Options for Roofing a Porch.

The porch may be the smallest room in the house, if it is even considered a room at all, but it is often the one that has the most impact on how your house looks. It is the welcoming committee to the property and the first thing most people see when they arrive. It also serves a practical function and therefore needs practical roofing materials on it to allow it to work properly. So what roofing materials should you use on your porch roof?

Material basics

There are several concerns to take into account when selecting a roofing material for the porch. Firstly is the protection the material offers the space underneath from the extremes of our weather. Secondly is the appearance that it gives and how this fits in with not only the rest of the house with the larger street and estate as well. Even the direction the house faces can have an impact on the material, with considerations such as the amount of sunlight received each day.

So what are the main materials in consideration for the job? There are new materials appearing all the time but some of the basics are worth considering  wood shingles, concrete shingles, thatch, metal, ceramics and of course slate. Some of the newer materials include EPDM and GRP.

Traditional options

One of the oldest materials for roofing in general is wooden shingles and although it has fallen much out of favour in recent generations for both practical and aesthetic reasons, it can still be considered for porches.  There are various woods used to make shingles, with cedar being near the top of the list. Shingles made from wood tend to be slightly varying in thickness but are cut to a uniform side and shape, being smooth to the touch. For a rough touch option, wooden shakes are sometimes used, being split from logs for a rougher, more natural appearance. In general, wooden shingles are more expensive than other roofing options but there are odd houses where they would fit in perfectly.

Concrete tiles are one of the most commonly used roof materials and one of the most cost effective. They tend to have a longer life span than some options at around 30 years and can come in a range of different colours and finishes.

Thatched porch roofs are only usually considered if the roof of the house is itself thatched and this tends to be only in certain parts of the country. Thatch is surprisingly long lasting when put in properly with around 50 years lifespan and is very wind and water-resistant. It does a good job insulated the space below and keeping it cool in the heat but are very expensive to install due to the amount of specialist work needed.  And of course, there is always the fire risk with thatch.

Metal porch roofs are cost effective and highly resistant to weather but may not give the right aesthetic appeal for housing.  Galvanised metal sheets are the cheapest, with copper more expensive and looking better.  A properly installed metal porch roof has a lifespan of around 50 years.

Slate is still a highly popular roofing material around the UK and is an option for porch roofing too.  The biggest problem with slate can be its weight and this may mean it doesn't suit a porch.  It can also be expensive and need to be fitted carefully to achieve maximum effect. Synthetic slate is now also available that is made from recycled rubber or plastic and can visually fit in with a slate roof while reducing the weight.

Ceramic tiles aren't common in the UK but are found in the Mediterranean. They are very expensive to make as the manufacturing process is complex and long and they can also shatter under extreme cold temperatures. If they have the right conditions, however, they can last from 60 to 80 years.

If the roof of the porch is flat or almost so, then felt used on flat roofs can also be considered as a roofing material. Adding roof felt to a small porch area is something easily done by two people and many of the new felt materials last far longer than their predecessors. They can also be very cost effective and fit in with the look of the house, particularly if there is already an area of felted flat roof.

New materials

EPDM is a new roofing material that has traveled across the Atlantic from the US to the UK. It is a highly durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane that can be used on buildings with a low slope and this will often apply to porch roofs. It is made primarily from ethylene and propylene that come from oil and natural gas and comes in both black and white as well as a range of sizes and even two thicknesses. It is relatively easy to install yourself as can be applied with a special liquid adhesive or formulated tape.

GRP is also known as fibreglass and is another new type of roofing material. Laid correctly, it will last for at least 30 years without any signs of deterioration and can be provided in a laminate form.  This means that two people can easily lay the material on a porch roof following the manufacturer instructions to have a high quality finish with little work.

PVC sheets can be used on porch roofs in much the same way that they are used in carports and on garden outbuildings. Using clear or tinted PVC sheets allows a lot of light into the porch area but consideration need to be given to the aesthetics of their appearance. They are often supplied with the fittings needed to make putting them in place a two-person only job and come in a range of thicknesses and finishes.

Extras

Don't forget when you have chosen your roofing material, you will also need to add guttering to the porch.  This again should be in keeping with the style on the rest of the house, so white and square if it is white and square. If you don't add guttering, water will fall straight off the edge of the roof, onto anyone standing below!

Conclusion

In general, the idea behind a porch is that it adds a protective area around the front door. It shouldn't be at odds visually with the house or the surrounding area so matching up roofing materials with that of the main roof is ideal. If you live in a conservation area or other special protection sites, then check with your local government to see what you can and can't do with a porch. 

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