The Parry roof tile

Cool Roof Tiles

Finding a sustainable solution to roofing is difficult.

Thatch is the traditional material but not appropriate for urban areas and generally of poor quality. It also needs replacing every few years. Most new buildings use imported zinc or tin sheet metal or more expensive factory made roof tiles or sheets.

All of our projects have chosen to use micro-concrete tiles. These are durable, good looking and match the brick walls. Best of all, they result in much cooler interiors than tin sheets.  Like the bricks, they are made at the point-of-need, so there is no transportation cost or kiln to fire.

A simple hand-powered machine is operated by turning a handle that vibrates the table surface on which sits your mould. This can be for a tile of various sizes or even an ordinary block. The vibration expels any air in the mix and so produces a uniform, high quality product. A pigment can be added for colour.

We feel that even though it is concrete based, the fact that the tiles are made on site with local sand and aggregate, outweighs the use of cement. So far it’s the best solution we have found for a Zambia.

The good looking, durable roof is attracting a lot of attention and we have a number of builders interested in making and selling tiles. At present the equipment is manufactured in the UK.

For more information visit Parry Associates.