With a roof making up 40 per cent of a home’s overall design selecting the right tile can have a huge impact on a project.
As a leading supplier of materials for pitched roofing here are our top tips on how to choose your roof tiles.
- Talk to the Planners
Local authority planning teams have rules and policies about roofing that should be discussed at the design stage. Consult with your local planning authority for advice before you decide on what you want.
The planning team will look carefully at the local landscape and the indigenous materials used. Their remit covers the design, appearance and materials used in construction projects – both commercial and domestic.
- What is the Design
The look and design which is being achieved for any project will also dictate the roofing materials. Contemporary, traditional, flat or pitched roofing – these all need to be considered when specifying roofing. If you are looking for a roof covering with a complex design incorporating a lot of features and potential tile cuts then it may be better suited to using concrete Plain tiles to achieve the right details.
- Pitch or Flat
The pitch of your roof will dictate what products you can use too. All roof tiles have a minimum pitch requirement.
A pitched roof is very effective at carrying and distributing not only the weight of the chosen covering, but also deals effectively with all the environmental factors such as wind, rainwater and snow.
Common pitched roof coverings such as concrete roof tiles compliment a pitched roof’s structural performance with outstanding resistance to challenging weather conditions.
- Going for Green
The roof is an ideal element for using sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic or solar thermal panels. In addition to energy generation, a pitched roof promotes the effective collection of rainwater and in many cases can support a rainwater harvesting system.
Is sustainability an important value for the building? Some tiles are much more sustainable than others.
- Modern Materials
There are generally four main pitched roof tile choices – concrete, slate, clay and stone. Concrete tiles can replicate much of our indigenous materials and account for around 60 per cent of the UK market.
Tried and tested concrete roof tiles provide a durable and affordable alternative to other materials and are available in a wide range of profiles, shapes and colours, such as
- Look and Style
Concrete tiles come in a growing variety of colours and profiles. There are a huge number of concrete roof tiles options which are designed to blend with “natural” roof tiles in the local area such as clay, slate and stone – that are quick to fit and highly cost effective. Our Plain tile Regency Range for example – looks just like its clay cousin when blended properly
- Weighing Up the Options
The weight of roof tiles needs to be considered. If the existing structure has weight restrictions check the structure can cope adequately with whatever tiles are specified.
- Rafter Lengths
In instances of long rafter lengths, it may be better to use profiled tiles that provide channels for the water and more effective drainage.
- Ventilation
Ensure that the roof void is adequately ventilated to prevent condensation. The roof should be designed to help vacate moisture from the property.
- Long Term Performance
Think about maintenance, performance and the robustness of the roofing products you’re specifying. Often a pitched roof has a much longer life than a flat roof for example. As well as tiles the correct accessories such as dry ridge, dry verge and dry hip ensure effective fixing and are easy to use with significantly reduced maintenance.
If you need any further support about what tiles to specify on your roof then contact Russell Roof Tiles technical department who will be able to assist with the correct choice.
