Installation of Clay Roof Tiles

Set up the scaffolding so you can access the roof safely. Stack the tiles on the roof in bundles of five across the rooftop so they are readily available wherever needed. Roll out underfelt horizontally over the roof, starting along the gutter line, on one side of the roof. Nail the felt to the rafters with 1-inch clout nails. Overlap the next strip of underfelt 4 inches over the top of the first.

Lay underlay on the other side of the roof in the same way as you laid the first side. Lay a strip of underlay along the ridge line with a 6-inch overlap on either side of the ridge. Nail the underlay to the rafters with the 1-inch clout nails.

Lay the battens, which are 1 1/2-by-3/4-inch strips of tanalised timber that stretch horizontally along the entire width of the roof. Nail the battens to the rafters through the underlay using long clout nails. Lay the battens with a spacing between each batten as determined by the tile manufacturer's instructions; as the distances will vary depending on the exact dimensions of the tiles.

Lay the first row of tiles at the bottom of the roof. Line up the bottom edge of each tile with the roof edge. Nail each tile in place on the battens through the holes in the top of the tiles using long clout nails. Lay the second row of tiles above the first, with the second row overlapping the first by 2 inches. Nail the second row onto the battens through the holes in the tiles.

Continue to nail rows of tiles to the roof until both sides of the roof are tiled. Lay ridge tiles over the ridge line so the tiles overlap the top row of tiles on each side of the roof. Nail the ridge tiles to the roof through the holes in the tiles, using long clout nails.