Full Tile Roof Replacement on Spanish Colonial
The Challenge
A 1928 Piedmont Spanish Colonial had its original clay S-tile on 75% of the roof — remarkably intact after 96 years — but the underlayment beneath the tile had completely failed. Water was infiltrating under the tile and tracking along the deck, causing two interior ceiling stains, rotted sheathing in the north valley, and damaged attic insulation. The homeowner wanted to preserve the authentic clay tile appearance while completely addressing the waterproofing system.
Our Solution
We carefully removed all existing clay tile by hand (preserving tiles for reinstallation), replaced all damaged underlayment with a two-layer system: self-adhering modified bitumen base sheet topped with heavyweight 30-lb felt for the entire deck. Rotted sheathing was replaced and matching new decking boards were shimmed to maintain the original deck profile. New copper step flashing was installed at all transitions. 85% of the original clay tiles were reusable and were reinstalled; the remaining 15% were replaced with period-correct Ludowici clay S-tiles to match. Mortar-set ridge caps were repointed.
The Result
The restored roof preserved the home's historic character entirely — neighbors have noted it looks identical to before but the homeowner now has a completely renewed waterproofing system beneath. The clay tile itself, when properly supported, should last another 50+ years. Insurance documentation of the repair also helped the homeowner renegotiate their premium with their carrier.
Project Details
- Project Type
- Roof Replacement
- Location
- Piedmont
- Duration
- 4 days
- Materials Used
- Original reclaimed clay S-tile, Ludowici replacement tiles, copper flashing, modified bitumen
- Year Completed
- 2024
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