खपरैल - Khaprail (Tile) | Inheritage Foundation Art & Architecture Thesaurus | Inheritage Foundation

Title	खपरैल - Khaprail (Tile) खपरैल Khaprail
Description	Fired clay roofing tiles, typically terracotta in color. Provide insulation and weather protection. Firing temperatures range from 900-1100°C. Water absorption ranges from 10-20%. Prone to cracking due to thermal stress.
Tags	Tile Terracotta Roofing Ceramic Kiln खपरैल Khaprail Flooring Roof Clay Mangalore Tile
Material ID	`INHFMAT-843520549-20-11-25-KA`
URI	https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/tile
API Endpoint	`https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/tile`
Total Sites	13
Primary Sites	13
Created	November 20, 2025
Last Updated	November 20, 2025

Material Types

Types	Ceramic Fired Clay Clay Product Terracotta Terracotta Tile Clay Tile Mangalore Tile Roofing Material Roofing Tile

Regions

Regions	Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu Bengal Goa Coastal regions Coastal India Southern India Coastal Karnataka West Bengal

Historical Context

Time Periods	Ancient times Medieval Period CE Colonial Period Ancient times onwards Modern Era Colonial Era Ancient Period Medieval Period British Colonial Period
Dynasties	Chola Vijayanagara Travancore Nayaka Portuguese Various dynasties of South India Regional kingdoms British

Geographic Sources

Sources	Local kilns Specific tile manufacturing units Local clay deposits Tile factories Tile factories near settlements Specific clay sources Clay pits specific tile manufacturers Local clay pits Clay deposits in coastal regions specific tile factories Tile factories in coastal regions Specific regional kilns Tile manufacturing units Specific tile factories regional kilns specific tile manufacturing centers

Sources

Local kilns

Specific tile manufacturing units

Local clay deposits

Tile factories

Tile factories near settlements

Specific clay sources

Clay pits

specific tile manufacturers

Local clay pits

Clay deposits in coastal regions

specific tile factories

Tile factories in coastal regions

Specific regional kilns

Tile manufacturing units

Specific tile factories

regional kilns

specific tile manufacturing centers

Properties

Properties	Water absorption: 10-20% Firing temperature: 900-1100°C Flexural strength: 15-30 MPa Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.1 W/mK Firing temperature: 800-1100 °C Flexural strength: 5-15 MPa Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK Density: 1800-2000 kg/m³ Firing temperature: 900-1100°C, Water absorption: 10-20%, Density: 1.8-2.0 g/cm³, Flexural strength: 15-30 MPa Water absorption: 5-15% Thermal conductivity: 0.8 W/mK Firing temperature: 800-1000°C Flexural strength: 5-10 MPa Water absorption: 5-20% Bending strength: 5-15 MPa Density: 1800-2200 kg/m³ Firing temperature: 900-1100 °C Compressive strength: 15-30 MPa Thermal conductivity: 0.9 W/mK Water absorption: 10-15% Water absorption: 10-25% Thermal conductivity: Low Thermal resistance

Water absorption: 10-20%

Firing temperature: 900-1100°C

Flexural strength: 15-30 MPa

Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.1 W/mK

Firing temperature: 800-1100 °C

Flexural strength: 5-15 MPa

Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK

Density: 1800-2000 kg/m³

Firing temperature: 900-1100°C, Water absorption: 10-20%, Density: 1.8-2.0 g/cm³, Flexural strength: 15-30 MPa

Water absorption: 5-15%

Thermal conductivity: 0.8 W/mK

Firing temperature: 800-1000°C

Flexural strength: 5-10 MPa

Water absorption: 5-20%

Bending strength: 5-15 MPa

Density: 1800-2200 kg/m³

Firing temperature: 900-1100 °C

Compressive strength: 15-30 MPa

Thermal conductivity: 0.9 W/mK

Water absorption: 10-15%

Water absorption: 10-25%

Thermal conductivity: Low

Thermal resistance

Common Uses

Uses	Roofing Paving Cladding Flooring Wall cladding Decorative elements Paving (less common)

