Tile roofing is heavier work than most homeowners expect. Clay tile, concrete tile, and slate all outweigh asphalt shingles, so we inspect the truss and rafter framing before a single piece gets ordered.
Roof pitch decides which tile profiles work. Below a four-twelve slope, a flat assembly like modified bitumen or a membrane lasts longer, and we will say so instead of selling tile you cannot keep dry.
Under the tile, the real work hides. We pull plywood and OSB sheathing that has rotted or sagged, sister any soft decking, then lay roofing felt or synthetic underlayment across the entire substrate.
From there, straight-laid battens and counterbattens lift each course off the deck so water drains and air moves. A self-adhered ice-and-water shield covers valleys and eaves, where Nor'easter rain drives sideways and ice dams form.
Salt air off the Atlantic eats cheap fasteners. We specify corrosion-rated screws and ring-shank nails, seal penetrations with mastic and roof cement, and set proper flashing at every pipe boot, chimney, dormer, and skylight.
Ventilation keeps tile roofing affordable over the long run. Ridge vents and soffit vents push humid summer air out of the attic, protect insulation, and stop the moisture that rots rafters from the inside.
- Clay tile and concrete tile shrug off salt air and hold their color while cheaper roofing chalks, flakes, and peels within a decade.
- Slate gives the longest service life, but it needs the strongest framing, so we weigh your rafters and joists before quoting.
- Cedar shake and wood shake suit Victorian rooflines, though they need more upkeep and a fire-rated treatment.
- Metal panel, standing-seam panel, and corrugated panel are the lighter option when a deck cannot carry tile weight.
- Architectural shingle and three-tab shingle are the budget route, and we will tell you honestly when they win on cost per year.
- TPO, EPDM, PVC membrane, and built-up roof handle flat sections, porches, and garages where pitched tile cannot go.
Tile roofing costs more up front than shingles and pays that back through decades of service. Call 732-419-1350 and we will tell you whether a repair or a full replacement makes sense.
