Pick the right roof

Clay roofing tile sheets are some of the commonly used roofing tiles but other material such as stones have caught people’s attention. Photos by Abubaker Lubowa

What you need to know:

When it comes to the roof, as long as you have the necessary resources, you do not need to limit yourself to either iron sheets or clay roofing tiles.

For a home owner, upgrading your existing roof allows you to add worth to your home and communicate your home’s look and feel.
But while roof framing, preparation and proper installation is always important, the material you choose can bring the exterior of your home to the next level.
So this requires that you choose the roofing material wisely because this is normally the available opportunity to upgrade your home in terms of look and elegance.
But when selecting a roofing material, you need to consider a number of issues such as the weight of the material, variety of colours and style that complements your home.

Consideration
Wynan Jugo, an architect, at Eden Construction Company in Kampala, says it will require you to take special consideration and get that material which will offer good performance in extreme weather conditions and not forgetting the life span of the product.
Jugo explains that once you are able to take care of these concerns, this will help you determine the best choice for your home because when you reach this point, there are lots of options for roofing materials available on market.

ROOFING MATERIALS
Grass
Among the different roofing materials is glass. This is the world’s oldest option, and once a home is grass thatched it will stay cool all the time. “This ancient roof material, once properly installed, can last for more than 40 years and can be more fire resistant than society give it credit for,” Jingo says.

He adds: “Grass thatched roofs give a home an irrefutable elegant natural look, with renewable and cheap material.”
He adds, “These roofs are most common in rural areas and in urban areas grass is commonly used on supplementary structures in homes or recreation centres,” Jugo says..

Iron sheets

Iron sheets are some of the commonly used roofing tiles


Jugo says iron sheets are currently the most common material used for roofing in the country and many home owners like using them because they are resistant to extreme weather conditions and are durable.
According to John Bukenya, a builder, when compared to other materials, iron sheets are sleek and light.
Iron sheets are mainly made from steel, aluminium, copper, or zinc alloy among other metals. If they are from steel, they come with either a zinc coating or painted finishing.
Bukenya explains that the iron sheets are available in sheets or in shingles that resemble other materials. They can be installed with the fasteners hidden (standing seam) or exposed.
They are made from recycled materials and can be recycled when replaced.

“Iron sheets are fairly durable, depending on the material they are made of and the price for those made of steel is moderate while those from copper are expensive.
With, a good resistance to both fire and wind. Iron sheet roofing can last for 40 to 75 years,” Bukenya notes.
Concrete


According to Bukenya, a home owner may as well use concrete roofing tiles which consist of cement, sand and water. These concrete roofing tiles are widely used. They have a long life span and are available in various colours and moulded shapes and cost less than clay roofing tiles for roofing.

“The greatest advantage of concrete tiles is the range of options available on market. The mixture of cement and sand used in making these tiles can be moulded in shapes to mimic barrel clay roofs and flat slate clay roofing tiles and slit shake roofs among others,” Bukenya says.
He adds that these concrete clay roofs are available in an assortment of integral-dyed colours which will only fade with age.
Most times they come with antiqued coatings, and in blends creating a specific look to perfectly complement the architectural taste of a house.
The other option is the lightweight concrete tiles, which are less durable compared to the basic concrete tile.

“They have a propensity to crack when trampled on. When a home has not been structurally designed to withstand the weight of a typical concrete tile roof, lightweight concrete tiles can be an alternative,” he says.
Additionally, Bukenya says, concrete roof tile manufacturers offer tile shapes and colours designed to replicate various wood shingle types as well as specific styles.
“These tiles when compared to other roofing materials, have a long life span, numerous styles and colour options, are fire proof and rot resistant. They can last for 50 or more years, though their underlying waterproof material will need to be replaced before a concrete tile will,” he says.

Clay roofing tiles
Bukenya says clay roofing tiles make a roof look nice.
The genuine flat, ribbed or scalloped clay tiles are extremely durable but because they are heavy, they must be installed by an expert.
He further explains that the clay tiles are among the most durable and environmentally sustainable roofing choice, as they offer outstanding durability of between 40 and 50 years.
“Because clay is baked in furnaces at extremely high temperatures, the tiles will retain their strength and colour for many years. Home owners prefer clay tile roofs for reasons such as their appeal to the eye. A home with a clay tile roof can quickly improve the charm and since clay tile roofing is made of a renewable resource, it is also a very eco-friendly choice,” Bukenya notes.

Synthetic roofing products
Bukenya says there are other materials used such as synthetic roofing products including rubber, plastic and polymer.
These are manufactured with a variety of colours, and good texture of natural materials like slate and wood.
Bukenya advises that these products are designed to be strong and easy to maintain. Some of these materials are fire-resistant.
When you choose to roof your home with these materials, make sure to check with the manufacturer and inquire about warranty information of the roofing products.

Asbestos
Asbestos as a roofing material was a popularly used product in the country between the 1950s and 1960s.
In Kampala and several parts of the country, you will find a building or two with asbestos roofs.
The asbestos material according to Bukenya was a popular component of many building materials because it was found to be extremely versatile and resistant to heat transfer.
Because roofing needs to provide insulation and must be resistant to fire, asbestos was often added to roofing products to serve this purpose.
However, Dr Stephen Ssentongo of Wakiso General Clinic, says all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic (cancer causing) to humans.
“In most of the developed nations, environmental protection agencies classified it as a known poisonous material not fit for roofing,” says Dr Ssentongo. Therefore, when set out to buy roofing material for your house, you now know there is a wide range of options to choose from.

Stone roof

Bukenya says you can also use stones for roofing. He explains that stones are becoming one of the most popular materials for roofing. They are available in a number of colours and shapes giving homeowners the ability to find something elegant, which exactly matches their home.
“There are various natural stones on the market that are used for roofing. Stone roofing is extremely beautiful and adds uniqueness and elegance to your roof.
Once a home is roofed with beautiful material, this in turn enhances the beauty of any interior and adds value to any home,” Bukenya says.
Types of Stone Roofing Tiles
Slate roofing, is a weather proof stone and is the most widely used stone tile for the roof.

The most common shades are red, purple, black and green. Slate rooftops can be standard with uniform length and width or textural with rough textured stone tiles.
Limestone roofing tiles, this kind of tiles are also weather resistant and give a natural look to the roof.
Sandstone roofing tiles poses acid and thermal resistant properties. They give a rugged and natural look to the roofs.
Bukenya says, stone roofs are always heavy. “You need to have your structure evaluated before you install a stone roof.”
He adds that though these stone tiles are heavy, they are fragile. You cannot walk on them unless you know what you are doing. And replacing broken stone tiles is not as easy as it sounds, either. Since stones come in bulk, that makes it nearly impossible to find replacement tiles that are a perfect match.

Caution
Dr Stephen Ssentongo of Wakiso General Clinic says all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic (cancer causing) to humans. “In most of the developed nations, Environmental Protection Agencies classified it as a known poisonous material not fit for roofing.”