Apart from shielding the internal structure, a roof contributes to the physical appearance of a house.

Iron sheets and clay tiles are roofing materials that have been on the market for a very long time, but these are being reinvented every day.

Abdu-Wahab Nyanzi, an architect, says new roofing innovations are like clothes, whose designs keep changing. New technology has enabled manufacturers to make iron sheets that look like tiles. These include metallic tiles, super tiles, Eco super V and Eco tiles. Nyanzi says the tiles do not require one to use much timber. “And they last for 50 years,” he adds.

Polling Besigye K, the managing director Depo Uganda Ltd, says Decra tiles, which have existed for over 100 years come in different shapes and materials. One of the advantages of Decra tiles is that they are light in weight but strong. “This makes the Decra tiles easy to transport and install on the roof,” he says.

Decra tiles

Decra tiles

Decra tiles also provide heat and sound insulation, with a 50-year guarantee. The Decra tiles are manufactured in variety of colours, for customers to select those which suit their roofing designs.

The Ugandan market is also currently dominated by the new innovated tiles such as Mangalore, Spanish and Roman tiles. According to Nyanzi Roman tiles cost sh2,500 and you need many to cover the entire roof of the house. Before installing Roman tiles, Nyanzi says the builder has to first install white iron sheets. “This is because Roman tiles have limited capacity to block rainwater from penetrating through.

Tiles need proper maintenance. They build up mould and need to be scrubbed to maintain their warm and friendly colour,” Nyanzi explains. He adds that this should be done twice a year.

Roofing innovations

New technology has enabled manufacturers to make iron sheets that look like tiles.

Plastic coated tiles

Brian Mayanja

Journalist @New Vision