Roof Materials
About Roof Materials
Not all home repair tasks are of equal importance. You can put off the paint job of your house for a few months or even a year. However, a leaky roof is something that you should fix using a new roof material as soon as you can.
Regardless of what type of roof you have, it will deteriorate eventually. However, there is no denying that replacing the roof is an expensive job. In fact, it can cost you several thousand dirhams. So, you should always try to squeeze as much life as possible out of your existing roof. That being said, if the roof has already gone through a lot and has already started to leak, then fix it as soon as possible. But if you like to fix the roof yourself, it can help you save a considerable amount of money. This article will tell you everything you need to know about roof materials and what to look for when you are buying them.
Types of roof materials
Because roof materials are expensive, you should consider all the factors as you possibly can before you choose one. A roof is also something that affects the aesthetic of your house. Therefore, you should also consider the material and finish on the roof before you settle on one. Luckily, there are a lot of different options out there. So, you can easily find a roofing material that suits your style with a bit of research. Read this article before you start shopping for roofing materials. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choice when you are shopping for them.
Asphalt roof shingles
People have been using asphalt roofing materials for hundreds of years. The reason why these tiles are popular even today is because of their fire-retardant features and affordability. In fact, these tiles came out as an alternative to shingles made from rags. Apparently, rags burn down easily. However, if you look for asphalt tiles these days, you will realise that most of them use fibreglass instead of actual asphalt. They will have a layer of asphalt covering the fibreglass core. You can choose between asphalt roof tiles that have asphalt on both sides and those that only have the covering on just one side.
Metal shingles
One major advantage of metal roof materials is its durability. It can last for many decades without any signs of deterioration. Also, not all of these roofs use the same material. Rather there are aluminium roofs and steel roofs. These roof materials can last for a really long time even without a lot of maintenance. However, these roofs do not come as roof tiles but as roofing sheets. So, if you want to install it over your rooftop, you will need to install a steel understructure first. Metal roofing materials do cost you a lot more than asphalt tiles, though.
Wood shakes roof tiles
This is a great choice for people who are ready to spend a bit to get environmentally friendly alternatives whenever that is possible. As it is evident, these roof materials are made from wood. Also, there is plenty of wood shakes that only use wood that is collected in a way that does not harm nature. However, this apparent environment friendliness is not the only benefit of using wood shakes as roof materials. If you live in a place with a tropical climate, using these tiles can help you keep the inside of your house cooler than otherwise.
Flat shingles
Flat roofs are easier to access and work on. Moreover, they are safer. The aesthetic of a flat roof is different from that of a sloping roof. Because of all these reasons, flat shingles are pretty different from the materials for sloping roofs. Flat roofs are more common in commercial buildings than residential buildings. Therefore, what the average customer expects from a roof material is also different. It is essential for flat roofs to have drainage to avoid waterlogging and snow buildup. Even then, you will have to clean flat roofs more frequently than others.
Tips on how to buy Roof Materials Online
Installing a roofing material on top of your house or a commercial building can cost you a lot of money. Sometimes a small mistake can mean a loss of a significant amount of money. Therefore, you have to consider all the aspects before you settle on a particular roof material. But how do you make sure that you are selecting the right material when there are so many different brands and models of them? Well, this one is easy if you know what criteria you need to consider when you are shopping for them. Here are a few tips that you can follow.
- Material – First thing to consider is the type of material you want for your roof. The durability, look, method of installation, and cost depends on the material of the roof. In the case of shingles, you can lay them on the concrete surface of your house after installing an underlayment. On the other hand, the method of installing a metal roofing sheet is different from this.
- Warranty – Roofing materials are not cheap. Therefore, before buying them, check whether it is going to be durable or not. On top of that, having a manufacturer warranty is also a must-have. Depending on the brand of roof sheets, the warranty that you will get varies. Some manufacturers offer five- or ten-years warranty. There are a few of them that even offer a lifetime warranty.
- Consider the weather – The material that you use can affect the temperature inside your home. This is especially true for tropical places that usually experience humid and hot weather during summer. Some materials can help reduce the temperature inside the building. This is because they are better at reflecting solar radiation better than other materials.
- Price – For most people, the single most important factor to consider when selecting roofing material is the price. This is because the surface area of a typical house can be large, and the cost of roofing material can add up fast. For that reason, people tend to gravitate towards the cheapest materials.
Apart from this, there are a few other items you can use for decorating the roof of your house. These include light domes, roof accessories, roofing, and skylight. The best part is that you can find all of them here on Shops.ae using our shopping search engine . That way, you will also be able to compare the prices and features of different products and choose the best one among them. Finally, don’t forget to check out other amazing products from the DIY category.
Question & Answer
How to estimate the cost of roofing?
It is important to calculate how much material you want to cover the roof before purchasing the roof material of your choice. So how do you do that? One way is to get professional help and get the roof area estimated. But you might not want to do that if you are a DIYer. So first you need to calculate the area of your roof. For that, you can sum up the area of each plane of the roof. You will have to separate out each rectangular area of the roof and calculate the area of that portion. If it is a sloping roof, it gets a little more complicated than that. Then you will need to adjust your calculation for the pitch of your roof.
How do you install the shingles?
Before you get on your roof to install shingles, make sure to get the safety gear like a hard hat, a tool belt and work gloves. The first thing to do before laying down the shingles is to clean the roof using a high-pressure water jet and scrapers. And if there are old shingles on the roof, you have to remove them as well. After that, install the flashing and underlayment that needs to go below the shingles. Both of these work as a weatherproofing between the elements and your house. On top of that, you have to lay the shingles and fix them properly.
How do you clean roof tiles?
There are, in fact, a few different methods that you can use for cleaning roofing tiles. The easiest way is to use a pressure washer. This is also one of the common ways that people use. The main advantage is that you can cover a significant amount of area without a lot of effort. However, doing this often can cause the finish on the tiles to wear off prematurely. A better method is to use a trowel or stiff brush to remove the moss from the tiles by hand. This is best done when the weather is dry. During summer, the moss will come off easier.
If you are looking to buy roof materials online in the UAE, you are in the right place. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering them here on Shops.ae. These include brands like Tyvek, Henry, GAF, Marley, Redland, Rhino Roofing, and Monier.