Sandtoft has announced a 22% increase in sales of its New Generation range of clay roof tiles. The boost follows a rise in demand over the last year for more affordable, natural roofing products that meet planning requirements.

Featuring innovative designs which improve the ease and speed of installation, the range includes the 20/20 and three large format tiles - the Cassius, Rivius and Olympus. Its popularity is attributed to the fact that each tile significantly reduces both labour and material costs. For example, the 20/20 can reduce roof costs by 30% and cut completion times by up to a third when compared to traditional clay plain tiles.

“Since the economic downturn, the focus on cutting costs has intensified with developers and contractors changing how they specify roof tiles,” said Sandtoft’s sales and marketing director, Nick Oldridge. “We have worked closely with our customers to prove that we can offer a natural roof covering at a much lower installed cost than our competitors, enabling us to achieve significant and sustainable growth in a challenging market.

“The most popular natural clay products in our portfolio are the Cassius and Rivius, which offer a colour-permanent slate appearance. Specifiers are turning to these large format clay tiles as an affordable alternative to slate and fibre cement, as they can reduce installed roof costs by up to 50% and cut completion times. In addition, the planners are supporting their use because they result in a natural roof covering that will never lose its colour.”

Sandtoft is part of the Wienerberger group and with the addition of the Koramic range, offers the largest and most innovative choice of roof tiles in the UK.