Tile Roofing in Miami & South Florida

01 / 08

1. 01

   Solid, re-nailed deck

   The old tile and underlayment come off, damaged sheathing is replaced and the deck is re-nailed to the framing. Tile is heavy, so the deck has to be sound before anything goes on it.

   In Florida The Florida Building Code calls for ring-shank re-nailing of the deck on re-roofs of site-built single-family homes where the existing nailing falls short.

2. 02

   Base or anchor sheet

   In a two-ply system, a base sheet, often called an anchor sheet, is nailed to the deck with tin caps in rows. It is the first layer of the underlayment and the base the cap sheet bonds to.

   In Florida Some approved systems use one self-adhered underlayment applied straight to the deck instead of two plies. In those, the eave metal usually goes down first.

3. 03

   Drip edge and flashing

   Metal drip edge goes over the anchor sheet along the eaves and rakes and is primed so the cap sheet bonds to it. Valley, wall and penetration flashings go in now or over the cap sheet, depending on the system.

4. 04

   Cap sheet

   A heavy cap sheet is bonded over the anchor sheet and the drip edge flange, lapped from the eave up. Together the two plies are the roof's waterproofing, so they are detailed carefully at every edge and penetration.

   In Florida On re-roofs, a properly installed clay or concrete tile roof is deemed to meet Florida's secondary water barrier requirement.

5. 05

   Foam or fasteners

   Each tile is held down with approved foam adhesive paddies, nails or screws, or mortar, depending on the system. The size and placement of each paddy, or the number and type of fasteners, come from the product approvals and your roof's wind design. On steeper roofs, foam-set tiles also get fasteners.

   In Florida In Florida, tile attachment is chosen to resist the wind uplift calculated for your home, and the tile and any foam adhesive need product approvals.

6. 06

   Clay or concrete tile

   Tiles are set in straight rows from the eave up, each overlapping the course below. At the eave, a closure fills the openings under the first row, keeping birds out and setting that row at the right height.

7. 07

   Hip and ridge

   Hip and ridge tiles are attached along the peaks, usually over a raised wood or metal support, with fasteners, foam or mortar, depending on the system. Hip and ridge tiles have been a common failure point in past hurricanes, so they get the same care as the field.

8. 08

   Inspect and close out

   The building department typically inspects the deck nailing and underlayment before they are covered, the tile attachment as it goes on, and the finished roof. Exact inspections vary by city or county. We close out the permit.

   In Florida In Miami-Dade and Broward, foam-set or mortar-set tile also gets a field uplift test before the final inspection.

General sequence only. Underlayment, edge metal, attachment and ridge details vary by system. Your proposal and permit list the exact products and product approvals.