Beaver-Tail Tile

A beaver-tail tile (German Biberschwanz, literally "beaver's tail") is a flat fired-clay roof tile, usually with a rounded lower end, hung from battens by a nib. It is the classic roof tile of southern and eastern Germany and neighbouring regions of central Europe, and gives old town roofs in places such as Nuremberg and Bamberg their fine, scale-like texture.

Size

The standard German format is 36.5 by 15.5 cm (about 14.4 by 6.1 in) and about 1 cm (0.4 in) thick. The traditional southern German format is 38 by 18 cm (about 15 by 7 in), with variable thickness.

Shapes of tail

Many cut shapes are made, including:

• round cut (Rundschnitt), the most familiar form;
• segmental cut (Segmentschnitt);
• straight cut (Geradschnitt), with square or rounded corners;
• hexagonal, Gothic, ogee and diamond-pointed versions;
• narrower and shorter "tower" tiles for spires and turrets.

Laying methods

• Crown lay (Kronendeckung): two layers of tiles hang on the same batten, the upper layer covering the joints of the lower.
• Double lay (Doppeldeckung): each course has its own batten, and each tile covers a little more than half of the one below, similar to English plain tiling.
• Single lay (Einfachdeckung or Spließdeckung): only half as many tiles are used, with thin strips (Spließe) of wood or other material placed under the vertical joints to catch water.

Ridge and eaves rows are normally laid with the crown method even on double-lap roofs.

History

The tile probably originated in the 14th century around the clay pits near Nuremberg, where medieval examples survive on the city wall and castle. Beaver-tail tiles gradually replaced the two-piece curved Mönch und Nonne (monk and nun) tiles inherited from Roman practice. In the 18th century they were sometimes called Ochsenzungen ("ox tongues").

Distribution

The type is most widespread in southern and eastern Germany and the countries to the south and east. It is rare in western Germany and very common in Mecklenburg. Beaver-tail tiles hold well even on very steep roofs, which suits the tall roofs of central European towns.