Tile Roof Without Underlayment

The use of the sealed underlayment under the tile in florida has continued over time because it provides a very good secondary barrier in the event there is either wind driven rain or damage to the tiles during an event.

Tile roof without underlayment. So as a practical matter the best way to answer this type of question is to contact your local department of building inspection. Let s take a more in depth look at what makes concrete such a great choice for roofing and how you can support it with the best underlayment for concrete tile. But in our opinion natural felt underlayment is the best for arizona roofs. Even the best tiles need a sufficient underlayment lining to help fortify a roof from the elements.

An underlayment for use under tiles needs to be rugged enough to support the weight of stacks of tiles. In my experience the term roof covering always refers to the finish roofing material tile shingle slate metal epdm not the underlayment. But why do we recommend felt. Most people forget that tiles last longer than the underlayment so although your tiles may have many more years of life the underlayment may need to be replaced to provide proper protection from the elements.

This requirement eliminates all but the most tried and true underlayment for tile applications. This recommendation isn t just our opinion. If you check the tile roofing institute s materials needed for installing a tile roof the most common type in arizona you ll see a list a variety of felt underlayment options not synthetic. Tile roofs are unique in this aspect as the primary drainage plane is the underlayment and not the top most layer like other roofing materials such as asphalt or wood shingles.

As long as the interior of your roof is protected from moisture accumulation underlayment is not required though homeowners planning to insulate their house heavily may choose to install plywood to protect their investment. In europe they were actually installed for centuries without any roof sheathing or underlayment until recently. A reliable tile roof can withstand the high temperature for decades and at the same time there is often a misunderstanding about life expectancy of tile roofs. This is why any puncture or tear in the underlayment should be sealed so no water intrusion below the underlayment can occur.