch
- concrete tiles instead of clay
We prepare the exact estimate from measurements and photos. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Get an estimateGuarantees
Tile laying has a 2-year warranty. The tiles themselves carry the manufacturer's warranty, usually a long one. The row fixing layout and photos of details are handed over in the roof file.
Questions and answers
How much does a clay tile roof cost in Batumi?
With materials on existing rafters from 310 ₾ per m²: membrane, battens, tiles with fixing, ridges and junctions. Rafters for the tile weight are priced separately, from 135 ₾ per m² of slope. Concrete tile is cheaper, from 245 ₾ per m². The final price is set from the design and the agreed estimate.
Can clay tiles go on a house built for metal tile?
Only after an engineer's check. Clay is many times heavier, and rafters designed for metal can sag, while in a seismic zone a heavy top changes how the whole house behaves. Sometimes the rafters are strengthened, sometimes replaced. If the check shows the walls and beam will not cope, it is better to choose a light covering that looks like tile.
Does every tile need to be fixed?
In Adjara, yes. Wind off the sea lifts unfixed rows at the eaves and ridge, and in an earthquake tiles can slide and fall into the yard. We fix every tile with a screw, clip or wire to the manufacturer's pattern, and ridge and verge pieces always.
How long does a clay tile roof last?
The tiles last many decades, longer than any other covering. The membrane, battens or chimney details usually fail first if they were done badly. So under clay tile we do not cut corners on the underlay: relaying expensive tiles to replace a membrane costs more.
Can a single broken tile be replaced?
Yes. The rows around it are lifted, the fixing is removed, a new tile is slid in and fixed. That is why after installation we leave the owner spare tiles from the same batch. Matching the colour a few years later from another supplier can be difficult.
Related services
Further reading
Send us the house design: we will check the tile weight and price the roof in 24 hours
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