I do not do roofs, but I have a client with a Monier tile roof that leaks. The roofer came over and did a very expensive repair and the leaks are still there. He now wants to spray a clear sealer on the whole roof citing as a reason that Monier tiles absorb water and that the tiles are saturated so need to be sprayed. Is this the case with tile roofs?
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Replies
can you help???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
any tile roof job I have ever done or seen speced had a strong underlayment that would essentially perform as a roof without the tiles. A tile job is not waterproff so proper installation is to do a good underlayment and flashing. The tiles shed about 98% of the water and protect the underlay from the damaging effects of sun and wind, but any "roofer" who depends on the tiles alone to do his job for him has no understanding of the process.
In doing repairs on old slate, cement, asbestos, and tile roofs where they needed replacement due to age or other damage, or to tie in at additions, i have ALWAYS seen moderate signs that water had passed beyomnd the tiled surface. The idea is to place good membrane behind that to serve as secondary. This layer is more important as the pitch gets lower. The old world roofs laid with no tarpaper backing were always very steep, and laid overr good oak sleepers that could handle repeated dampening and drying over the generations. Many modern Monier tiles are laid on only 3/12 pitch in th esouthwestern part of this country, something i find laughable.
A decent minimal underlayment would be a double ply of 30# tarpaper, always careful not to tear it and always lapped down to shed. Better is a hot-mop job or an ice and water shield over the whole sheathing.
A weak spot in htese tiles _ depending on the pattern and manuyfacturer is that they lay over a grid of 2x2 sleepers. Nailing them down can and often does, tear holes in the tarpaper. As many new homes are built on the cheapest bid system, there are asphalt comp roofs laid with no underlat at all, even though the manufacturers require it, and subsequent homeowners suffer. warrantees are often issued to original HOs only and it is no secret that many HOs keep their home fewer years than they keep their cars. It would not suprise me if this roof were laid with no underlayment or that it was carelessly done.
I don't know what repairs he did for the big bucks but there isa fishy hint here. Monier is a decent company. The fact the roofer charged for repairing his own work suggests that the tiles were not installed according to the manufacturers specs. I would suggest looking for a roofer that knows what he is talking about. His suggestion to spray the tops is temporary at best and a sure sign that he is giving up on fixing the real problem.
Od course, this is all dependent on the facts provided here - that it really is leaking. If in a northern clime, i would want to eliminate the possibility of condensation asa source of the problem. There are roofers who know nothing of that issue, and it is not entirely their balliwik.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Mahalo for the info guys, took a look and there is no underlayment. The roof is here in Hawaii so the windows and doors are always open and this area is a semi-desert with infrequent rain. The ceiling was so wet that the son-in-law poked his finger through the sheetrock. This house has some other real problems. Aloha
Edited 1/18/2005 10:00 pm ET by Hoohuli
That sounds like wind driving it up under the tiles - the main reason for the underlayment. Too bad dinks get to pretend they are skilled in the trades.I should have picked up on your location from the screen name. low pitch too, I'll bet.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Right again, rain out of the west, unusual for here with very high wind during the heaviest part of the storm. great pic on your profile!!!!
that's him...
takes some getting use to in person...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Interesting quote on yours.
closing eulogy from a seriously good friend that passed away...
share if you like..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
It's a fitting philosophy on him too.I tell my friends who go to the gambling joints that I don't gamble on the little things like that.
I climb on roofs.
I contract jobs.
I Live Life
...big gambles like that!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'll have to fill in my profile one of these days.
Mahalo for the help guys, time for supper and I used up all my creative energy on the job today as we went from granite counter top, to glass, to tile, to just plain plywood while she makes up her mind. This is on an outdoor lanai with sink and drop in propane grill. She has to decide soon!!!!
Supper!I'll be eating breakfast in five hourswhich reminds me - along with that profiole picture - I need to go get my beauty sleep...
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
We have Monier tile on our other house. It's no different from any other ceramic or concrete tile roof. The tile protects the felt or whatever is under it, and it sheds most of the bulk water. But it's neither water tight nor completely water shedding. It's porous, and some water splashes up between the tiles. The felt is the real barrier to water intrusion.
We had some leaks in the big rains, so we got my BIL to go up there with some ice and water shield, which seems to have done the trick. (He weighs a little over half as much as I do, so he can work tile roofs. I'd break more tiles than I'd fix.)
-- J.S.