Historic Resources Committee

In repairing the built-up roofing on a 1920's storage garage found that water infiltration had deteriorated the structural clay tile roof deck. The deck is constructed of 18" long x 1'-0" wide tile supported on 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 T's.

Is there currently a manufacturer for this material? is there a replacement material for this application? This repair will not be visible and does not need to be historically accurate. This is a large structure and are likely to find other locations that will require repair. My goal would be to find a good solution with readily available materials that is easily replicated.      
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Michael Krause AIA
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David Hart AIA
David M. Hart Enterprises
Salem MA
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Try Ludowici Tile

Check with Gladdi McBean, Boston Valley and Ludowici, if they don't make it your best bet might be to look into light wgt precast units ... Finding salvaged units that match existing would be unlikely (but not impossible).

If quantity is right I'd probably look into having new replacement units fired by one of the three aforementioned TC specialists.

Good luck
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Carl Dress AIA
Principal
Heritage Design Collaborative
Media PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 7/31/2015 9:37:55 AM
From: davidatsalem@comcast.net
Subject: RE: Strucural clay tile roof

------------------------------------------- David Hart AIA David M. Hart Enterprises Salem MA ------------------------------------------- Try Ludowici Tile

I suggest you check the tile salvage yard on line to see if you can locate matching historic tiles.


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Kenneth Smith FAIA
Kenneth Smith Architects, Inc.
Jacksonville FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-03-2015 21:00
From: Carl Dress
Subject: Strucural clay tile roof


Check with Gladdi McBean, Boston Valley and Ludowici, if they don't make it your best bet might be to look into light wgt precast units ... Finding salvaged units that match existing would be unlikely (but not impossible).

If quantity is right I'd probably look into having new replacement units fired by one of the three aforementioned TC specialists.

Good luck
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Carl Dress AIA
Principal
Heritage Design Collaborative
Media PA
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Kenneth:
What tile salvage yard?

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William Cox FAIA
Historic Preservation Manager
City of Alexandria
Alexandria VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2015 09:00
From: Kenneth Smith
Subject: Strucural clay tile roof

I suggest you check the tile salvage yard on line to see if you can locate matching historic tiles.


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Kenneth Smith FAIA
Kenneth Smith Architects, Inc.
Jacksonville FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-03-2015 21:00
From: Carl Dress
Subject: Strucural clay tile roof


Check with Gladdi McBean, Boston Valley and Ludowici, if they don't make it your best bet might be to look into light wgt precast units ... Finding salvaged units that match existing would be unlikely (but not impossible).

If quantity is right I'd probably look into having new replacement units fired by one of the three aforementioned TC specialists.

Good luck
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Carl Dress AIA
Principal
Heritage Design Collaborative
Media PA
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We have been completing restorations on historic buildings that date from the late 1800's and have found matching salvage tiles from salvage yards in Texas and another yard in Georgia or North Carolina, I think. You should be able to locate them via an on line search. I do not know if anyone will have the structural tiles you are looking for but its worth a try to search. If you locate some that look like a match, they will ship you samples to review.

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Kenneth Smith FAIA
Kenneth Smith Architects, Inc.
Jacksonville FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-06-2015 17:26
From: William Cox
Subject: Strucural clay tile roof

Kenneth:
What tile salvage yard?

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William Cox FAIA
Historic Preservation Manager
City of Alexandria
Alexandria VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2015 09:00
From: Kenneth Smith
Subject: Strucural clay tile roof

I suggest you check the tile salvage yard on line to see if you can locate matching historic tiles.


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Kenneth Smith FAIA
Kenneth Smith Architects, Inc.
Jacksonville FL
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Logan Clay Products in Ohio is an old, closely held company with a diversified product line. If they do not still make this product they may know of another source, or be able to suggest a substitute.  

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Robert Miller FAIA
Robert L. Miller Associates
Washington DC
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Michael - You have probably found out by now, if you did not already know, that the hollow clay tile roof deck material that you have encountered is also called "book tile," apparently because someone thought each piece looked like a large book.  Attached is the "Roof and Ceiling Tile" entry from the 1915 catalog of the National Fireproofing Company of Pittsburgh, also known as Natco.  I do not know if there are any companies that still make this product, but a call to Gladding and McBean mentioned previously would be a good start. That system was also used for the 2/12 sloping roof of Cass Gilbert's 1905 MN state capitol building, behind the marble balustrade parapets and surrounding the marble dome. Fortunately it is still in very good shape, so that the few holes and broken pieces we have run into have easily been repaired, prior to re-roofing the existing concrete topping over the book tile. Good luck with your project!

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Timothy Gideon Carlson AIA
Hammel, Green & Abrahamson, Inc.
Minneapolis MN
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