Level: Advanced Cost: from 100 to 125 $ (Installed) Time: 5 to 10 days depending on the size of the site Equipment: scaffolding, ladder, safety harness, angle grinder with diamond blade, metal ruler, hammer, trowel, mason’s trough
The terracotta roof tiles are the oldest style of roof tiles, but they are easier to install and are characterized by a longer life with their manufacturing. Other advantages: they benefit from exceptional mechanical characteristics and strong resistance to frost, and finally, their range of colors and appearance are as successful as those tiles craft. Like the model chosen for the roof (“Grand Cru” Terreal).
Before laying the tiles, a screen underlay is stretched and stapled to the rafters of the roof. Attach tiles with (27 x 40 mm) nailed to the rafters right confirm the setting screen. They also spared an air for ventilation and serve to support battens (27 x 27 mm). These are nailed at spacing (gauge) corresponding to the recovery of these tiles.
The gauge is the visible tiles completely wetted by rain water. Flat tiles laid here (17 x 27 cm) require a recovery of 7 to 9 cm and a gauge of 9 to 10 cm depending on the slope of the roof. The gauge determines the spacing between the battens. All these data – minimum and maximum slopes, gauge, recovery … – are given in the technical documentation (DTU) and manufacturers’ catalogs.
Step2: Ask tiles
In eaves, a strip (beveled wood piece) is nailed to the edge of the rafters. This equipment, which will be the starter strip is installed to compensate for the thickness of tile missing in the first place and avoid tipping forward of the first row of tiles. The eaves lath may be replaced by two superimposed batten.
The first row of tiles is doubled, hence the name Eaves row. Tiles “short” (17 x 18 cm) are hung on a rod through (batten Eaves row), fixed between the first batten and the strip. The difficulty here lies in the position of these two battens as the starter strip must extend beyond 6 to 8 cm above the gutter. The following rows of tiles are laid by progressing span a meter wide.
Tile vents create airflow under the tiles. They are asked to progress and staggered on a low line and high line. Their number depends on the surface of the roof. They are equipped with a plastic grid which avoids nesting birds or the passage of rodents.
Step 3: Seal and heal finishes
The tightness of the coverage continues at the ridge and banks. There are several solutions to cover a hip, prominent line formed by the intersection of two roof planes. The oldest is overlap tiles to match the angle of the hip: they are nailed, screwed or fastened with wire. The sealing is effected by making a thick mortar bastard on the cutting line. Modern technology, are more expensive but faster to use special tiles called “hips corner posts” or sealed with mortar bastard either nailed or screwed to the battens.
Depending on the desired finish, tile edge (left and right) is fixed by nailing or each other by sealing the mortar bastard (or lime). There are half-tiles or tiles and a half as appropriate to put the ends of each row.
