Roofing Options & Features
April 27, 2021
Your roof is responsible for keeping the weather out, so it's important that you pick what's right for you and your design outcomes.
When it comes to different types of roofing, there are multiple options available on the market. These primary types are Tile, Shingle, Metal and Membrane, each coming with its own benefits.
Membrane Roofing
Membrane roofing traditionally was associated with commercial buildings, but lately, their use in residential is growing. This is due to their ideal use for flat or low-pitched roofs. Membrane roofing also has the added benefit of expanding and shrinking in heat changes, as well as possibilities for it to be the base of a ‘green roof.’
There are five main types of membrane roofing:
1. Thermoset
2. Thermoplastic
3. Modified Bitumen
4. Glass reinforced plastic
5. Liquid
Depending on the membrane type you decide on, there are benefits to each, but as a general rule, each type offers good performance-to-weight ratios and is easy to install and offers a high level of aesthetics.
On the opposite side, some thermoset and thermoplastic products are known to permit water pooling or water ingress if installed incorrectly or if unmaintained. Similarly, they have also been known to suffer from punctures; high levels of care is needed when inspecting and repairing.
Benefits:
1. Lightweight
2. Easy to repair
3. Resistant to UV rays, ozone and weathering
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs are available in a range of metals, but aluminium is one of the most common. Copper is also an option for roofing, as it has the benefits of inhibiting bacterial growth. Options range between long-run metal and metal shingles, giving flexibility over the style of your home.
Metal roofing has benefits of longevity (up to 70 years) and durability through weather conditions. Most are also capable of reflecting heat from the elements, reducing costs.
Aluminium Benefits:
1. Lightweight
2. Easy to install
3. Flexibility in colours and profiles
4. Cost-effective
Copper
Copper has been used for roofing for years due to its durability. Copper gives an aesthetic appeal to your home with its natural oxidization, making it a fantastic design statement.
Benefits of Copper:
1. Never rusts or corrodes – making it perfect for coastal zones
2. It Doesn’t require coatings or finishes
3. Highly recyclable
Downsides:
1. Soft material, which environmental factors like hail can easily dent
2. Susceptible to temperature changes, expanding and contracting, which is installed incorrectly can lead to water tightness issues
Tiles
Concrete and clay tiles have been increasing in popularity as a roofing material. Although they are heavy and require additional framing, they are highly durable, long-lasting and require minimal maintenance.
Clay tiles have a long history in the building world; over time, with advancements, clay tiles are lighter and more durable (50 years). Clay tiles have added benefits of being fire, rot, weather and insect resistant, recyclable, and providing flexibility in colours and finishes. There are heavier roofing options on the flip side, and additional framing is needed, adding costs. As well as being highly breakable when transporting, and colour matching is complicated.
Concrete tiles are extremely durable, needless ongoing maintenance, than most other available roof products. They provide flexibility with being available in a wide range of colours and profiles.
Benefits:
1. Both clay and concrete tiles don’t rust, warp or corrode
2. Can handle all weather conditions
3. Sound absorbent
4. Insulating properties to prevent heat loss
5. Caps in tiles provide vents for moisture to escape
The downside is since they are heavy materials, they incur increased costs to cover additional framing. These tiles aren’t suited for curved roofs, and they are fragile when working with them.
Shingles
Asphalt Shingles
These shingles get their namesake from their protective outer layer, made up of a layer of asphalt. This affordable roofing solution has become one of the most popular.
Benefits:
1. Rot and corrosion resistant
2. Durable with a 20 – 25-year lifespan
3. Fire resistant
4. UV resistant
5. Easy to install
6. Flexibility in a range of colours
Timber Shingles
Timber shingles can be produced from a multitude of different wood, the most common being cedar. They provide timeless aesthetics to the property and can be an excellent insulator, reducing heating and cooling costs.
If well maintained, timber shingles have a long lifespan, reaching 30 – 40 years. This is influenced by the environment in which they are located. Timber is best suited for drier areas as it can rot quickly in moist air.
Slate Shingles
Slate is a very heavy roofing option, which requires additional framing, but has the durability factor of lasting up to 400 years.
Slate is cut from stone and provides a highly aesthetic look to your home. Slate is known as the ‘lifetime roof’ as it is the most durable building materials. These roofs require little to no maintenance and have the sustainability tick of having the possibility of reusing or recycling.
Benefits:
1. Withstands extreme temperatures and saltwater corrosion
2. Fire resistant
3. Low maintenance
4. Rot and insect resistant
The downside of slate is that it is the heaviest of the roofing options, which will incur the extra costs involved with adding additional framing support. They are also highly fragile and require due care when repairing and maintaining.