Tile Roof Installations [RE-wrenches]

Fri May 13 07:29:19 PDT 2005

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Graham,
Where can Fast Jack's be had?
I have a job coming up where I'll be mounting some DHW collectors to a metal 
tile imitated roof. I would like to use some type of post/flashing 
arrangement for this one. I am looking forward to a clean install. Anyone 
else have comments?

Thanks
Jeremy
All Solar
CO, USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graham Owen" <graham at solarexpert.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 8:21 PM
Subject: RE: Tile Roof Installations [RE-wrenches]

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Hey Peter,

My first choice would be;  have a roofer remove the tile, you put on some
fast-jacks, leave flashing for the roofer and have them apply comp-shingle
under the array, could probably use shorter posts and Oatey flashings.  I
almost always use 5 ½" Fast-Jacks and all metal flashings.

My second choice would be to have the roofers remove the tiles from the
array area, you put down 7" Fast Jacks, leave two sets of lead flashings for
each post, for the roofers to install while reinstalling the original tile..

Third choice would be to drill through the tile roof, all the rows of holes,
then get in the attic and secure studs between rafters under the holes, and
either drill through the studs and stub up a bolt, or tighten stainless
hangar bolts from above into the studs.  I do occasionally see PV
installations in L.A. done with hangar bolts, but I don't use them, but it
might work for your project.

Graham Owen
GO Solar Company

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Duchon [mailto:info at asappower.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 6:50 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Tile Roof Installations [RE-wrenches]

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Dear Wrenches,
Wondering if there are alternatives to ProSolar Tile Trac systems.  Have
enjoyed working with them on slab tile of sufficient thickness and have been
pleased with barrel tile as well.  However, working with some kiln-fired
tile and it's very thin and very brittle, yet it's soft and responds well to
a 5/16" masonry bit penetration, just big enough for the post.  This is a 5
year old rooftop in inland SoCal with a 50 year warranty but with NLA color,
so would like to avoid using up the homeowner's pallet full of extra tile
even though it's there, but since it is a slightly different color.

Would like to hear of other tile roof flush-mounted racking methods in
general.  Would also like to understand roofing warranties more and have
actually never seen a written one and assume it's for leakage due to a poor
installation or for what?  Aren't these warranties from the roofing
installer?  Or from the manufacturers for defective tile?  Certainly it's
not going to guarantee tile not breaking for 50 years?  Besides simply the
occasional need to walk on the roof what about large hail stones breaking
the tile?

To continue with my real question:  Rows of this tile do not lay perfectly
flat against the tops of the tiles in the row below and the thinness of the
tile makes for easy breakage of this type of S-tile no matter where you
step.  Learned to step in about a 4"x 4" area just below the bottom right
edge of tile above the tile being stepped on.  That's ok for best movement
on the roof, but any sudden shift of weight or misstep still can break the
tile right across the middle of the tile, and sometimes down the middle of
the tile, depending on how that particular tile laps on the one below the
tile being stepped on.

Homeowner can deal with the tile trac on the ply/felt substrate and as
typical, the 7/8" tall trac is placed just above the top edge of the lower
row, just enough to allow room for sliding nut for post.  Still, the 7/8"
tile trac slightly raises the tile receiving the penetration, but this
should be acceptable and still sheds water nicely to the next tile below.
The gaps are no bigger than the inconsistency of the lap of these tiles
generally.  Granted the tiles are "covered" by modules but homeowner is
concerned about the life of the PL roof sealant around the post underneath
nut and washer.

Homeowner however, sees it all differently, stopped work, and tells me of a
roofing contractor that removes all tile while working on the roof, places
something like a Fast-jack or other post with flashing around it, probably
an Oatey boot or similar, puts other tiles back after getting done, and
thus, no penetrated tile and no broken tile even though modules are not up
on rails yet.  Suppose you could do this as you go but suspect that this
method would have some relatively ugly, oversized flashing of some sort
replacing an entire 18" x 12" tile that would take some time to conform to
the tile surrounding the stancion?

Has anyone heard of this mounting system or any system that does not require
penetration of tile?  They also told me "you should never penetrate the felt
on a tile roof," which must be reflection of their confusion in discussion
with the builder who's contacting the roofing "consultant".   So now I'm a
bit curious about what's available and what's widely used and what works and
what's permittable.

Thanks,
Peter
ASAP POWER! - 1AU, Inc.
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