The steady rhythm of a workshop holds its own kind of poetry — the turn of gears, the measured stacking of clay, the glow of kilns as they shape earth into form. In Juncal, a small town tied closely to the traditions of Portuguese ceramic and roofing craft, this rhythm has taken on new meaning. Here, the stockpiles of tiles have become more than building material; they are fragments of history and identity, each carrying the imprint of time and use.

Since the storm that swept through central Portugal, families and builders have converged on the CS Coelho da Silva factory, seeking the means to mend what was lost. Owners and workers alike have watched their inventory — long accumulated through years of production — flow out the gates, loaded into vehicles bound for rooftops across the region. “We have sold several hundreds of thousands of tiles,” said the operations manager, Paulo Sequeira, as the sound of forklifts and truck engines marked another busy day at the site.

The challenge, he explained with measured patience, lies in compatibility. These tiles are not all the same. Over the decades, shapes, compositions, and molds have varied — some dating back generations — so matching what remains on an old roof with what is in stock becomes a delicate task. In many cases, homeowners stand at the factory entrance trying to find a piece that fits not only in size but in memory, their eyes tracing patterns of color and curvature.

For many who have traveled from nearby towns like Pernelhas and Leiria, the visit is both practical and reflective. Water had breached homes and barn roofs alike, and many sought replacements where they could find them. But as Augusto Neto and his 72-year-old companion learned, the solution may require adaptation — or patience — because the tiles they need are tied to older styles no longer produced.

Inside the factory grounds, the rhythm of response has been constant. Production resumed soon after necessary repairs were made to the facility itself in the storm’s aftermath, and delivery has been ongoing despite broader grid outages that have slowed operations at times. Stock that once served mainly dealers has been made available directly to individuals, a temporary shift driven by circumstance and community need.

Workers and families share a quiet understanding that roofs are more than shelter; they are continuity. Each tile, whether new or inherited from stock old enough to recall generations of storms and sunsets, carries a part of that continuity. In Juncal, as trucks depart with bundles of clay pieces bound for scattered homes, there is both urgency and reverence. The storm may have displaced tiles, but it also brought people together, looking skyward and across their neighborhoods for the means to restore what was once held aloft.

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Sources : Correio da Manhã Lusa (via CM Jornal reporting) Local Portuguese news coverage Industry context from roofing manufacture websites Supplementary regional business reporting