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How to Build the Perfect Roof: The Materials

Whether you are having a new house built or a complete replacement to an existing roof, the question of how to build the perfect roof is an important one.  The first, and perhaps most crucial, element of this decision is the materials to be used.  Sometimes, this can be dictated by the dimensions, size and shape of the roof but even then, there are options.  Here we are looking at the basics of roofing materials to give an understanding of them.

The best materials and right technique helps you get a perfect roof

Types of roofing materials follow the same lines as types of roofs €“ they are made either for pitched roofs or flat ones.  Therefore, by knowing which of these the house requires is the first step to getting that perfect roof.

Pitched Roofs

The pitch of a roof is the vertical rise divided by its horizontal span, which creates what is known as the slope.  The pitch is relevant to the type of roofing material best used so a basic understanding of this is needed to make an informed decision.  The pitch also adds to the look of the property with steep pitches having been popular in styles such as Gothic architecture while low pitches were commonly seen in Classical architecture.

There were also a number of names applied to the most common pitches rather than just simply a number.  For example, Common is where the rafter length is ¾ of the span; Gothic is where the rafters equal the span, Greek is one-ninth to one-seventh of the span while Roman is one-third to two-ninths of the span, creating an angle of 23-24 degrees.  Finally Elizabethan is where the rafters are longer than the span.

Tiles

Tiles come in a wide range of shapes and sizes but in roofing tiles, there are two main types found in use in the UK.  These are flat tiles that are laid in overlapping rows and pantiles, the s-shaped tile that are laid in an interlocking pattern.  The latter give a ridged pattern that is often compared to a ploughed field.

Of the three main types of roof tiles used in the UK, concrete is the most common material.  Concrete roof tiles have been around since 1893 when they first were used in Canterbury but saw a real boom in the 1950s.  Concrete tiles come in a huge number of shapes and colours as well as sizes and are known for their durability.  The main downside with them is that they can lose colour after time, effecting the look of the house, though not the integrity.  The best roof tiles are often those coated with a high quality polymer that works to protect the colour longer than without it.

Clay pantiles were first seen when they were imported by the continent by Dutch and Flemish traders in the 17th century and were frequently used in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country.  Clay tiles were more common in the Midlands and the south apart from a specialist product, called the Bridgwater pantile, which was used across Somerset.  Clay tiles have come back into fashion with the growing interest in using natural materials in construction so are once again being used across the country.  Clay is highly versatile when made with modern manufacturing techniques and is now more affordable than ever.  It can be made to look like other materials, such as natural slate, and can be aged so not to look out of place on an older building.

Slate

The idea of using slate on the roof of a building has been around since Roman times but regained popularity in the late 18th and early 19th century.  It was a favourite covering of Victorian properties and was made possible by the improvement in transportation.  Slates take more time to lay on a roof because each has to be fixed into place with a couple of nails and sometimes a slate clip.

Slate roofs in Keswick, Lake District

They are also available in different qualities, with corresponding differences in price.  Modern advances have also seen the creation of man-made slates using materials such as fibre cement and reconstituted slate.

Shingles and Thatch

Prior to the 17th century, thatched roofs were actually the normal way of finishing a house but the advent of tiles saw a decline in this specialist roof covering.  Thatched roofs are known for their lightness and great insulation but the main problem is the risk of fire.  Thatched roofs have also proven to be long-lived with Norfolk reed roods lasting for as long as 100 years.

Shingles tend to be seen more in the US than here in the UK but are made from a wide range of materials such as wood, flagstone, metal, plastic or even composite materials such as asphalt.

Flat Roofs

With flat roofing, there are also a number of options, though they will generally be less familiar than with roof tiles.

Fibreglass GRP

This is a flat roofing material that has been in use for around 20 years and gained a bad reputation due to faulty installation.  One such issue used to be using boat resins on the roof that were unable to expand or contract properly.  Modern GRP uses modern resins and this is no longer an issue.

CureIt GRP Flat Roofing System - positioning edge pieces

Premade edge pieces means a perfect flat roof is not difficult with a GRP flat roof system

They are usually guaranteed for around 25 years and easily live this long while being extremely resistant to most all forms of damage.  They are easy to repair and many people think they are the most attractive looking roof finish.  They are, however, the most expensive option.

EPDM Rubber

This is the most recent development to the flat roof materials repertoire and is long-lived €“ guaranteed to last at least 30 years.  It is laid all in one piece so there are no joins and is very lightweight and tough.  It is usually glued to the wooden decking and is unbeatable for expansion and contraction capacity.  The main downside is that some people aren't keen on the appearance.

Torch on Felt

This is perhaps the most common flat roof material that uses three layers of underlay and a waterproof finishing on top if this.  The layers are melt welded together using a torch or a large blowlamp, hence its name.  It is guaranteed between 10-20 years and is the cheapest option available.  It is easy to repair though patches can look a little odd but can be damaged by the UV rays from the sun over a period of time.

Pour and Roll

Pour and roll was the original style of flat roof covering that used either asphalt or bitumen and a burner to melt down the blocks of material.  This was then carried to the roof in buckets and poured into it before being rolled flat to create the roof.  It is still offered by some companies and typically has around a 10 year lifespan.

Published at: 23-10-2014

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