How to walk on roof tiles without cracking them?

Based on the information below, what do you think of this person's foot placement?

A valid concern for those with roof tiles is, whenever someone goes onto the roof, will they crack any tiles while walking on them? The short answer is, it depends. An older tile would be more susceptible to cracking than a newer one, including any previous stress that could have resulted in micro-cracks.

At the same time, how one walks on the tile makes a big difference. According to a technical brief published by Tile Roofing Industry Alliance, there are three key methods to minimize tile stress while walking on them:

• Step at the bottom 3" of the installed tile. This is the portion of the tile that is supported by the lapped tile beneath it and the weight is transferred through it to the deck below.

• Orient your feet in a direction parallel with the ridge and try to distribute your weight evenly and walk as softly as possible.

• On high-profile “S” tiles, it is recommended to distribute your weight with the heel and toe on the high points of adjacent tiles.

The idea is not too hard to understand, the middle of the tile is where there is an air gap, it is the most vulnerable area to concentrated weight, such as our foot. So to answer the question posed in the top picture, although the person is placing her foot parallel with the ridge, she is also placing it right in the middle of the tile where it's the most vulnerable to cracking:

The other common-sense advice, to "walk as softly as possible", might seem straight-forward, but depending on how workers are trained and their work schedule, implementing this idea might not be as easy as it seems. Being gentle requires conscience effort and a deliberately slower pace, which can be challenging when many companies will try to cram as much work in the day as possible. I purposely limit the work throughout the day so that for each home and roof, I make sure to follow these guidelines. At Interstellar, we strive to offer the best cleaning service using the best techniques to ensure the highest level of satisfaction to you.