How to Install Spanish Style Clay Roofing

Measure along each eave of the roof. Measure the length of the roof peak and any valleys. Cut straight pieces of metal flashing for the eaves and V-shaped flashing for the peak and valleys.

Attach each piece of flashing to the roof one at a time so that the eave flashing overhangs the eave by 2 inches and the peak and valley flashing sits centered over the section of roof. Apply waterproof adhesive to the side of the flashing that touches the roof and secure the each flashing piece with nails every 6 inches.

Cut strips of 36-inch roofing felt down to the length of each valley. Center the felt strips over the flashing and secure the strips with staples at 6-inch intervals.

Lay a strip of roofing felt 2 inches longer than the width of the roof along the roof eave. Let the felt hang over the eave by 1 inch and center the felt so it hangs off the roof edges by 1 inch as well, and secure the felt with staples at 6-inch intervals. Lay felt in strips all the way up the roof, with each subsequent strip overlapping the strip before by about 6 inches, and then lay felt on the other side of the roof in the same manner.

Measure the height of a clay roofing tile. Subtract an inch from this height and measure this distance up from the bottom edge of the roof at each end. For 20-inch tiles, for instance, measure up 19 inches at each end of the roof.

Tap a nail into the roof at each of these locations, leaving about 1 inch sticking out of the roof surface. Tie string tautly between the nails to make a straight line across the roof.

Spread 2 inches of mortar on the roof from the string to the eave. Lay the first row of tiles out in this mortar bed so the tiles line up and touch on the sides.

Pull the nails holding the string line from the roof. Measure up from the top of the first row of tiles at each end a distance equivalent to roughly 2/3 the height of the tiles, or roughly 13 inches for a 20-inch tile, and place the nails back on the roof to make another straight line. Apply mortar below the line on the roof and along the top of the bottom row of tiles and place another row of tiles in the mortar.

Lay Spanish clay roof tiles up the roof in this manner and repeat on the other side of the roof. Top the roof with more mortar and install clay ridge caps at the peak.