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Recent changes to the British Standard now require much more onerous tile fixings. As a minimum, ALL tiles now require a minimum of one nail or clip fixing. In addition, ALL perimeter tiles now require a minimum of two mechanical fixings - for plain tiles this means two nails, for interlocking tiles this is normally achieved with a nail and a clip. Perimeter tiles include those at the eaves, verge, ridge, either side of hips and valleys and around roof windows. Another requirement is that all ridge and hip tiles must also now be mechanically fixed. This can be achieved either by using a screw and clamp plate in conjunction with traditional mortar, or by using a dry-fix system, which has the added benefit of providing ventilation and ensuring your roof stays maintenance free for as long as possible. All the major tile manufacturers offer services to calculate your actual roof fixings (e.g. BMI Redland FixMaster and Marley TileFix) as the above are all minimum requirements.
If you have been asked by your local authority to allow roof space access for bats then you cannot generally use a breathable underlay, but will need to consider a bituminous 1F BS747 type felt. This is because the newer breathable underlays, which are normally polypropylene based and sometimes have a fleece liner, can cause bats to become entangled. You may also have to provide bat access vents to the roofspace - a number of manufacturers produce special access vents which we can easily source for you.
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. In a COLD ROOF CONSTRUCTION, most people now use 'breathable' (Low resistance or LR) underlays when installing a roof, but there is a common misconception that all breathable underlays are equal. In fact there are two types, although with both types a well sealed ceiling should be provided. If the ceiling can't be sealed then consider high level ventilation with either system. VAPOUR PERMEABLE Underlays are often the cheaper of the two types and generally are dense enough to prevent water entering the roof from the outside, but sufficiently 'permeable' to allow moisture to exit the roof-space by diffusion. In fact there is an argument that this diffusion process alone cannot transfer all the moisture out of the building without some assistance, particularly in new constructions where there is often a lengthy drying-out period. The NHBC now recognise this fact and insist on additional ventilation at high level to aid the removal of water vapour. AIR OPEN Underlays are the second type and are generally more expensive and sufficiently 'air-open' to allow diffusion without additional assistance in the form of ventilation. These can be installed in accordance with 3rd party accreditation without ventilation, and are the only types of underlay that should be installed in this way - indeed the NHBC also recognises this fact. They can also be installed, if you wish, by following the guidelines in BS 5250 with the addition of high level ventilation. However, it should be noted that with any 'breathable' underlay, when specified with a close-fitting roof covering, such as fibre-cement slates, there is a risk of interstitial condensation forming between the underlay and the roof covering - to avoid this risk, batten cavity ventilation should always be provided. There may also be a requirement for counter-battens and to seal all laps and joints. All other underlays, including bituminous 1F Type 747 felt, are classed as high resistance (HR) and still require the use of ventilation in accordance with BS 5250. In WARM ROOF CONSTRUCTION, where the insulation is between and/or above the rafter, providing the ceiling is well sealed and a VCL is installed there is generally no requirement to ventilate.
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