Related Materials

Materials	लकड़ी - Lakri (Wood) battens चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) मिट्टी - Mittī (Mud) mortar काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) (for roof structure) चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) (for bedding) लकड़ी - Lakadi (Wood) for support structure चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) for bedding काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) बांस - Baans (Bamboo) बांस - Bāns (Bamboo) Kāshtha (Timber) Bamboo

Materials

लकड़ी - Lakri (Wood) battens

चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar)

मिट्टी - Mittī (Mud) mortar

काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) (for roof structure)

चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) (for bedding)

लकड़ी - Lakadi (Wood) for support structure

चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) for bedding

काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood)

बांस - Baans (Bamboo)

बांस - Bāns (Bamboo)

Kāshtha (Timber)

Bamboo

Related Styles

Styles	Kerala architecture style Mangalore tile roof style Bengal architecture style Goan architecture style Dravidian architecture style Goan architecture Colonial architecture Kerala architecture Bengal rural architecture

Related Categories

Categories	House Temple Public Building Residential buildings Temples Churches Residential building Public building Farmhouses Residential Buildings Church Public buildings Residential Architecture Residential Building

Conservation Notes

Notes	Susceptible to cracking due to thermal stress and freeze-thaw cycles Requires periodic replacement of damaged tiles Ensure proper overlap and secure fastening to prevent water leakage Susceptible to cracking due to freeze-thaw cycles Biological growth Erosion due to weathering Susceptible to cracking and breakage due to thermal stress and impact. Requires periodic replacement. Susceptible to cracking Algae growth Requires periodic replacement Use of breathable coatings Water damage Cracking due to thermal stress Replacement with compatible tiles Algae growth on surface Biological growth (moss, lichen) Damage from strong winds Algae and moss growth Susceptible to cracking and breakage Vulnerable to moss and lichen growth Requires periodic cleaning and replacement Damage from freeze-thaw cycles Cracking due to freeze-thaw cycles Requires replacement

Notes

Susceptible to cracking due to thermal stress and freeze-thaw cycles
Requires periodic replacement of damaged tiles
Ensure proper overlap and secure fastening to prevent water leakage
Susceptible to cracking due to freeze-thaw cycles
Biological growth
Erosion due to weathering
Susceptible to cracking and breakage due to thermal stress and impact. Requires periodic replacement.
Susceptible to cracking
Algae growth
Requires periodic replacement
Use of breathable coatings
Water damage
Cracking due to thermal stress
Replacement with compatible tiles
Algae growth on surface
Biological growth (moss, lichen)
Damage from strong winds
Algae and moss growth
Susceptible to cracking and breakage
Vulnerable to moss and lichen growth
Requires periodic cleaning and replacement
Damage from freeze-thaw cycles
Cracking due to freeze-thaw cycles
Requires replacement

Recommended Sources

Title	Type	Notes
Traditional Building Materials of India	Book	Tile manufacturing and usage
Traditional Roofing Systems of India	Book	Tile types and installation techniques
Traditional Roofing Systems in India	Article	Details on tile manufacturing and application
Traditional Roofing Systems in South India	Article	Tile manufacturing and installation
Traditional Roofing Systems of South India	Report	Technical details on tile types and construction

Heritage Sites (13)

Site Name	Status	Confidence
Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple Dharmasthala	Primary	100%
Guangxiao Temple Guangzhou China	Primary	100%
Kollur Mookambika Temple Udupi	Primary	100%
Lingyin Temple Hangzhou Zhejiang China	Primary	100%
Mount Wutai Monasteries Shanxi China	Primary	100%
Nanhua Temple Shaoguan Guangdong China	Primary	100%
Putuo Zongcheng Temple Chengde Hebei China	Primary	100%
Qingyuan Temple Jiuhuashan Anhui China	Primary	100%
Shree Shyam Rai Temple Imphal	Primary	100%
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees Guangzhou China	Primary	100%
Ujjayanta Palace Agartala	Primary	100%
West Lake Cultural Landscape Hangzhou Zhejiang China	Primary	100%
Zhenru Temple Shanghai China	Primary	100%