Stillwater, Minnesota
Proven Clay Tile Roofing in Stillwater, MN
Clay tile weighs several times what an asphalt roof weighs, which is the first thing to settle on a lumber era house in Stillwater, where the hills above the river are stacked with 19th century houses framed for wood shingle rather than a clay field. On the North and South hills we start under the deck with a framing review, then talk profile, because steep pitches, dormers and turret roofs decide how tile has to be laid and flashed here.
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What clay tile asks of a Stillwater hill house
Clay is a water absorbing material, and that single fact drives every decision on a roof above the St. Croix. A tile that takes on moisture during a November rain and then freezes overnight can spall at its edges, so we specify dense, low absorption tile graded for severe weathering rather than the porous field tile sold into warm climates. The second decision is weight. Turrets, porch roofs and cornice returns on the hills were framed in the lumber years for cedar shingle, and a load review tells us whether rafters, purlins or a bearing wall need reinforcing before a single batten goes down. Where the framing will not carry a clay field without major surgery, we say so plainly, and homeowners sometimes weigh the numbers against slate roofing, which is a comparably heavy assembly and needs the very same structural conversation before any design review downtown.
Clay Tile Roofing in Stillwater
What clay tile changes on a lumber era roof
Tile that survives the freeze cycle
Low absorption clay fired for cold climates sheds the river valley damp instead of drinking it, so the January freeze and thaw swing does not spall tile faces or split the nose of a course.
A structural read on 1880s rafters
A structural review tells you what the 1880s rafters actually carry, so tile goes on over reinforcement that is engineered rather than guessed, and porch and turret framing is never asked to hold more than it should.
Flashing built for dormers and returns
Hill houses carry far more valleys, dormer cheeks and cornice returns than a modern gable, and each one gets soldered metal and underlayment detailed to the tile profile so water leaves instead of sitting in a corner.
Valleys that clear packed leaf litter
Mature canopy over the bluffs drops litter into every valley, so those runs are widened, lined and held back from the tile edge, keeping debris moving rather than damming behind a course all autumn.
Snow held off porches and stairs
Steep pitches above entry stairs shed hard, so tile fields over doors and porch roofs get snow retention sized to the pitch and to the weight of the tile, keeping a slide off the walk below.
A roof that outlives several reroofs
Correctly framed and flashed clay tile is a once in a lifetime roof, which suits a house that has already stood since the lumber years and will likely outlast whoever owns it after you.
How we work on tile roofs in Stillwater
We start with the load, not the catalog
Before anyone looks at a single profile, we get a structural opinion on the rafters, ridge and bearing walls of your house, because a tile roof a Stillwater frame cannot carry is not worth quoting.
Design permits handled before demolition
Exterior work downtown falls inside the Stillwater Commercial Historic District, so we prepare drawings and material samples for the Heritage Preservation Commission review instead of starting and hoping the roof passes.
One crew, tile trained, on your roof
Tile is cut, drilled and hung, not nailed off like shingle. The same small crew stays from batten layout through hip and ridge, so the course lines running past your dormers and turret stay honest.
Some hill houses are not worth reinforcing
Some hill houses would need more reinforcement than the finished roof is worth, and you will hear that on the first visit, along with an alternative that fits the framing already standing over you.
Storm and insurance work, any hour
When a limb comes down off the bluff canopy and breaks a field of tile, someone answers at any hour, tarps the opening that night, and documents the damage in the detail an adjuster wants to see.
What people near Stillwater say
Fantastic guys to work with, did an excellent job of fixing our siding. You can tell it’s a high integrity company. Definitely recommend.
Carolyn MillerSiding repair The crew arrived early and spread tarps all around the house to capture every bit of debris. By 3:00 PM, my entire roof was completely finished.
Hazel JamesRoof replacement, Minneapolis, MN Orange Exteriors fixed a minor leak that involved replacing flashing and a few shingles blown off our roof. Timely, quality work. Great ideas to keep our roof going long term.
Jim ThomasStorm damage repair
Clay tile questions from Stillwater owners
What people in Stillwater ask us about this work. If yours is not covered, call and ask.
Can an 1880s house on the North Hill actually carry a clay tile roof?
Sometimes, and the answer comes from an engineer rather than a sales visit. Rafters cut for cedar shingle are often undersized for tile, though the steep pitches and heavy timber on the hills help. We measure spans, spacing and species, look at bearing walls and porch framing, then tell you what reinforcement, if any, the house needs first.
Does the freeze and thaw along the St. Croix damage clay tile roofs?
It damages the wrong tile. Porous tile made for southern roofs absorbs water, then cracks when it freezes overnight. We specify dense tile graded for severe weathering, set it over full underlayment, and detail the valleys so meltwater running off a sunny south slope is not trapped against the deck when the temperature drops back.
Do I need approval before putting clay tile on a downtown Stillwater building?
If the building sits inside the Stillwater Commercial Historic District, listed in 1992, yes. The Heritage Preservation Commission reviews a design permit before exterior work begins, and roofing material, profile and color all form part of that review. We assemble samples, elevations and a written description, and we do not schedule tear off until the permit is in hand.
Book a load and design review in Stillwater
Send us the address and a photo of the roof shape, and we will walk the North Hill or South Hill house with you, talk framing and freeze rated tile, then put a no obligation estimate in writing. Call (612) 600-8529.
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Tell us what is going on with your roof, siding, windows, or gutters. We will take a look and give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you can wait.
- Phone(612) 600-8529
- Emailadmin@orange-exteriors.com
- Office6600 City West Pkwy Suite 375, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- HoursOpen 24 hours, Sunday to Saturday
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