ROOFING MATERIALS

ROOFING MATERIALS - CLASSIFICATION

TYPES OF ROOFING MATERIALS

WOOD SLATE METAL PLASTIC

TILES FIBRE-GLASS CEMENT

 ROOF FORM- CLASSIFICATION
• A roof consists of-
▪ Structural element – Trusses, Portals, Slabs, Domes, etc.
▪ Roof coverings – Roofing tiles, slates, AC / GI sheets, etc.

• Classification of Roofs (based on climatic conditions, design or use of building,

availability of material, etc.)
1. Pitched / Sloping roofs – heavy rainfall / snowfall
2. Flat or terraced roof – moderate rainfall
3. Curved roofs – public buildings / design requirement
Factors to be considered for selecting roof covering material:

▪ Climate
▪ Nature of the building
▪ Initial cost and maintenance
▪ Durability
▪ Availability of material
▪ Fabrication facilities
▪ Type of roof framework
▪ Resistance to fire and heat
▪ Special features of the locality
Roof coverings for Pitched roofs : Types of roof coverings
▪ Thatch (fiber):
• Light roof covering
• Flammable, absorbs moisture, liable to decay
• Used in rural areas as it is cheap and construction is
simple

▪ Ordinary half -round country tiles

• Used for cheap buildings
• overlap of 80mm between tiles
• Liable to break easily hence frequent replacement is
required

▪ Shingles
• A thin oblong piece of material, such as wood or slate, th
at is laid in overlapping rows to cover the roof or sides of a
house or other building.
• Wood shingles out of well seasoned timber lengths-
300mm to 380mm and widths- 60mm to 250mm
▪ Patent tiles
• ex-Mangalore tiles
• Usually red in color and made of double channeled

▪ Trafford asbestos-cement tiles

• Made of cement and asbestos
• Have less corrugation with 150mm overlap at ends
and 100mm at sides

▪ Eternit slates
• "Eternit" is used as a generic term for fibre cement
• A fiber cement slate is a light weight roof tile that
particularly suited to complex roof geometries that can
also be used for vertical hanging / cladding.
• Fire resisting
• Not easily affected by weather
• Available in 3 colors –
grey, black and red

P 4/ 201509116/ BMC
2. Roof Coverings for Flat or Terraced roofs
▪ Roof which is nearly flat
▪ The top surface is made slightly sloping so that rain water can flow off
rapidly and easily

▪ Advantages:
• Construction of roof is simple and fire-proof
• Roof area can be utilized for various purposes like roof gardens, drying
yards, etc.
• Also gives scope to build upper floors
• More stable against high winds
• Economical than a pitched roof

▪ Disadvantages:
• Cannot be used for larger spans without intermediate supports or beams
• Not desirable where rainfall is heavy
• Initial cost is higher than pitched roof
• Difficult to trace and rectify leakage in flat roof
3. Roof Coverings for Curved roofs
▪ Are used to cover large areas and also when architectural requirements in
terms of achieving desired forms to be met
▪ Useful for big structures as factories, monumental works, libraries, theatres,
recreation centers, etc.
▪ Varieties of curved roofs – shell roofs & domes

Shell of Kresge Auditorium by Eero Saarinen, Baseball field Nagoya Dome, Nagoya, Japan
MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts geodesic dome
 ROOFING TILES

TYPES OF ROOFING TILES

CERAMIC TILES COMPOSITE TILES BITUMEN TILES

POLYMER
STONE TILES
SAND TILES
 CERAMIC TILE
▪ Ceramic tiles have long been a
popular option for roofs around the
country. Clay tiles are fire resistant
and fairly durable, requiring fewer
repairs or replacements than
asphalt roofs.
▪ Traditionally, clay roofs came
in one color – terracotta – and
were used on Spanish and
Southwestern style homes almost
exclusively.
▪ Newer ceramic tile roofs,
however, come in a wide range of
different colors, shapes, and sizes
now so they complement a greater
range of homes.
▪ The Mangalore tiles were first
introduced to India in 1860 by a
German missionary. Since that
time, these red tiles, prepared from
hard laterite clay, in great demand
throughout the country. Schematic drawings of a ceramic tile

http://phoenixroofingteam.com/blog/types-roofing-tiles/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangalore_tiles
 COMPOSITE TILE
▪ This is a multi-layered tile made
of metal, acrylic, and stone granules
on the top layer.

