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Ah Italy... innovation for housing by observing and using nature! by Florida Custom Home Architect John Henry
The beautiful ochre and stone houses that dot the Italian countryside sit by themselves on acres of green fertile fields and cypress trees.  The same building techniques are used for houses in the towns and villages.  Thick stone walls hold up wood beamed roofs and ceilings.  Stucco is the favorite material for the exterior finish.  And ceramic tile graces the roofs.
First question: Do you know why the roofs are multicolored and rarely even hued unless brand new?  Why are the tiles curved so deeply?  How were they made?
Second question: How is it that the stucco seems to last forever and retains the color so well?  Are there any other salient attributes of the stucco mix?
 
ROOF TILE
Ceramic roofs originally were gathered from clay deposits at the closest river.  Before machines the roofer (typically the homeowner) would scoop out the clay and pat it on his/her thigh with about an inch of thickness.  They would collect a batch and then bake them in ovens. When dry they would mortar them together in a cap and pan fashion.  The bottom row would lay curves up and the next row curves down over the intersection.  A very neat system that often needed no mortar at all.  ... more

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