How to Install Tiles on a Prefabricated House Roof

The method for installing tiles on a prefabricated house roof depends on the roof structure type. Common methods and key points are as follows:

I. Tiling on Concrete Sloped Roofs

1. Base Layer Preparation: Clear debris from the roof surface to ensure no floating dust, oil stains, or loose particles remain. Lay a waterproof layer no less than 1.5 millimeters thick (such as asphalt roll or polymer waterproof coating), covering the entire slope and extending more than 30 centimeters beyond the eaves to prevent rainwater infiltration.
2. Installation Methods:
   • Wet Laying Method: Use cement mortar (ratio 1:3) to directly lay tiles, starting from the bottom of the eaves and moving upward. Each tile should be embedded 1-2 centimeters into the mortar layer to ensure tight adhesion to the base layer. This method offers good waterproofing but requires inspection of the mortar layer for cracks every 2-3 years, with prompt repair of any cracks found.
   • Dry Hanging Method: First install metal (such as galvanized angle steel) or wooden joists (spaced 60-80 centimeters apart), and then fix the tiles to the joists using hooks or screws. This method allows for fast construction but has poorer thermal insulation. To improve thermal insulation, install 5-10 centimeter thick insulation boards (such as polystyrene boards) between the joists.

II. Tiling on Wooden Structure Sloped Roofs

1. Load-Bearing Structure Treatment: If the original roof is flat, add pointed brick walls around the perimeter, aligning them with the load-bearing walls below. If there is no load-bearing structure below, add a new reinforced concrete inverted beam (with a cross-section no less than 20×20 centimeters) to support the roof load.
2. Laying Sequence:
   • Install purlins (spaced 60-70 centimeters apart), fixing them to the load-bearing walls with galvanized bolts;
   • Lay rafters (spaced 10-15 centimeters apart), crossing them perpendicularly with the purlins;
   • Fix tile battens (spaced according to tile size, typically 30-40 centimeters apart);
   • Lay tiles layer by layer from the bottom of the eaves upward, ensuring each layer of tiles overlaps by more than one-third.
3. Tile Fixing:
   • Glazed Tiles: Fix to the tile battens using clips and stainless steel screws, leaving a 5-8 millimeter expansion joint between each tile to prevent cracking due to thermal expansion and contraction;
   • Traditional Small Blue Tiles: Place the concave side upward, using the "one-over-three" method (each tile covering one-third of the three tiles below). Raise the eaves by 3-5 centimeters to form a drainage slope and prevent water accumulation.

III. Tiling on Metal Tile Structures

1. Construction Steps: Weld steel beams (such as H-beams) or wooden beams (such as pine squares) on a flat roof to form a sloped frame, with a recommended slope of 20°-30°. Lay tile battens (spaced 30-40 centimeters apart), fixing them with self-tapping screws. Nail metal tiles (such as aluminum-zinc alloy tiles) to ensure each tile is firmly connected to the tile battens.
2. Precautions: Steel beams must undergo rust prevention treatment (such as hot-dip galvanizing or spraying epoxy zinc-rich paint), and wooden beams must be painted with anti-corrosion paint. The frame structure must undergo structural calculations to ensure it can withstand wind and snow loads.

General Construction Points: Before construction, check the structural soundness of the roof and repair any loose or damaged parts. Select tile batten materials according to the tile type (such as anti-corrosion wooden strips for glazed tiles and cement tile battens for concrete roofs). After construction, check the uniformity of tile gaps, scrape off excess cement, and smooth the finish to ensure smooth drainage. It is recommended to consult professional construction personnel based on the specific structure of the prefabricated house to ensure construction quality.