▪ The texture and appearance of

this tile is natural appearance for their
roof, while gaining the advantages of
metal roofs.

▪ Composite tiles are also lighter

weight than either concrete or stone,
which makes them a nice alternative
for people who want a highly durable
roof, but without the necessary
reinforcements

▪ These tiles are also made from

recyclable and sustainable materials.

http://phoenixroofingteam.com/blog/types-roofing-tiles/
 STONE TILE
▪ Stone roofing tile is a stone tile,
for using in roofs. Generally tiles are
placed in parallel rows, in such a
manner that each row overlaps its
penultimate row. These are designed
(a) For providing structural support to
place, (b) For controlling water
ingress, air and heat flow, and (c) For
providing protection to beneath
surface.

▪ The tiles used for roofing and

ridging come in various textures and
thickness. A more rustic look can be
achieved by laying them in staggered
way. The tiles come in various
finishes, sizes and colors. The roofing
tiles are fire resistant and do not fade
and curl up like rubber and plastic
states.
https://www.abimpex.com/roofing-tiles.html#:~:text=Stone%20roofing%20tile%20is%20a,row%20overlaps%20its%20penultimate%20row.
http://phoenixroofingteam.com/blog/types-roofing-tiles/

https://www.indiamart.com/guptastone/roofing-ridge-tiles.html
 BITUMINOUS TILES
▪ This is a lighter weight, flexible
tile that’s easier to install, there’s the
bituminous tile. Made of fiberglass or
cellulose fiber that has been imprinted
with bitumen, these flexible tiles are
covered with granite or basalt chips
on top.
▪ These are hard wearing tiles that
can give you some variation and
texture; installed using an adhesive so
no screws or fasteners are required,
which makes them faster to install
and less prone to leaks.
▪ Bituminous tiles are much thicker
in appearance than asphalt roofing
shingles, which can give your roof a
more substantial look, as well as
some additional texture and color
variation at the same time.

http://phoenixroofingteam.com/blog/types-roofing-tiles/

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/roofing-
construction-building-new-brick-house-329588159
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/collage-
many-pictures-fragments-various-types-1117265045
https://eng.18ps.ru/info/instructions/installation-of-roofing-materials/
 PROS & CONS IN TILE ROOFING
▪ A newer alternative to ceramic tiles is the polymer-sand tile. It is created from a mixture of sand bound
together with polymers, these very stiff, durable tiles are produced in a mold.

▪ They can give you the look and feel of a ceramic tile, but are much less prone to breakage, meaning that
they require fewer repairs or replacements over the same lifetime.

▪ Like ceramic tiles, they are fire resistant, as well as lighter in weight than concrete or stone tiles. As
more manufacturers begin to produce polymer-sand tiles, more options for looks and colors may begin to
reach the market.

▪ At the moment, they are most likely to be found in a terracotta color with the rounded shape more
commonly associated with true clay tiles.

http://phoenixroofingteam.com/blog/types-roofing-tiles/
https://eng.18ps.ru/info/instructions/installation-of-roofing-materials/
 TILE ROOFING – PROS & CONS
PROS
▪ Long-lasting: A tile roof can last over 100 years, especially when installed in the right climate. Clay
and concrete tile roofs have been known to withstand hail, high winds, and even fire.
▪ Impervious to rot and insect damage: Unlike wood, tiles roofs will never decay.
▪ Environmentally friendly material: Tile roofs are made from earth minerals, not chemicals, and they
can be pulverized and recycled when they are removed.
▪ Energy efficient: The heavy thermal mass of tiles will help regulate indoor temperatures.
▪ Low maintenance: Leaks are almost unheard of, and it is very rare for tile roofs to require repairs or
maintenance unless they break due to heavy impact.
▪ Plenty of choices: Clay, concrete, and slate tiles come in a wide variety of colors and styles to match
any home style

