In a world where the temperature is rising, summers are lasting longer and freak weather events are becoming more regular, choosing building products for your premise needs to be done with much consideration.
Your roof and its makeup are a great example of this.
Your roof whether it is residential or commercial truly is the frontline of defense from the elements. With many options around today, it’s never been more important to select the appropriate materials for your local conditions. That’s why it’s strongly recommended that you shop around, speak to roofing experts and most of all do your research. Selecting the correct roof can save you thousands in power bills over time, provide the best and most appropriate protection for your building, and be the most aesthetically pleasing.
Where do I start?
There are a number of considerations when selecting the most appropriate roof for your building. A good starting point is to know your conditions. Hot or cold, wet or dry, windy or stormy. These are the first things you need to think about when selecting the appropriate roofing materials for your building and locality. What works in the snow is unlikely to be the right choice for the tropics.
Your budget. What you’re able to afford will directly influence your decision. Marrying up affordability with choice is a fine balancing act for those working to a strict budget. First, second and third opinions along with quotations are highly recommended for the customer looking to make the best decision for the long term. As previously stated, the best and most appropriate roof will protect your building in the long term and save you thousands in power bills for heating and cooling.
Another important consideration when choosing your ideal roof is to be aware of local council regulations. Many local councils have heritage protections covering exactly what you can use when building a roof, particularly on existing buildings. If you’re replacing a slate roof on a Victorian-style home built 150 years ago, chances are you’ll have to replace it with something that looks identical.
What are some key considerations when selecting a roof?
When it comes to commercial and industrial roofing, there’s really not too many options. Because these types of roofs are usually spanning large footprints you want something strong and lightweight as well as cost-effective. A good quality metal roof provides a great level of fire resistance as well as good reflection from the damaging sun. They are long-lasting and very quick and easy to install. The aspects of metal roofing to be mindful of are that they can be easily dented and it can be difficult to replace a section of a damaged roof. Also, note that expansion and contraction in weather conditions can cause damage over time.
A domestic roof involves a number of considerations as we’ve discussed. If you have no council overlays to adhere to or are selecting a roof for a new build, the options are many.
A low pitched metal roof is a great choice if you’re living in a tropical climate where cyclonic conditions are common. They are designed to be able to withstand extremely powerful winds while also providing a high level of protection from the damaging sun’s effects.
A steeply pitched roof made from a material such as Colorbond can be a great option for homes in cold climates, providing a very high level of protection from the element via its strength and all-around weather resistance. This particular roof material is extremely aesthetically pleasing to the eye, lightweight, and comes in a vast range of colors to suit.
Summary
Whatever your choice, whether it be metal, shingles, tiles or slate, or even thatching. Speak to a number of experts, do your research and assess your budget before making what is a very large decision when it comes to shielding your building from the elements.
