Underlayment system
Felt, synthetic or self-adhered underlayment is installed before any tile goes on the roof.
Tile Roofing
Tile Roof Installation Cranford, NJ
Tile roof installation in Cranford covers more than the tile: the framing check, underlayment, battens, fasteners, flashing and ridge all decide how long the roof lasts. Dial (908) 562-6887 to talk with a local roofer about a new tile roof.
Before any tile goes up, the question is whether the house can hold it. Because tile is so heavy, homes converting from shingles usually need the framing checked, and some need reinforcement first. New homes designed for tile have the load built in from the start.
The tile choice comes next. Clay holds its color through the whole tile and lasts for generations, and concrete tile is heavier, more absorbent and offers a wide range of shapes and finishes. Shapes range from flat and low profile tile to high profile S tile and traditional barrel tile.
The tile may last generations, but the layers below it decide when the roof leaks. Slope matters too: tile generally needs at least 2.5 in 12, and slopes under 4 in 12 need a double layer of underlayment. Investing in the underlayment up front is what lets the tile live out its full life.
Many tile roof installation calls in Cranford also turn up a need for tile roof replacement or roof installation.
Dealing with this in Cranford, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6887 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Cranford.
Call nowThe process
How tile roof installation works
Here is how a roofer usually installs a tile roof.
Confirm the framing
Before ordering tile, the load on the rafters or trusses is checked, reinforcement is planned if needed and the permit is filed. Tile is ordered with extra for cuts, hips and future repairs.
Dry in the roof
Solid sheathing is inspected and renailed, then the roof is dried in with underlayment, doubled where the slope calls for it. This is the layer that handles every drop of water that slips past the tile.
Install battens
Horizontal battens give each row of tile something to hang on and set the exposure of every course. The gap under the tile also helps heat escape before it reaches the deck.
Install flashing
Wide valley metal, pan flashing at walls and soft metal flashing at pipes are installed so water is carried over the underlayment, not into it. Tile flashing has to reach up and over curved profiles, so it is larger than shingle flashing.
Lay the tile
Starting at the eave with a bird stop or eave closure, the roofer lays each course up the roof, fastening tile with nails, screws, clips or tile adhesive as the wind rules require. Cut tiles at hips and valleys are fastened too, since small pieces are the first to blow off.
Seal the top
Ridge and hip caps are set on a raised ridge board, either in mortar or with a dry ridge system and a vented closure that lets attic air out. The roof is cleaned, broken pieces are replaced and spares are left with the owner.
What is included
What tile roof installation includes
Tile flashing
Wide valley metal and shaped wall flashings are installed to handle the deep curves of tile.
Structural review
An engineer or span check confirms the structure especially when replacing shingles.
Tile attachment
Each tile is secured to the deck or battens so tiles stay put in strong wind.
Eave closures
The first course gets an eave closure and the ridge gets capped to complete the system.
Related service
Barrel Tile Roof Installation Cranford, 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. Their tapered shape and deep profile create the rolling texture that defines the style. 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 Cranford home, each cover tile is secured with nails, wire ties, clips or foam adhesive, depending on the slope and wind rules. Straight, evenly spaced rows take chalk lines and patience on the deck.
Related service
Spanish Tile Roof Installation Cranford, 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. Side interlocks help it shed water, though the curved ends need bird stops and ridge closures just like barrel tile.
For Spanish tile roof installation in Cranford, the underlayment and flashing matter as much as the look of the tile. The curves make flashing tricky, so roofers use shaped metal or flexible flashing that conforms to the tile. 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 Cranford, new tile roofs go onto homes of every age, from fresh builds to older houses moving away from shingles. Homes in Cranford and surrounding areas such as Garwood, Westfield, Kenilworth and Roselle Park that were framed for shingles often need a structural review before tile is an option, and local wind requirements decide how each tile has to be fastened.
Searching for tile roof installation near me from Cranford or Garwood, Westfield, Kenilworth and Roselle Park? Call (908) 562-6887 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Cranford is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Cranford and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about tile roof installation
Should I choose clay or concrete roof tile?
Both make durable roofs with different tradeoffs. Fired clay holds its color, weighs a bit less and has the longest track record. Concrete offers a huge range of styles, but it is heavier than clay and fades as it ages.
How long does it take to put on a tile roof?
Tile goes on slower than shingles, so most homes take one to several weeks. Complex rooflines and framing work before tiling can stretch the schedule. The roof is dried in with underlayment early, so the house is protected while tiling continues.
What underlayment goes under a tile roof?
The common choices are felt, synthetic underlayment and self-adhered membrane. The underlayment usually wears out long before the tile, so a durable one delays the first relay. 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. Tear-off exposes the decking so rotted boards can be replaced and the new underlayment can lap correctly.
How heavy is a tile roof?
A tile roof is far heavier than a shingle roof, and concrete tile tends to weigh more than clay. Whether a given house can carry it depends on the framing, which is why conversions from shingles start with a structural review. Some lighter weight tile products are made for homes with less structural capacity.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6887
Related services
Tile Roof Replacement
Replacing a worn tile roof, either by relaying the existing tile over new underlayment or by switching to new tile, so the layers under the tile last as long as the tile.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreTile Roof Inspection
Tile roof inspections that count broken and slipped tiles, check the layers beneath and estimate how much life is left, with a written report of what needs attention now and what can wait.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Roof ventilation work that keeps the attic dry in winter and cooler in summer, so shingles and decking last as long as they should.
Learn more
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See all roofing servicesNeed tile roof installation in Cranford, NJ?
Call (908) 562-6887 to talk to a roofer serving Cranford, NJ.