CONS
▪ Difficult installation: Installing tile roofing requires professional roofing contractors with extensive
experience. The tiles will need to be measured, laid in a specific pattern, and checked so that no
moisture gets through. This is not a DIY project.
▪ Heavyweight: Your roof structure must be able to handle the weight of a tile roof,
▪ Tiles are brittle: While very durable, clay tiles, slate, and concrete tiles can be broken if they suffer a
heavy impact, such as from falling tree branches, or even due to the pressure of walking on them.
Repairs, when needed, can be expensive.
▪ Not suitable for all roof slopes: Tile roofs are suitable only for roofs with relatively sharp slopes.
They should not be used on roofs with pitches less than 4:12.
https://www.thespruce.com/pros-and-cons-of-tile-roofing-1824684
 SLATE ROOFING
▪ A slate is a fine- grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock used as roofing material.
▪ Slate shingles have been known to last anywhere from 80 to 100 years and have some of the best water
and damage resistance properties, which is ideal for frigid winter temperatures.
▪ Color options for slate shingles include green, black, gray and red. Before you get too excited about the
sound of slate shingles, know that they can be more costly when compared with other types of shingles
▪ Expensive to repair, because there aren’t very many companies that specialize in this particular type of
shingle material
▪ Quite heavy and may not be an ideal match if your home can’t easily handle the weight.

https://www.roofingcompare.com/materials/slate.html
 SLATE ROOFING

SADDLE RIDGE LAYING OF SLATE

METAL RIDGE CAP LAYING OF SLATE

http://rpm.rcabc.org/index.php/TS_Details:E4.7.10_(Slate_-_Ridges)
https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/roofing/slate
 SLATE ROOFING – PROS & CONS
PROS
▪ The biggest advantage to installing a slate roof on your home is the appearance. Slate roof tiles are
made of 100% natural stone, and have a naturally cleft surface with beautiful color variation ranging over
the entire roof. Slate roof tiles are also extremely durable, outlasting the buildings they are installed on in
some cases. In fact, installed and cared for properly it is not unheard of for a slate roof to last 150 years
or more.

▪ In addition to being beautiful and durable, slate roof tiles are also fireproof and environmentally
friendly. Being made of natural stone, the tiles don’t cause more pollution during manufacturing. They can
also be recycled after they are used on the roof or if they outlast the building they are installed on. They
can also help to insulate the home below them, which can lower energy costs in the houses that use them.

CONS
▪ The biggest disadvantages to a slate roof are the expense and the installation. Slate tiles may not be
gauged, which means they can vary in thickness, while the tiles can also spall or shed layers during the
installation process. Inexperienced roofing contractors who try to install slate tiles like asphalt can run
into big problems very quickly.

▪ The other biggest drawback to using a slate roof is the weight. Slate roof tiles are extremely heavy,
and the roof deck needs to be reinforced to hold the weight.

▪ If you do lose or break tiles, it can be difficult to find replacements that match. Because slate is a
natural stone, the color variation from lot to lot can be extreme.
https://www.nvroofs.com/residential/roofing/roof-types/slate-roof-slate-roof-tiles-advantages-and-disadvantages/
WOOD SHINGLES ROOFING

A shingle roof in Zakopane, Poland.

•Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping
elements.

•These elements are typically flat, rectangular shapes laid in courses

from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive course
overlapping the joints below.

•Generally at Eaves, two courses of shingles are laid directly one over
the other.

•Made of various materials such as wood, slate, metal, plastic,

and composite materials such as fiber cement and asphalt shingles.

• (Common size 300 to 500 mm L X 50 to 250 cm W)

•In some areas of North America, wood shingles are still among the
most common roofing materials. Several types of wood have been
used. Most of the roofs we’ll come across are cedar.

•Cedar is a relatively strong wood given its light weight, with a relatively
low rate of expansion and contraction. Cedar contains natural resins
that resist rot, distinguishing cedar from many other softwoods.
Shingles and Shakes
Wood shingles are typically sawn smooth, thin
Wood shakes are typically rougher in texture and thicker and may be split,
sawn or both.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy is approximately 20 to 40 years. Several factors affect the life
expectancy, including climate, roof pitch, roof exposure, overhanging trees,
sheathing and underlayment (which affect the ability of the wood to dry quickly),
quality of shingles, exposure, installation technique, maintenance, etc. While it is not
common practice to add preservatives to wood roof shingles and shakes, doing so
about every five years will prolong their life, particularly if the preservative includes
fungicides. Pressure-treated cedar and pine shingles are available.
Common Failure Modes

Curling, cupping, splitting, rotting, wear-through and burn-through.

