Is this normal to have the 1st row of clay flat tiles slanted down? How is this fixed?
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March 7, 2025 at 11:06 a.m.
HannahFord7
Linda from Florida asks
"Is this normal to have the 1st row of clay flat tiles slanted down? How is this fixed?"
March 7, 2025 at 11:07 a.m.
HannahFord7
Hello Linda,
Below is what our roofing expert Kyle Nurminen with Campany Roofing had to say in response to your question:
Dear Linda,
It sounds like your tile roof system is missing a detail we refer to in the industry as “Eave Closure” or “Bird Stop”. This may not be and absolutely necessary detail, but it was created for several purposes.
The first of which may be the most obvious to you - aesthetics. The eave closure is used to lift the base of the bottom row of tile so they are at the same pitch/slope/angle as the tiles overlapping them upslope. When omitted, you are left with that “slanted down” look you have mentioned.
Another purpose – as denoted by the term “Bird Stop” - is particularly for barrel tiles, and that is to keep birds and other rodents from accessing the free space beneath your barrel tiles and potentially intruding the interior space.
A third purpose would be to allow for drainage. As your tile is ultimately present to protect the underlying waterproof membrane from the elements, the tiles themselves are not designed to be 100% waterproof. Therefore, while it is common to get some water penetration between tiles, there are intentional holes (“weep holes”) put into the eave closure that are designed to allow water to exit the roof at the base of the slope.
The most obvious reason one may choose to omit this detail is cost. And contractors may argue this cost-savings measure as justifiable for customers who have no preference for the aesthetics either way, or who may understand that debris and water may accumulate along the perimeter (one of the most vulnerable parts of the roof system) and weaken it just as much with a tile sitting on the surface as it can between the weep holes.
So yes, it can be fixed; but unfortunately, other than making sure to include this detail in your next reroof, the solution comes with risk of damage to the roof system that may result in reduction of current roof life expectancy. The amount of that damage and life reduction would be dependent upon the age of the current roof and underlayment, type of tile attachment, and the expertise of the contractor performing the work. Whether tiles are adhered with mortar, foam, or screws, removing them is going to put additional strain on the underlying layers of waterproofing material. What can be seen may be reinforced on the surface, but there is really no remedy for any damage that may occur beneath the surface – damage that may compromise the strength of attachment and performance/durability during high wind events (which is obviously crucial here in SE Florida). This also places additional wear of the tiles themselves – scrapes, cracks, and chips that may compromise their strength and ability to protect against the elements as originally designed.
If this is a newer installation, I would suggest reviewing the scope of work in your contract with the roofing contractor. If the eave closure is in there, I would recommend having the roofer either perform the repair (which could be quite costly to them, disruptive to you, and compromise roof life as discussed), or request a refund for that aspect of the installation. Otherwise, if this is an older installation (perhaps something you recently purchased, and roof life is beyond 10 years) I would suggest leaving it as it is and making sure you have the eave closure included through your next roof replacement should you prefer.
I hope you have found this information helpful, Linda! I would like to conclude with a professional recommendation for yourself and other readers: When it comes time for your next roofing project, please consider allowing a trusted advisor -whether roofing contractor or consultant – to perform a thorough review of the scopes of work proposed in all contracts you may be considering. This is eave closure detail is only one example of how pricing may indicate what you may or may not be getting in each option, and it takes a seasoned professional to analyze those details for you, explain the pro’s and con’s of each, and ultimately assist you in making the best decision possible for YOU and your own distinct and unique set of overall circumstances.
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