Tiles or iron sheets for a roof? What suits you
Aug 18, 2006
THE roof may be the last item on the list for any one building a new house; but it is definitely one ofe the most important. It is your first protection against the sun, rain and winds. That said, the argument between using iron sheets or clay tiles for roofing domestic buildings still goes on.
By Titus Serunjogi
THE roof may be the last item on the list for any one building a new house; but it is definitely one ofe the most important. It is your first protection against the sun, rain and winds. That said, the argument between using iron sheets or clay tiles for roofing domestic buildings still goes on.
What most home-owners desire is a roof that is not too expensive, requires no maintenance and lasts forever. But indeed, there is nothing like a perfect roofing solution. All roofs have their own advantages and disadvantages, as Zaake Mukasa an estate developer and architect, points out. Here, is a rundown on the most popular types of roofing, their pros and cons.
Clay and concrete roofing tiles make for the high-end, clean and contemporary look. And in some areas like Buziga, new home developers are required to use clay tiles to blend with the surrounding houses.
Tiles come in a variety of colours, types, styles and brands, to suit the home-owner’s taste. And besides, their expected lifespan of 75 years is greater than the lifespan of the material on which the roofing rests.
However, even with expert installation, tiled roofs can leak just a few months after installation. The tiles often move out of their intended position, allowing water to penetrate the roof. Once a leak begins, the roof can deteriorate quickly and tiles can actually fall off the roof. Besides, tiles are very fragile and they crack easily, calling for replacements.
However, the biggest drawback of a tiled roof is its cost; each tile costs between sh1,100 and sh1,700 at Uganda Clays Kajjansi. You may need up to 16 pieces per square metre. Besides, tiles are also heavy, making initial installation complicated.
“Developers have to spend more on the foundation and sometimes even use a double layer of bricks to make a more solid roof frame,†says Ismail Kisaakye, a part-time civil engineer with Roko Construction Company.
True, a tiled roof can give residents a lot of pleasure and comfort, provided that it is installed correctly. It is ideal for the tropical climate because the house stays cool all through the day, but warmer throughout the night. And besides, the rich brick-red colour of tiles gives them a natural beauty, which can add charm and elegance to modern or traditional buildings. They come in glazed or unglazed varieties. Different styles and shapes also give you a wide variety to choose from. There is also a certain prestige accorded to people whose houses have tiled roofs in town, doubtless because of the high cost of installing them.
But for all that, tiled roof needs to be maintained quite often. It builds up mould every so often and need to be scrubbed to maintain their warm and friendly colour.
But you must have some extra pieces at hand, because tiles crack so often. And you would not want to have rotten beams and stained ceiling boards inside your house because you failed to notice a leak in time.
Mukasa recommends that an expert check tiled roofs every six months; meaning that one needs to spend on the roof every six months.
Not so with an iron sheet roofs. Installed by an expert, it will take close to a decade without ever requiring maintenance on a roof with iron sheets. Iron sheets are also lightweight; so they do not require a reinforced foundation, wall or roof frame. They can be installed very easily and cheaply.
True, there is no much prestige accorded to an iron-roofed house; but the good news is; there are new iron roofs on sale that are made to resemble tiles, but are virtually maintenance free. Forget cracks splits or rotting beams that can sometimes occur on a tiled roof house.
For all their low cost, iron sheets can make the house feel like the inside of a grill. And it can become especially frigid by night. Should it rain, the residents may have to come to terms with sleeping under that spluttering noise of rain-drops hitting the sheet.
To overcome these, a few home-builders have zeroed on installing false ceiling such as an iso board under the iron sheets. Then, to keep up the exterior beauty of the roof, you can paint and repaint as many times as you wish.
So, which is better, iron sheets or clay tiles? The iron roof is definitely the more affordable choice for any average Ugandan who just wants a roof over his family. However, these days’ houses are shows of prestige, not just dwellings. So, if you want to show off your social status and be considered one of the high-end crowd, go for the tiled roof. But be ready to check on it regularly, though.
