Achieving maximum durability with clay tile roofing requires careful material selection, meticulous detailing, and construction by knowledgeable and diligent craftsmen. This article of a 2006 presentation provides practical advice to help designers and builders conceive, design, and construct durable clay tile roofs.  Using several case studies and detailing examples from the
presenters’ experience, the presentation covers aspects of clay tile roofing applicable to both new construction and restoration projects. These include investigation of existing clay tile roofs to determine causes of failure; selection of tile materials, geometries, and finishes; selection and detailing of flashing and underlayment; and review of attachment methods.

Nicholas A. Piteo is a senior engineer with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH), a national design and consulting engineering firm that designs, investigates, and rehabilitates structures and building enclosures out of Rockville, MD. Mr. Piteo has a breadth of experience in the investiga­tion, repair, design, and rehabilitation of building envelopes, with a specialization in mason­ry. He has performed numerous façade and roof investigations, including clay tile roofing, for which he also provided new designs.