Expert craftsmanship: a new roof

Why these Mallorcan bricks work so well in Mallorca

Sometimes a pile of roof tiles speaks louder than a thousand words. On the one hand, the initial condition – worn, brittle at the edges, ready for replacement. On the other, the result: a roof laid cleanly and with the utmost care, built to last for decades.

What at first glance looks like a simple replacement of tiles is, in reality, a process that demands experience, precision and a trained eye for detail. Every single tile is inspected, every batten checked, every seal applied with the same care – because a roof does not tolerate half-measures. It must withstand the wind, rain and Mallorcan sun, year after year, without anyone in the house below ever having to give it a second thought.

That is precisely where the true value of this work lies. A roof is more than just a technical detail. It is the first line of defence for everything beneath it – for the family, for the memories, for the ordinary life that unfolds day in, day out within these four walls. Nobody thinks about the roof above them in their day-to-day lives – and that is precisely the aim: that it simply works, unobtrusively, reliably, day after day.

The Mallorcan roof tile: form and function

The island’s characteristic red roofs owe their appearance to the ‘teja mallorquina’ – a curved clay tile closely related to the classic ‘teja árabe’. Its semi-circular curve is not merely decorative, but a system tried and tested over centuries. The lower tiles form the gutter, whilst the upper ones cover the butt joints.

Rainwater drains away effectively, rather than seeping into the structure. At the same time, an air pocket forms beneath the curves: in summer, it buffers the heat, whilst after a shower, the roof dries out more quickly. Moss and algae find less purchase here than on dense, flat surfaces.

The raw material is clay – traditionally sourced from the island, moulded and fired at high temperatures. In the last remaining teuleríes, this process still takes place for hours on end in wood-fired kilns, often using sustainable waste materials such as nut shells, pine or olive wood. The result is not an industrially smooth product, but a natural building material with slight variations in colour and surface texture.

It is precisely this irregularity that gives the roof its vibrant, Mediterranean depth. Over the years, a patina develops on its surface. Not as a sign of weathering, but as a sign that the material breathes and works in harmony with the climate.

Why these bricks work so well in Mallorca

Clay tiles are vapour-permeable, frost- and UV-resistant, and can withstand the island’s extreme sunlight without warping. They are fire-resistant, fully recyclable and blend in with the landscape and existing buildings in terms of colour. This is a factor that is often just as important as the technical aspects when renovating old fincas and townhouses. A professionally laid tiled roof, with a sound substructure, will easily last between 60 and 100 years. Individual damaged tiles can be replaced without having to open up the entire roof.

They are laid with precision and care: the battens must be correct, the overlap must match the pitch and the prevailing wind direction, and the ridge, eaves and penetrations require the same attention to detail as the roof surface. Old tiles that are still sound can often be reused or deliberately mixed with new ones – this way, the history of the house remains visible without compromising on watertightness.

Craftsmanship and respect – for a roof that lasts

At RM BALEARES, we know that good renovation work is always both craftsmanship and respect. Respect for the materials, for the building’s history, and for the people who will continue to live under this roof for many years to come.

We see every project not just as a job, but as a responsibility – for what we leave behind when we come down from the scaffolding.

The best transformations are rarely spectacular. They are understated, carefully thought out – and built to last. It is precisely these kinds of projects that drive us on with every new site.