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Roofing – an overview of materials

New house
Destini Fry
Roofing – an overview of materials

One of the more difficult decisions when building a house is choosing the type of roofing material. Learn about their advantages and disadvantages before buying.

What are the types of roofing material?

Ceramic tile, metal tile, concrete tile, asphalt shingles, wood shingles – there are quite a few types of roofing available on the market. What you cover the roof of your house with is very important, so consider the different options and check the advantages and disadvantages of each solution before making a decision. Below you will find a description of the most popular roofing materials. We hope that the overview we have prepared will be helpful in making your decision.

Ceramic tile – advantages and disadvantages

This is one of the most popular roofing materials in Poland. It can be used to cover roofs with a pitch of min. 15°. The most frequently mentioned advantages of ceramic tiles are:

  • high durability – they are characterized by low water absorption, so they do not crack during frost. Manufacturers specify their durability for at least several decades;
  • resistance to water, wind, moisture and sunlight (they do not fade);
  • good thermal insulation – in summer they do not allow heat to pass inside the house, and in winter they do not allow heat to escape outside;
  • safety – they are produced only from natural ingredients (they do not contain artificial dyes and metals).

Ceramic tiles, despite their numerous advantages, also have several disadvantages:

  • they are heavy – a square meter of ceramic tile can weigh up to several tens of kilograms. This is problematic in the case of replacing sheet tiles with ceramic tiles, as this may involve the need to replace the roof structure;
  • are relatively expensive – currently, the prices of building materials change very quickly, so we will not give a specific price range. However, it is worth knowing that ceramic tile is usually more expensive than, for example, sheet metal roofing.

Tile roofing – is it worth it?

A very popular type of roofing is tile. When deciding on this type of roofing, it is worth deciding on a good quality product with a thick core and coating (such as double-sided galvanized tin roofing). The advantages of sheet metal roofing include:

  • for high-quality products, resistance to water (no corrosion) and sunlight;
  • light weight – sheets of sheet metal are relatively light, so their installation is much simpler than, for example, ceramic tiles;
  • ease of cleaning – a dirty sheet tile can be easily cleaned with a pressure washer;
  • lower price than in the case of ceramic tile.

On the other hand, among the disadvantages of tile roofing, the most frequently mentioned is poor sound insulation. This will be especially noticeable during heavy rain or hailstorms, if you are planning rooms in the attic. In such situations you are sure to hear a lot of noise. The solution to this problem is to make soffit and mineral wool insulation.

Concrete roof tiles – advantages and disadvantages

The list of the most popular roofing materials closes with concrete tiles, which, because they are made of cement and pure quartz sand, are also sometimes called cement tiles. The main advantages of concrete tiles are:

  • resistance to harsh weather conditions – hail or rain will not adversely affect them;
  • durability, which manufacturers usually estimate at 70 years;
  • high sound insulation.

Disadvantages of concrete tiles are:

  • high weight – they are lighter than ceramic tiles, but still much heavier than tile, so it is necessary to properly prepare the roof structure before laying them;
  • lower color fastness than ceramic tiles and sheet tiles.

main photo: pixabay.com/jarmoluk

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