There are several types of roof treatments to opt from when considering a construction project. The most common and reliable is the tried and true boveda roof. The boveda roof is constructed by laying steel I-beams across the tops of walls so that a brick arch can be formed between the beams. Then a layer of concrete is poured to more or less level the topside of the arches. On top of all that, a layer of jal and cement is laid to provide a base for whatever comes next.
It is not necessary to lay barrel tiles over such a roof. Thin, brick tiles will do the same job although they may not be as attractive. One could also opt to simply not use tile and place a layer of slurry over the roof. A slurry application really should be covered with a roof sealer such as Micofest applied with a felt. Although, in theory, such an application is redundant.
If any roof is going to be covered with barrel tiles the pitch of the roof should be between 25% and 35%. If it’s less the water won’t run off the tiles very well. The angle of the tile will cause water to back up and you could experience a drippy roof. It the angle is more than 35% the water will run off just fine but you could have trouble keeping the roof in place.
Another type of roof is one constructed with lightweight beams. Sometimes these beams are pine poles and sometimes they are C-beams. (A C-beam is a type of thin rolled steel plate pressed into a “C” shape as viewed from the end of the beam.) This type of construction is often used with carports and garages. It could be used for homes and casitas as well, if the walls are finished up to the barrel tile. To achieve a good, watertight seal, this type of roof usually has a black corrugated tarpaper placed under the barrel tile. Looking up at tarpaper is not on my list of favorite sights and many people choose to place petate (a woven mat used for sleeping in days of yore) under the tarpaper. Actually, a roof constructed in this manner is rather attractive. Asbestos sheeting is also sometimes used with this type of roof construction in place of barrel tile.
There are a number of flat roofs, which are also popular. As a general rule, flat roofs have more problems than do slanted roofs. For example, it’s difficult to tie the roof to the rest of the structure in such a way as to prevent cracking or leaking. However, the simplest flat roof is the boveda design. This is the safest because the steel I-beams are ties to the dalas or concrete beams at the top of the walls. The next best is the poured roof. The poured roof is also tied to the dalas but is supported from below during the concrete pouring process with wooden timbers and plywood or some other flat planking. This type of roof requires a good deal of rebar to guarantee its integrity, so I am not convinced that it is any cheaper than the boveda-type of roof.
Another type of poured flat roof is the type which uses beefed-up, corrugated tin in place of the wood support. This type of roof may be less expensive than the other but unless it is tied securely into the rest of the structure, it risks collapse. Personally, I do not recommend this construction practice.
The reason for choosing one roof over another has to do with how the structure will look once everything is finished. Sometimes a pitched roof would look out of place on a home. In such a case, a flat roof will be required. If a flat roof is required then opting for the boveda style may cost more in the short run but much less in the long run.
For pitched roofs there is a staggering array of treatments. There are clay tiles, composite tiles, tiles in assorted colors, double-locking tiles, clay shingles, corrugated sheets, and any number of others. The cost of all these different roof treatments varies as much as the array of coverings. All work reasonably well, but keep in mind that simple is usually better. Even so, nearly all roof treatments have hidden costs in the preparation stages of construction and later in maintenance.
