Decra, pioneers in lightweight steel roof systems, have complemented their counterparts in glass by launching a dry roof tile with self-cleaning characteristics.

A new coating on the company’s Elegance tiles contains high levels of Teflon and silicon to create a non-stick, highly water repellent surface with the enhanced self-cleaning properties.

Rainwater is simply shrugged off, taking dirt such as atmospheric deposits with it, improving the lifetime of the roof, particularly in aggressive environments such as coastal areas where salt is corrosive.

The pollutant aspect also reduces maintenance which improves health and safety factors – no cleaning equalling no-one on the roof – and because rainfall is dispersed more quickly, the risk of freeze/thaw deterioration in winter months is reduced. This also reduces the risk of surface delamination often experienced by clay tiles.

As well as being a non-stick coating, it is also non-toxic and environmentally friendly which means rainwater run off can be harvested for re-use.

The Decra Elegance tile is less than one-eighth the weight of traditional clay or concrete tiles and can be easily marked out, cut and bent into shape by contractors. Its super-flexible powder coating does not stress fracture (white marks) when bent, or flake or separate from cut edges.

Available in Terracotta, Mocha and Black as well as bespoke colours to order, Decra’s new dry tile is set to raise roofing standards again, 30 years after the company first launched lightweight steel roof tiles to the UK.

Email: tracy@tlcpr.co.uk