Valley metal
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes get flashing sized for tile to handle the deep curves of tile.
Tile Roofing
Tile Roof Installation Fanwood, NJ
A Fanwood tile roofer can help choose between clay and concrete, flat or curved profiles, and install the full system beneath the tile. One call to (908) 663-5020 reaches a nearby tile installer.
The first decision on a tile roof has nothing to do with color. Because tile is so heavy, homes converting from shingles usually need the framing checked, and some need reinforcement first. On new construction, the framing is sized for tile from the plans onward.
The tile choice comes next. Clay tile is fired, keeps its color for a very long time and is lighter than most concrete tile, while concrete tile comes in many profiles and slowly fades as its surface weathers. Shapes range from flat and low profile tile to high profile S tile and traditional barrel tile.
A tile roof is only as good as the underlayment and flashing hidden beneath it. Codes typically allow tile on slopes down to 2.5 in 12, with two layers of underlayment required on slopes under 4 in 12. Picking a durable underlayment at the start pushes the first relay decades down the road.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Fanwood roofer may also recommend tile roof replacement or roof installation.
Need tile roof installation in Fanwood? Call (908) 663-5020 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How tile roof installation works
Here is how a roofer usually installs a tile roof.
Check the structure
The job starts with the structure: span tables or an engineer confirm the framing, and the building permit is secured. It is smart to keep a stack of spare tile from the same batch for future repairs.
Prepare the deck
Solid sheathing is inspected and renailed, then the roof is dried in with underlayment, doubled where the slope calls for it. Since this layer does the waterproofing, it is where quality matters most.
Set the battens
Horizontal battens give each row of tile something to hang on and set the exposure of every course. Some systems skip battens and fasten tile directly, depending on the profile and the slope.
Flash the details
Flashing goes in at valleys, sidewalls, headwalls, skylights and pipes, sized for the deep profile of tile. Because tile is thick and curved, flashing must be wider and shaped to fit.
Lay the tile
Courses are laid from the bottom up, starting over a raised eave or bird stop, and every tile is fastened to resist uplift. Small cut pieces at hips and valleys get extra attention.
Finish the ridge
The ridge is finished with caps over a ridge board, set in mortar or fastened dry with a breathable closure. Any tile cracked during the job is replaced before cleanup.
What is included
Parts of a tile roof installation
Underlayment system
Doubled or self-adhered underlayment goes down where needed before any tile goes on the roof.
Structural review
Rafters or trusses are confirmed before tile is ordered especially when replacing shingles.
Tile fastening
Battens or direct fastening hold every course so tiles stay put in strong wind.
Ridge finish
Bird stops close the eave and caps seal the ridge so birds and wind-driven rain stay out.
Related service
Barrel Tile Roof Installation Fanwood, NJ
Barrel tile is the classic two-piece tile roof: half-round pan tiles laid concave side up, with cover tiles laid over the joints between them. Each tapered tile overlaps the one below it, and the deep shape throws the strong shadow lines that give the roof its look. That depth means the open ends at eaves and ridges have to be closed with bird stops, mortar or formed closures.
For barrel tile installation on a Fanwood home, each cover tile is secured with nails, wire ties, clips or foam adhesive, depending on the slope and wind rules. Pans and covers have to run in straight lines with even exposure, which takes careful layout before the first pan goes down.
Related service
Spanish Tile Roof Installation Fanwood, NJ
Spanish tile usually means the S-shaped profile that combines a pan and a cover in a single piece, giving the look of barrel tile with half the pieces. Both clay and concrete versions are made, in solid colors or blends from deep red to earth tones. Its interlocking side laps shed water well, but the curved ends at eaves and ridges still need closing off.
Spanish tile roof installation in Fanwood follows the same system as any tile roof, from structure check to underlayment, flashing and tile. Flashing around chimneys, walls and skylights has to be shaped to the S curve, often with formed metal or a flexible flashing material. With a color blend, tile is drawn from several pallets as it goes up so no area looks patchy.
Local help
Tile Roof Installation Near Me
In Fanwood, new tile roofs go onto homes of every age, from fresh builds to older houses moving away from shingles. Homes in Fanwood and surrounding areas such as Westfield, Plainfield, Watchung and Mountainside that were framed for shingles often need a structural review before tile is an option, and storms that bring strong wind make fastening choices as important as the tile itself.
Need tile roof installation around Fanwood? Call (908) 663-5020 for a Fanwood roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Fanwood, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Fanwood know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Tile Roof Installation FAQ
How long does it take to put on a tile roof?
Expect more time than a shingle job, since each tile is placed and fastened by hand over more layers. Steep pitches, many hips and valleys and a structural upgrade all add time. Once the underlayment is down, the house is protected from rain while tile goes on.
How heavy is a tile roof?
Clay and concrete tile are among the heaviest roof coverings, several times the weight of shingles. Homes built for tile carry it fine, but a house framed for shingles may need an engineer to check the rafters or trusses and add reinforcement. Some lighter weight tile products are made for homes with less structural capacity.
What is better, clay or concrete tile?
The choice comes down to priorities. Clay keeps its color through the tile, is lighter than most concrete tile and can last for generations. Concrete offers a huge range of styles, but it is heavier than clay and fades as it ages.
What underlayment goes under a tile roof?
Tile roofs use heavy felt, synthetic underlayment or self-adhered membrane, sometimes in two layers. Since the tile can outlast the underlayment by decades, a longer lasting underlayment pays off. On slopes below 4 in 12, code requires two layers.
Can tile go over old shingles?
The old roofing is torn off before tile is installed. Removing the old roof also takes weight off the framing, which matters with a material this heavy.
More questions? Call (908) 663-5020
Other services that may help
Tile Roof Replacement
Full tile roof replacement when the underlayment, fasteners or tile have reached the end of their life, done slope by slope to keep the house protected.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreTile Roof Inspection
A close look at the tile, underlayment, flashing, valleys and attic of a clay or concrete tile roof, before buying a home, after a storm or as the underlayment ages.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed tile roof installation in Fanwood, NJ?
Call (908) 663-5020 for a local roofer in Fanwood and nearby towns.