Your guide to roofing options
Your guide to roofing options
Embarking on a design and build project? If so, one of the many things you’ll need to decide on – and discuss with your project manager or architect – is your home’s new roof.
Seeing as your roof accounts for a huge chunk of the visible exterior, you want to make sure it looks good and complements the design of your unique, self-build home. At the same time, you want your roof to be practical and potentially environmentally-friendly, too.
Obviously, certain roof designs and materials will be more suited to certain homes. But before we run you through some options, here are just some of the factors you need to consider:
- Does it suit the style of the house?
- How durable is it?
- Are the materials eco-friendly and recyclable?
- Is it energy efficient?
- How much does it cost – will it end up stretching the budget for the build?
- If you’re renovating an older building, does it maintain its historical integrity?
Types of roof material
Concrete
Concrete tiles are an affordable option and are available in a range of colours, textures and finishes to suit both contemporary and period builds. Most concrete tiles feature an interlocking design, leading to enhanced waterproofing and secure fixing. The only downside is that they may not last as long as other materials.
Clay
Clay tiles are both durable and versatile; the wide range of shapes and sizes, along with the potential for intricate detailing, will add character to your home’s facade. While they have a long lifespan, the weather can take its toll on these eco-friendly tiles, which must meet the UK’s frost requirements.
Slate
Slate – usually grey – is suited to traditional and period buildings and can only be laid on a roof with a pitch of 30 degrees or more. The tiles need to be significantly overlapped to ensure that the roof is watertight, with clay or metal used for the junctions and ridges.
Stone
One of the more expensive roofing materials, stone tends to be used mainly in areas where homes are designed in the same style, for instance, in the Cotswolds. It’s hard to form curves with stone, which tends to require a roof pitch of at least 45 degrees.
Metal
Metal roofing is a great choice for unusual builds; it can be adapted for curves and shapes and laid on reasonably low pitches. Metals include aluminium, zinc, lead and copper; though, with the latter two, there are some environmental concerns regarding mining, plus the potential for run-off.
Let there be light!
Once you’ve picked the perfect roof, another consideration is whether to install skylights in your new home. Not only are skylights a stylish feature, but they allow natural light to pour into the space, brightening it up and making it feel more spacious. We especially like them when used to add the wow-factor to double height hallways!
If you’re thinking of building or redeveloping a property, why not let Bespoke manage the project? Just give us a call and we’ll arrange a time to come to discuss your dream and how we can help to turn it into a reality!