Whether putting on another story or thinking of having a ground-level extension, a new roof type is likely to be in your renovation brief. The roof's obvious role is to keep us safe from extreme environmental elements and improve the outward appearance of a house.

Australian climate and topography call for varied roofing options that suit these conditions. A basic guide to its most popular and reliable roof types is as follows:

 

Roof Shapes

Hipped roofs

A hipped roof has three to four pitched planes sloping from a ridge to the roof's top. Its durability and characteristic shady eaves make the style among the most common in especially windy locations of Australia.

 

Gabled roofs

Its triangular shape identifies this peaked roof. A center ridgeline connects two planes at the top. Its cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance make it a desirable option for many. It’s recommended to have the roof inspected after every six months to check leakages and other issues.

 

Skillion roofs

A "skillion" is normally a single small addition to an existing roof surface with a significant pitch for trapped water to escape. Something great about it is that it is affordable and easy to maintain. It also creates a multilevel effect, and its sloppy ceiling-line maximizes the ceiling height. 

 

Flat roofs

Despite their name and appearance, flat roofs are generally not flat. They include some pitch designated for water runoff. However, the pitch is quite small, and thus this type is not recommendable for regions that experience high rainfall. They are easy to construct, and that you can even safely stand on them tells more about their strength!

 

Butterfly roofing

 This design is made by having a box gutter (rectangular rain gutter) on the roof, installed between two skillion roofs. Compared to others like the skillion, butterfly roofing is more expensive as its complex nature makes it quite complicated to construct. On the flip side, though, this roofing is wind-resistant due to its aerodynamic structure. 

 

Roofing materials

 

The roofing supplies from which a roof is constructed are vital factors that define a roof's overall visual outlook and character. Examples of these include:

 

Terracotta Tile Roofs 

The tiles are crafted from natural clay and are known to be very durable and effective in shielding one from environmental elements.

 

Concrete Tile Roofs 

The tile is durable and plays a big part in regulating the house's inner temperatures. However, their porousness tends to fade quickly and is thus less durable than terracotta tiles.

 

Metal roofing 

It is the most popular choice for roofing in Australian homes because of the continually advancing technology in metal roofing. Metal fabrication Australia is a popular activity where raw metals are carefully manipulated to come up with the metal sheets used for the roofing purposes.

Now that you have known the different roofing types, you can wisely choose the most suitable for you. A roof that complements your house's exterior is something to go for. Next time you want to install or renovate the roof, consider SteelBuilders for a supply of roofing materials that will enhance and increase the lifespan of your roofing.