Concrete tile reroof in Florida.

Governing Codes & Standards

1. Florida Building Code (FBC) 2023, Chapter 15 (Roof Assemblies) – The legal minimum.
2. FBC Section 1507.3 – Concrete/clay tile specific requirements.
3. FRSA/TRI Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual (6th Ed. or current) – Mandatory per FBC 1507.3.9. This manual is the code for attachment methods in Florida.
4. ASTM D3161 / D7158 – Wind resistance classification for underlayment/shingles (referenced for underlayment performance).

Attachment (The "How")

• Design Pressure: Calculate required uplift resistance (ASCE 7-22) for your specific zone (Exposure B/C, Risk Cat II, Vult).
• Method: Use FRSA/TRI Manual Appendix B tables. Do not guess.
• Field: Typically 2 screws (min. #8 x 2.5" corrosion-resistant) or 1 screw + 1 clip (foam/adhesive assist).
• Perimeter/Corners: Increased density (often 2 screws + clip, or 2 screws + adhesive).
• High Wind (HVHZ - Miami-Dade/Broward): Mechanical attachment only (screws/clips). No adhesive-only systems allowed. Tiles require Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance).
• Fasteners: Must penetrate deck min. 3/4" or through plywood/OSB. Ring-shank nails allowed only per specific NOA/Manual tables; screws are standard.

Underlayment System (The "What") FBC 1507.3.3 & FRSA/TRI Manual require a Two-Layer System (Standard) or Self-Adhered System (HVHZ/Best Practice):

1. Base Layer (Direct to Deck): Standard: ASTM D226 Type II (#30 felt) or ASTM D4869 Type IV. HVHZ / Best Practice: Self-Adhered Polymer Modified Bitumen (SAMB) meeting ASTM D1970 (min. 40 mil). Required in HVHZ per FBC 1507.3.3.1.
2. Top Layer (Tile Slip Sheet): ASTM D226 Type II (#30 felt) or Synthetic (ASTM D8257). Attachment: Capped head nails (1" cap) or staples max 12" o.c. edges / 24" o.c. field (FBC 1507.3.3.2). No smooth shank nails. In HVHZ, top layer often omitted if SAMB base is used per NOA.

Critical Florida Specifics

• Decking: Min 15/32" ply

For a concrete tile reroof in Florida, the governing standards are primarily the Florida Building Code (FBC), specifically the Residential (FBC-R) or Building (FBC-B) Code, which adopts and amends the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC), with Florida-specific amendments for high-wind and hurricane resistance.

1. Tile Attachment Requirements

Concrete tile must be mechanically fastened per FBC Section 1507.3.3 (for clay and concrete tile) and FBC Section 1507.3.4 (wind uplift resistance). Key requirements:

• Fasteners: Corrosion-resistant screws or nails (typically #10 or #12 stainless steel or coated screws) must penetrate the roof deck by at least ¾ inch or through the thickness of the deck, whichever is less.
• Attachment Method: Each tile must be fastened with at least two fasteners (one near the headlap, one near the tail) unless the tile design and underlayment system allow for alternative methods (e.g., adhesive-set or foam-adhered systems per FBC 1507.3.3.2).
• Wind Uplift Resistance: Tiles must resist uplift forces per FBC 1504.7 and ASTM E1592 testing. In High-Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ — Miami-Dade and Broward Counties), tiles must meet TAS 101(A) and TAS 102 standards for wind and water resistance.
• Perimeter and Edge Details: Enhanced fastening is required at eaves, rakes, hips, and ridges per FBC 1507.3.3.3.

2. Underlayment System

The underlayment system is critical for water infiltration protection, especially given tile’s porosity and potential for wind-driven rain.

• Minimum Requirement (FBC 1507.3.2): One layer of Type II asphalt-saturated felt (15 lb) or approved synthetic underlayment complying with ASTM D226 Type II or ASTM D4869/D4869M.
• Enhanced Systems (Recommended/Best Practice):
• Two-layer system: Self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen (e.g., peel-and-stick) over the entire deck, or a self-adhering base sheet plus a cap sheet or synthetic underlayment.
• In HVHZ: FBC requires self-adhering underlayment meeting TAS 110 (or ASTM D1970) for the entire roof deck, or an approved equivalent system.
• Alternative: Non-bituminous synthetic underlayment meeting ASTM D226 Type II or ASTM D4869 with a minimum 25-year UV exposure rating, if approved by the product evaluation (e.g., FL# or Miami-Dade NOA).

3. Additional Notes

• Roof Deck: Must be structurally sound, minimum 15/32”