A Mangalore-style tile is a pressed, fired red clay roof tile that interlocks with the tiles beside, above and below it. Raised ribs and grooves on its edges overlap so rain runs down the roof instead of through it.
The name comes from the city of Mangalore on India's west coast. Machine-made interlocking clay tiles were first produced there in the 1860s, and the design spread across India and abroad. Today "Mangalore tile" is a generic name for the pattern, wherever it is made, including Morbi.
How the tile works
Older Indian roofs used curved tiles laid in overlapping rows. They needed many pieces and a heavy roof. The interlocking Mangalore tile covers more area per piece and needs less overlap, so the roof is lighter and quicker to lay.
Each tile has a few working parts. Knowing them helps you read a drawing or a sample.
- Side interlocks: a rib on one edge sits in a groove on the next tile, closing the vertical joint.
- Head and tail interlocks: the top of one tile tucks under the bottom of the tile above, closing the horizontal joint.
- Water channels: grooves on the face guide water down the slope and away from the joints.
- Nibs or lugs on the back, which hook over timber or steel battens and set the spacing.
- Often a hole or wire point, so tiles can be tied down in windy locations.
What the buyer should specify
Mangalore tiles look similar from plant to plant, but they are not all interchangeable. A tile from one factory may not lock properly with a tile from another. Specify these points in writing:
- Overall size, weight per tile and the number of tiles per square metre of roof.
- Batten gauge, meaning the centre-to-centre spacing of the battens the tile is designed for.
- Minimum roof pitch recommended by the maker, since interlocking tiles need enough slope to shed water.
- Colour: natural red is standard; ask whether glazed or coloured versions come from the same mould.
- Matching ridge tiles and fittings from the same production and the same clay body.
- Test results for water absorption, impermeability and breaking strength; see what water absorption and strength roofing tiles should have.
Where it suits and where it does not
The tile was designed for a warm, wet climate with heavy monsoon rain. It performs well where roofs must shed a lot of water and frost is rare.
In cold climates it needs a frost test before you sell it. A tile that works in Gujarat can fail after a few winters of freezing and thawing. Read whether Indian clay roof tiles are frost-resistant before ordering for such a market.
European roofs also usually need tiles tested and labelled under the European standard for clay roofing tiles. If you import into the EU, ask whether the maker has ever tested to it, not just whether the tile "meets European quality".
Quality differences between makers
The best way to compare makers is to lay a small test panel. Put ten or twelve tiles together on battens at the stated gauge. Check that every joint closes, that tiles sit flat without rocking, and that colours match.
Warped tiles leave gaps that let wind-driven rain in. Uneven firing shows as patches of lighter or darker red. Both are common in smaller kilns, so ask for samples drawn from a real production run, not a hand-picked set.
Next step
We can find Morbi plants that make Mangalore-pattern tiles, check samples against your roof design and supervise loading. For an overview of the segment, see what roofing tiles are made in Morbi. To start, book a free sourcing review.