Pay special attention to roof and gutter joins, which is where leaks often start. Check on top of the roof to see if there are any loose, missing or damaged roof tiles. These can simply be slid back into their original positions. Otherwise, you will have to call in a civil engineer.
THE roof may be the last item on the list for any one building a new house; but it is definitely one ofe the most important. It is your first protection against the sun, rain and winds. That said, the argument between using iron sheets or clay tiles for roofing domestic buildings still goes on.
What most home-owners desire is a roof that is not too expensive, requires no maintenance and lasts forever. But indeed, there is nothing like a perfect roofing solution. All roofs have their own advantages and disadvantages, as Zaake Mukasa an estate developer and architect, points out. Here, is a rundown on the most popular types of roofing, their pros and cons.
Clay and concrete roofing tiles make for the high-end, clean and contemporary look. And in some areas like Buziga, new home developers are required to use clay tiles to blend with the surrounding houses.
Tiles come in a variety of colours, types, styles and brands, to suit the home-owner’s taste. And besides, their expected lifespan of 75 years is greater than the lifespan of the material on which the roofing rests.
However, even with expert installation, tiled roofs can leak just a few months after installation. The tiles often move out of their intended position, allowing water to penetrate the roof. Once a leak begins, the roof can deteriorate quickly and tiles can actually fall off the roof. Besides, tiles are very fragile and they crack easily, calling for replacements.
However, the biggest drawback of a tiled roof is its cost; each tile costs between sh1,100 and sh1,700 at Uganda Clays Kajjansi. You may need up to 16 pieces per square metre. Besides, tiles are also heavy, making initial installation complicated.
“Developers have to spend more on the foundation and sometimes even use a double layer of bricks to make a more solid roof frame,†says Ismail Kisaakye, a part-time civil engineer with Roko Construction Company.
True, a tiled roof can give residents a lot of pleasure and comfort, provided that it is installed correctly. It is ideal for the tropical climate because the house stays cool all through the day, but warmer throughout the night. And besides, the rich brick-red colour of tiles gives them a natural beauty, which can add charm and elegance to modern or traditional buildings. They come in glazed or unglazed varieties. Different styles and shapes also give you a wide variety to choose from. There is also a certain prestige accorded to people whose houses have tiled roofs in town, doubtless because of the high cost of installing them.
But for all that, tiled roof needs to be maintained quite often. It builds up mould every so often and need to be scrubbed to maintain their warm and friendly colour.
But you must have some extra pieces at hand, because tiles crack so often. And you would not want to have rotten beams and stained ceiling boards inside your house because you failed to notice a leak in time.
Mukasa recommends that an expert check tiled roofs every six months; meaning that one needs to spend on the roof every six months.
Not so with an iron sheet roofs. Installed by an expert, it will take close to a decade without ever requiring maintenance on a roof with iron sheets. Iron sheets are also lightweight; so they do not require a reinforced foundation, wall or roof frame. They can be installed very easily and cheaply.
True, there is no much prestige accorded to an iron-roofed house; but the good news is; there are new iron roofs on sale that are made to resemble tiles, but are virtually maintenance free. Forget cracks splits or rotting beams that can sometimes occur on a tiled roof house.
For all their low cost, iron sheets can make the house feel like the inside of a grill. And it can become especially frigid by night. Should it rain, the residents may have to come to terms with sleeping under that spluttering noise of rain-drops hitting the sheet.
To overcome these, a few home-builders have zeroed on installing false ceiling such as an iso board under the iron sheets. Then, to keep up the exterior beauty of the roof, you can paint and repaint as many times as you wish.
So, which is better, iron sheets or clay tiles? The iron roof is definitely the more affordable choice for any average Ugandan who just wants a roof over his family. However, these days’ houses are shows of prestige, not just dwellings. So, if you want to show off your social status and be considered one of the high-end crowd, go for the tiled roof. But be ready to check on it regularly, though.
Pay special attention to roof and gutter joins, which is where leaks often start. Check on top of the roof to see if there are any loose, missing or damaged roof tiles. These can simply be slid back into their original positions. Otherwise, you will have to call in a civil engineer.