Q & A - Cutting Roof Tile

Learn the best way to cut concrete roof tile.

What is the easy way to cut a concrete roof tile? Vic T. from Albuquerque asked this question.

Professional roofers use gas-powered concrete cutting saws with a 12-inch diamond blade. The tile is laid as close as you can just stopping short of the valley or hip. Snap a chalk line parallel with the valley or hip, two tile widths plus a 1/4 inch horizontally. Cut the line, caution should be used not to cut the underlayment. Remove the cut waste. Remove the cut tiles one course at a time and set it to the side. Do not mix the courses. Add two tiles per course and set the cut tiles in place and move up the roof installing the valley or hip. The 1/4 extra cut off, gives the tiles a little space when joining the other side of the valley or into the hip nailer. The results will be a nice fitting closed valley.

A diamond blade cuts concrete roof tiles better and lasts longer than other blades.

If a gas tile saw is not available, purchasing a 7 1/4 inch concrete diamond blade will work well with a skill saw. For a small job, a normal concrete blade will do fine but won’t last very long. The saw will get very dusting inside and needs to be blown clean a few times a day. If it is used a lot, it will get all dried out and gummed up inside and ruin the saw.

Protect your self or workers from breathing the tile dust as it could be harmful and also blow off the tile dust from the roof. Cutting the fresh new tile and leaving tile dust overnight, will let the moisture from dew, bond the tile dust to the face of the other tiles and leave it discolored. Blow the roof off and wash it down with a hose daily. Cutting each valley with one chalk line ensures a nice straight looking valley.

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