Tile Roof Install - InspectionNews

Eric Shuman · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 06:49 AM

Usually the visible portion of the hip battens I see on tile roofs are coated with moisture resistant mastic. This house had some type of poly flashing material over the hip battens which was leaving the wood battens exposed at some areas. In addition, the wind was blowing on this day and I could see and hear the poly material flapping at the hip battens. I have never seen it done this way. Is this type of material allowed in lieu of mastic? See photo for example.

Thanks,

Eric

Jerry Peck · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 07:34 AM

Depending on the material, yes it would be allowed, however ...

The main thing I see missing is there is no mortar closure pointing up the spaces between the rake and ridge tiles and the field tiles.

If you don't close those gaps up, the wind uplift design on the roof tile is exceeded and all installation and design requirements are 'out the window', or, more aptly put, 'off the roof' during high winds. That in addition to allowing wind driven rain to enter. The tile (except on System One tile roofs) is not the water proof covering, but it is intended to keep 95% of the water off the tile underlayment, the only way that can happen is to seal the tile where it meets at hips, ridges, adjacent walls, head walls, valleys, etc.

Dan Harris · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 08:04 AM

That's all they use here.
Mortor is only used at the ends, and where the ridge tiles go in a different direction
The common items I see, they use short filler pieces that shift, and use the ones marked left side on the right side, [ guess left and right, didn't make to the english translation book] if they fail to secure ridge tiles they also slip, exposing the ridge board.

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Harris

That's all they use here.
Mortor is only used at the ends,

"That's all they use here" means 'no mortar' at all the open tile joints along the rakes, side walls, and head walls?

That ain't right. Except on some System One installations, where they use the slater's edge flashings (with the turned up edge) under the tiles to direct water out and keep the water from going in under the tile (on System One tile roofs, the tile *IS* the water proof covering).

wayne soper · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 04:56 AM

That is an awfuly large gap. It appears that we have two different types of roofing to me. That cap does not appear to fit properly. Mortar or no mortar.

Eric Shuman · #6 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 11:45 AM

Jerry,

Do you (or anyone else) have a photo of the mortar application you are describing?

Thanks,

Eric

Jerry Peck · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 07:05 PM

Like this?

Photo was taken to show loose ridge tiles, however, it also shows rake tiles with mortar.

Greg D. Dames · #8 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 12:55 PM

Eric - Seems to me that local codes may apply. The big critics are from Florida and they do require concret which helps hold the tiles down during winds. In Texas codes may not require what is required in Florida...You may have to check with a roofer you can rely upon or the local Building and Safety department.

However I do agree that the gap is excessive.

To my knowledge at least where I live in CA concrete is not required. See it alot in the true Spanish Tile roofs but not for the flat concrete tiles.

Jerry Peck · #9 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 01:34 PM

The Concrete and Clay Roof Tile Installation Manual for Moderate Climate Regions from RTI (Roof Tile Institute) gives two options for hip and ridge installations, on allows not using mortar, it states: (underlining is mine)

Openings at hips, ridges and head walls including chimneys, skylights, solar panels, and downslope horizontal abutments shall be fitted with a weather blocking material to keep water on the surface of the field tile. Other methods approved by the local building official will be allowed. See Technical Bulletin at rooftile.org.

If that material is not installed such that: 1) it is weather blocking; 2) keeps the water on the surface of the field tile; then check with the building official to see if, in his infinite wisdom, he has allowed less.

Steve Lottatore · #10 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 02:39 PM

Happy New Year everyone.

Eric & others, I think I posted this a long time back, but an excellent tile roof resource for all would be from the Tile Roofing Institute, combined from old National Tile Roofing Mfctr. Assoc. (NTRMA) and Western States Roofing Contractors Assoc. (WSRCA) back in late 90's. I've been using this from the first edition effective 1/02, newly revised on 7/06, and adopted in 11/06; for all 'Design Criteria for Moderate Climate Regions'. (that includes us, Greg)

TRI link: http://www.monierlifetile.com/techni...Manual0806.pdf (it's a big'n 18.92 MB)

Texas go here: http://www.hansonrooftile.com/conten...oof%20Tile.pdf

Florida go here: http://www.tileroofing.org/uploadedF...a%20Manual.pdf

Stay safe,

Steve Lottatore
Bilt-Rite Property Inspections & Consulting, LLC

Eric Shuman · #11 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 06:05 PM

Thanks everyone. There is some good info here

I rarely see mortar at these open spaces in my area. What I usually see is a thick coating of a tar looking mastic sealing the open spaces to keep the weather off the battens and out of the open spaces. In this case however, all that was protecting the open spaces was the poly-flash looking material which as you can see in the photo does not actually seal anything from (as mentioned earlier) wind driven rain etc.