Solar services
Solar panels on a tile roof
How mounts reach the rafters through clay or concrete tile, why the underlayment is the real roof, and how breakage is handled.
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Written by HyreSolar Research Desk Primary-source research and fact checking
The short answer
On a tile roof the installer lifts or cuts tiles at each mount, fastens a hook or standoff to the rafter, flashes it at the underlayment, and replaces the tile with a notched or flashed piece.
Some tiles break; good installers plan for it with spares. The underlayment beneath the tile is what keeps water out, so its age matters.
Tile roofs and solar
Tiles shed most water; the layer beneath stops the rest.
Ask how many spares the installer brings.
Hooks, flashed standoffs or comp-out.
How mounts go through tile
Tile hooks sit under the tile and hook over it, attached to a rafter. Flashed standoffs pass through a replacement flashing tile. Comp-out mounts remove tiles in the array area and replace them with shingle underneath the panels.
Each must be flashed and sealed at the underlayment, per the residential code’s roof penetration rules.
Check the underlayment age
Tile and the underlayment beneath it can age at different rates, and a roofer can tell you how much life the underlayment has left. If it is near the end, re-laying it before solar avoids paying to remove and reinstall the array later. See removal and reinstall.
A tile-roof install, in order
Age, brittleness, spare tile availability.
Hooks, standoffs or comp-out.
Matching tiles for breakage.
To rafters, flashed at underlayment.
As for other rooftops.
Replace broken pieces before leaving.
Why tile-roof solar costs more to install
Labor and spares, mostly.
| Factor | Effect on a solar Panels on a Tile Roof quote |
|---|---|
| Tile type | Clay is brittler than concrete. |
| Mount system | Flashed standoffs and comp-out cost more than hooks. |
| Tile availability | Discontinued profiles are hard to match. |
| Underlayment work | Re-laying adds a roofing job. |
| Roof pitch | Fall protection and walkability. |
Questions for a tile-roof installer
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Questions
Can you install solar on a clay tile roof?
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This page on solar Panels on a Tile Roof is general and varies by location, utility tariff, building code, roof and your own circumstances. It is not tax, legal or engineering advice.
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