help with plain clay tile bracket

[infinity]

Really need some help with bracket choices on plain tile roofs.

We had a clay plain tile roof to install on today and had the shletter plain tile bracket. They are about 300mm in length.

When fixed down the bracket sits on the tile below, and as soon as the rail is put in the tile cracks. Even if we remove that tile it is so long it cracks the one below that as it touches that one as well.

There must be an easier way out there I would be very grateful for any help at all!

Thanks

 

[SibertSolar]

I'm learning a lot about roof hooks and different tiles lately but am not an expert by any means - would this help Infinity? Hookstop distributors STF

 

[infinity]

They look perfect! Thanks Andy, do you sell these?

 

[SibertSolar]

Sure do, and we're also able to supply the full range of RedTip roof hooks and rails etc now. All in stock. I've just sent you an email with details to your Dan@ and Sales@ addresses,

Cheers

 

[moggy1968]

remove the tile underneath and replace it with lead, this effectively leaves the bracket floating in free air

 

[saint]

We use solar limpets on that type of roof. They are a bit more expensive but you don't need lead so ends up about the same. It's a really quick install

 

[Gavin A]

without going for specialist product, the method is

do not use 'plain tile' brackets, they're not designed for UK situations. Use 'pantile' brackets, then remove tiles around the bracket, knock the top 'lugs' off (bits that hook over the batten) the tile immediately below the bracket, then tack in place with the top edge level with the top edge of the batten. screw bracket to rafter, then cut a slot out of the tile above to fit the bracket, then replace the tiles, and flash over the top if necessary with lead flashing.

The if necessary bit is really, if the cut out tile means it is likely to let water in between the gap of the tile below, which is a judgement call.

You need to adjust your walking on the roof method to avoid trashing the tiles once the rails are on.

alternatively, the hookstop looks like a decent solution to prevent below bracket breakages, but I don't see that they're going to 100% avoid the need for flashing to prevent water getting in around the bracket in all situations, unless the idea is not to cut out the tile above at all.

Main thing is to make sure you have lots of spare tiles IME.

 

[infinity]

Thanks for all the responses all very helpful!

The hookstop looks like an excellent product which il definitely give a try on the next one.

Thanks Gavin, great info, so you do not remove the tile below under the bracket, you remove the lug instead so it sits lower? how does it then stay in place?

From what i can gather most people seem to remove that tile completely and replace it with lead, does this seem right? I can see a tile sized gap then being a problem.

 

[Gavin A]

Thanks for all the responses all very helpful!

The hookstop looks like an excellent product which il definitely give a try on the next one.

Thanks Gavin, great info, so you do not remove the tile below under the bracket, you remove the lug instead so it sits lower? how does it then stay in place?

oh sorry, use a clout head nail or 2 into the batten - you generally need to lower the tile below the bracket slightly in order to actually get the bracket in properly between the battens IME, which is why the lugs need knocking off.

From what i can gather most people seem to remove that tile completely and replace it with lead, does this seem right? I can see a tile sized gap then being a problem.

that would also work, but generally with the adjustable height brackets it's not necessary - though always worth having lead flashing with you.

 

[moggy1968]

our first plain tile roof we broke 60 tiles, which actually talking to other installers seems not too bad!! Now, with experience we break a couple maybe, sometimes none at all. It's just experience knowing how to move about the roof. Just resting your drill on an old clay tile can break it! As a lot of our roofs are this type of tile I bought roofing ladders to deal with it but they break the tiles as well. Now what we do to move about the roof is remove lines of tiles so we can use the battens as a ladder, but you have to be careful not to put your toes through the felt!

 

[Gavin A]

we've got roofing ladders with bits of wood strapped to them to spread the weight...... and always take a box of spare tiles with us.

what I really love is having to repair the roof after some other idiot companies surveyor has decided they need to actually go on the roof to get the measurements... had one where the other companies surveyor must have broken about 10 tiles and just left them and said nothing about it.