Four decades of clay, fire, and craftsmanship.

Founded in Tecate, Baja California, CIT has spent more than forty years creating authentic clay roof tile for homes throughout the United States. Our process has been refined across generations, but its foundation remains the same: natural clay, skilled hands, and the transformative power of fire.

Built on a simple belief.

Nathan Meltzer founded CIT with the belief that quality should never need to be explained, it should be visible in the finished work. What began as a family operation in Tecate grew into a trusted source of clay roof tile for architects, builders, and homeowners across the United States.

More than forty years later, the company remains family-owned, and that original standard continues to guide every tile we produce.

Built on a simple belief.

More than forty years later, the company remains family-owned, and that original standard continues to guide every tile we produce.

Built on a simple belief.

More than forty years later, the company remains family-owned, and that original standard continues to guide every tile we produce.

The Process

01 — The Clay

Every CIT roof begins with natural clay selected and prepared at our facility in Tecate. At this stage, the material is quiet and uniform. Its individual character has not yet been revealed.

02 — Formed by Hand

The clay is shaped into tile and finished according to the character of each collection. Our signature Slurry finish receives its textured surface through hands-on work, giving the tile the depth and natural irregularity that distinguish it from perfectly uniform, machine-finished tile.

03 — Transformed by Fire

Before entering the kiln, the tiles appear nearly identical. During firing, heat reveals the clay differently from tile to tile, creating subtle shifts in tone unique to every firing.

04 — Brought Together

Once installed together, those individual variations create depth across the roof. The color moves naturally from tile to tile, allowing the surface to feel rich, dimensional, and inseparable from the architecture around it.