Tile Roofing

Clay tile. Made from kiln-fired clay, naturally colored throughout (color is in the clay body, not a coating). Service life 75-100+ years; color holds for the life of the tile. Highest authenticity for Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean architecture. Producers include MCA (Maverick), Ludowici (the legacy American maker of premium clay tile), Boral Roofing (Saxony Slate, Cedarlite). Higher cost than concrete; superior longevity.

Concrete tile. Made from sand, cement, and pigment. Service life 50-75 years; color may fade over decades depending on pigment system. Lower cost than clay and lighter weight on some lines. Producers include Eagle Roofing Products (US-based major) and Boral concrete tile. Common spec on mid-budget Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean builds.

Weight difference. Standard clay tile runs 900-1100 lb/sq; concrete tile runs 800-1000 lb/sq; lightweight concrete tile (Eagle Bel Air) can drop to 600-700 lb/sq. The lightweight concrete lines opened up tile to NJ homes that couldn't structurally accept full-weight tile.

Profile selection. S-tile (barrel-shaped) is the classic Spanish Colonial profile. Flat tile (slate-look) is used on Mediterranean and modern applications. Roman pan tile (low-profile S) is a middle ground. Profile choice is primarily architectural, but flat tiles weigh less than barrel tiles and may be the right pick where weight is marginal.

Color and finish. Glazed tile carries a baked-on color coating with infinite color options; unglazed tile shows the natural clay color (terra cotta, slate, weathered). Glazed is more common on premium homes; unglazed is the traditional Spanish Colonial look.

Rafter sizing. A 2x6 rafter at 16" on center spanning 12 feet can typically carry tile load; a 2x6 spanning 16 feet often cannot. We measure rafter spans, member sizes, and spacing, then run the calculation against the actual tile weight per the manufacturer's data sheet.

Ridge beam and bearing walls. Tile loads concentrate at the ridge and bear down through the wall system. Older NJ homes sometimes have undersized ridge boards that flexed under their original asphalt load and would fail under tile. Engineer's review confirms the load path is sound.

Deck thickness. Tile requires solid sheathing — typically 5/8" minimum CDX plywood (existing 1/2" may need overlay or replacement). Older NJ homes with 1x6 plank decking can carry tile but need to be re-sheathed for proper tile install.

Reinforcement options when capacity is marginal. Sister rafters with new lumber, add a structural ridge beam, increase deck thickness, or step down to lightweight concrete tile. We give the homeowner the full menu — tile is a long-term commitment and forcing the structure beyond its design isn't worth the trouble.

Engineer's letter. Required for permit on most NJ municipalities for any tile install over existing framing. We coordinate the structural review and supply the letter as part of the permit package.

Underlayment matters more than people realize on tile. Tile sheds most water but underlayment is the secondary moisture barrier — the tile itself isn't fully waterproof at all interfaces. We use a heavy-grade peel-and-stick (or two layers of 30 lb felt) over the entire deck on every tile install.

Direct-deck vs batten install. Direct-deck (tile nailed through underlayment directly into deck) is faster and the historical NJ method. Batten install (wood horizontal furring strips over the underlayment, tile attached to battens) creates an airspace beneath the tile that improves ventilation and dries the underlayment after rain. Battens add cost; on premium installs where lifespan is the priority, we recommend them.

Fasteners. Stainless screws or copper nails. Galvanized rusts and stains tile within 25-30 years (well before tile end-of-life). For wind ratings above 100 mph, we screw every tile in the perimeter zones and every third tile in the field.

Cricket and chimney details. Tile flashing is harder than asphalt — the tiles' irregular profile means custom-bent lead or copper flashing has to be fitted to each detail. We hand-form chimney saddles and counter flashing on every tile install.

Pitch limits. Most tile manufacturers spec 4:12 minimum pitch for standard install; below that requires waterproof underlayment and may not qualify for warranty. We don't install tile on low-slope sections.