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Roof Clean USA wrote:

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Jason, of All Star,

Dave from Roof Clean USA here.

Food for thought.

Tile roofs can be walked on safely but occasionally tiles do rarely break. This happens to even the very best tile roof cleaners if you walk enough roofs. Not to fear.

In this case it is always good to get to personally know a roofing contractor in your work area that you can get to do immediate repairs on any tile job you have to walk.

Make sure to line this up BEFORE doing your first or subsequent jobs, not after.

Also, you might look into getting some tile roof mastic or flexible roof repair sealant for tile roofs and some  roofing nails with the neoprene washers and review some technical videos on YOU tube regarding correct tile replacement in case you ever have to replace a tile yourself. Better safe and prepared, then sorry, and S.O.L.

Also, always ask tile customers if they have any tile spares before you start the job. Tell them not to worry, but just in case.

Some tile isn't made any more and can be difficult to find. This is more common in the Clay or terra cotta spanish tile roofing tiles.

Also if possible, always train and use the lightest person on your crews for tile jobs, especially, the more delicate clay tile.

Concrete tile, or "Florida Concrete White" is very durable and can stand up to a lot more foot traffic.

As Chris T. from Apple said, walk in the overlap areas as often as possible and also the valleys and ridge cap on steeper, cut up roofs, to offset and more evenly distribute your weight and whenever possible shooting from a ladder is always a better option, along with renting an articulating lift for 2-3 story tile and slate jobs.

Good luck on your tile roof jobs and please post pictures when you land one and complete it.

-- Edited by Roof Clean USA at 00:34, 2008-09-30

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Tampa, Fl has a LOT of Tile Roofs, and we sometimes use walkboards.
Merely sheets of Plywood that distribute the weight on the tiles a bit better.
Like Dave says, use the lightest skilled guy you can.
IMHO, a 280 lb man has no place on a tile roof.
Shoot it from a ladder if you can not walk it w.o crunching the tiles.