Jeff Doubet provides Spanish roofing tips, quality info and photos for installing clay S-tile on Santa Barbara Spanish homes. Blending authentic 2 piece mission barrel tile is key in achieving the look and feel of a project you can be proud of. Clay S-tile roofing is an attractive option for homeowners who may have a project limitation, but still desire a Spanish-style roof.
S-tile roofing is a nice alternative to a two piece mission tile roof, especially if your home is not strong enough to carry the weight of heavier tile. Scroll to learn more about how to install an S-tile roof, and see installation photos captured at a quality Spanish-style home under construction in Santa Barbara, CA.
Comparing Santa Barbara Spanish Roofing Options: S-Tile VS. Two-Piece Mission Roof Tiles
A two-piece mission tile roof is the ultimate gold standard for achieving a classic Santa Barbara Spanish style roof. See + Learn more in the Article: Spanish Roofing: How to achieve a Santa Barbara style roof.
An S-tile roof can be approved within the city of Santa Barbara if certain guidelines are followed. See Page 50 of the Single Family Residence Design Guidelines. It is important to work with your architect and structural engineer on what type of Spanish roof you can install on your home. Clay tiles of any kind are heavier than an asphalt shingle roof, and they will help you determine what kind of weight your existing structure can handle. Also important: finding out if you are even allowed to install an S-tile roof in your specific neighborhood. Some are outlawed.
There are elegant Santa Barbara roofing installation techniques that combine clay S-tile roofing with traditional, two-piece mission C-tiles. The project on this page is an example. The goal is to intermix the two different types of roofing products to achieve a more authentic Santa Barbara style S-tile Spanish roof.
With a hybrid roof using both S-tile and C-tile… the majority of the roof will be the lighter weight clay S-tile. Two-piece mission C-tiles will be installed in the most important and prominent areas.
Here is a close up of the clay S-tile roofing that will be installed on this project. To some degree, this Santa Barbara style roofing technique is designed to disguise the extensive use of S-tile.
S-Tile Spanish Roof Formula: Ideal Santa Barbara
An ideal Santa Barbara S-tile roof will intermix approximately 20% of the authentic two-piece Mission barrel roof tiles.
This progress photo shows how our project is being pre-loaded with S-tiles (near the top) and two-piece mission barrel tiles (C-tile) in the foreground. A good majority of the two-piece mission barrel tiles will be installed on the front edge of the roof eaves.
The way the first course of roof tiles installed on a Santa Barbara S-tile roof will look identical to a two-piece mission tile roof installation. Bottom (pan) tiles and eave closures (‘bird stops) are mortared with natural cement.
Here is a close up of the first row of the S-tile roof installation. Note how a double starter row of two-piece barrel tiles are installed on top of the bottom pans. Random stagger of these single roof tiles is also highly desired. The entire perimeter of the house will receive this first course of single tiles, installed using only the 2-piece mission tiles.
Scroll to see more S-tile roof installation photos captured at this scenic Santa Barbara, CA Spanish home remodel.
Up and down the ladder… the local Santa Barbara roofing crew has a big project ahead of them.
As you can see, this particular home has 1, 2 and 3 story roof elements. Two and three story homes (and tall commercial buildings) are excellent candidates for a hybrid Santa Barbara style S-tile Spanish roof.
This is because much of what you are going to see will be the front edge detailing of the first course of tiles.
Installation Photos: Spanish Roofing with S-Tile in Santa Barbara
Here are some more project photos I shot as the roofing crew worked on various stages of the S-tile Spanish roof installation.
At a front corner of a roof eave, a 2 x 4 wood “Nailer” was attached and weatherproofed to the roof deck. The roofers have stacked both two-piece mission tiles and S-tiles nearby. This makes it easier for them to intermix each once they begin installing the roof.
In these close up photos, the “Rake” tiles are being installed on the front edge of the vertical fascia boards (barge boards). Notice how the clay roof tiles are draped over the weatherproofed Nailer and hang over the edge of the fascia board.
Here you can actually see the nails securing the rake tiles to the weatherproofed 2 x 4 Nailer.
Spanish roofing: Another shot of the rake tiles being attached to the vertical fascia board.
Quality Installation Photos For Clay S-Tile Roofing in Santa Barbara
On the backside of the house you can see how the second story roof looks with the completed double starter row of the 2-piece terra cotta mission tiles.
In the foreground, the S-tiles are stacked in prep for installing them on the lower roof section.
On the East side of the house the Spanish roofing project progresses. The clay S roof tiles are now being installed behind the front starter rows of 2-piece terra cotta mission tiles.
Above: a roofer uses a nipper tool to trim clay roof tiles, making fine adjustments as he goes.
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ABOVE: An example of an inner corner of the roof where two sections unite. See how the double starter rows of roof tiles are interwoven with each other. Also, how the top roof tiles cap the rake tiles on the vertical fascia boards.
This photo shows how a 2 x 6 ridge top wood Nailer is weatherproofed just prior to receiving cement mortar.
Above: The roofers have now applied the cement mortar over the top of the weatherproofed Nailer. They mound the mortar so the curvature of the ridge roof tiles will nest nicely on top. Booster tiles are also incorporated into the roof. They are essentially 3″ spacers made of the same clay tile roofing. They are glued under random tiles to give the roof more texture and randomness. You can also see the precut 3″ booster roof tiles next to the adhesive caulk.
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Variables that will Influence your Spanish S-Tile Roof Design
Santa Barbara Spanish roof projects are installed by professional roofers. Many individuals are Artisans within the trade. The subtle nuances each installer has in applying their technique will reflect in the actual aesthetic look of your finished roof.
Pro home designer top tip: Ask the roofer for a list of completed project addresses that you can drive by. This will provide you a way to visit projects, and see the styling techniques of their version of an S-tile roof installation.
Here is a Split-level Spanish home renovation project. Another example of an S-tile roof installation (by a different roofing team). They use similar roofing techniques, including the 2-piece mission tile double starter row and randomly placed boosters.
As you compare these two different S-tile roof installations, you see distinctly different signatures. They are installing the exact same materials, but their boost and stagger techniques are slightly different. As each roofing team works, they interweave single barrel tiles here and there amongst the S tile. The goal is to add randomness to a typically laser straight S-tile roof install. Yes, placing S-tile roofing randomly is considered an art form.
See the interior remodel of this home in my Big Spanish Arch Picture Window blog post.
Other resources for Spanish style roofing
If you would like to learn more about how to install an authentic two-piece Mission style Spanish clay roof, check out Spanish Roofing: How to achieve a Santa Barbara style roof. And another direct link to a Santa Barbara custom Spanish home design project Casa Corazón where we installed an authentic two-piece Mission style Spanish roof.
Misc. Products shown in these Spanish Roofing images
If you are coming from the STORE and MORE page for more photos of this project…
These Artisan roofers are admired for both their technical skills and personal bravery for the risks they face on a daily basis.
Here the SLIIMU ladder stability anchor + strapping is being installed to secure the ladder to the wood soffit of the house. Shop for additional stylish Straw Hats in this Amazon collection.
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Two stories up, and heading toward the third. This roofer is using the ever popular and sturdy Louisville ladder.
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Well friend, this wraps another site visit in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. I hope you enjoyed learning how to infuse more Santa Barbara Style into your own Spanish home design project with these how-to tips on Spanish roofing. Scroll to explore more helpful links and resources for designing and building your own Spanish-style home and landscape.