Failure Causes
Failure is caused by:
1. rot
2. cupping, curling or splitting
3. burn-through

The material quality and installation technique have a bearing on how quickly
failure in any of these modes occurs. The amount of water the roof sees and its
ability to dry quickly also affect how quickly failure will occur.

Water Sources
Water may get into a wood roof system by:
1. driving through the roofing materials
2. leaks through flashings or joints
3. being drawn up through capillary action
4. accumulate as a result of condensation
5. swings in relative humidity as discussed earlier
Curling, Cupping and Splitting

These conditions are caused by:

1. uneven drying, resulting from solid sheathing or felt underlay
2. shingles or shakes that are too wide (more than 8 inches)
3. excessive nailing or re-nailing of shingles that have curled or cupped to flatten them out
4. low-quality materials
 METAL ROOFING

▪ Metal is resistant to fire, mildew, insects, and rot. Most metal roofing materials come
in multiple-shingle sections or in 12- to 36-inch-wide panels.
METAL SHINGLES ROOFING
Most common metals used to manufacture
metal shingles are G90 galvanized steel and
aluminum, though you can also find a few
types of copper and even zinc shingles.

The size of shingles varies by manufacturer

and material, but a typical example
measures just over 12.5 inches (approx. 317
mm) wide and 39.75 (approx. 1009mm )
inches long.

Installation Basics:

Most metal shingles systems

are installed from the eave of the roof, up. Metal Shingle Roofing underlayment. It is
The first course of shingles is locked or made from a woven black
hooked onto the drip edge / starter trim, polypropylene with polymer.
which is nailed or screwed to the properly It is UV resistant, the
membrane is self-sealing
prepared roof deck (the structural “skin” of a
where nails have penetrated
roof over which roofing in applied.).
it for attachment purposes
Metal shingles are attached to the roof and it is slip resistant.
using nail and either special built-in hems
or clips.
Advantages

It’s true that metal systems are more expensive in the short-term as a one-time
expense, but it actually becomes the more cost-effective solution in the long run
because it won’t require replacement for at least 50 years or more.

Metal is Class A fire-rated and noncombustible, making it the most resistant to

catching on fire.

Many metal materials are given a Class 4 UL 2218 rating, which means it won’t
puncture or damage the metal during a hail storm consisting of at least 2-inch
diameter hailstones.

Reputable metal companies put their panels through additional testing to further
measure its safety and performance, including wind uplift tests (UL 580), water
penetration tests, and air infiltration tests.

Metal panels actually weigh less than traditional asphalt shingle roofing or concrete
tiles and put less stress on the structure of a home over time.

Metal is highly recyclable.

Perhaps one of the biggest selling points for metal roofing is that it can come in
virtually any color, including both bright/vivid colors and earth tones.
▪ Corrugated galvanized iron sheets (G.I. sheets)
• Are prepared by pressing flat wrought-iron plates between
rollers with grooves or teeth and then they are galvanized
with a coat of zinc.
• The corrugation helps to increase strength and rigidity.
• They also permit easy flow of rain water
• Length varies from – 1.2m to 3.6m
• Width varies from – 600mm to 900 mm
• Thickness varies from 0.18mm to 1.60 mm
• Costly and do not offer resistance to fire and sound

▪ Asbestos cement corrugated sheets (A.C. sheets)

• Cement + 15% of asbestos fibres
• Paste so formed is pressed under rollers with grooves or
teeth, thus, series of waves or corrugations are formed
• Corrugations help to increase strength and rigidity;
also permits easy flow of rain water.
• Used for factories, workshops, garages, big halls, etc.
• Cheap, fire resistant, light in weight, strong, tough,
sound proof, impervious and durable
• Can be sawn and screwed
• Do not require any protective paint
 Comparison between G.I. and A.C. sheets
G.I. A.C.
1. Not breakable and can be handled with 1. Breakable and requires much care in
little care handling
2. Sheets can be made very thin 2. Cannot be made as thin as G.I. sheets
3. High in initial cost 3. Cheap in initial cost
4. Easily corroded by atmospheric actions 4. Do not corrode
5. Not fire resistant and can deform in fire 5. Fire-resisting
6. Light in weight 6. Heavy in weight
7. Noisy if something falls over 7. Less noisy when something falls over
8. Maintenance cost is more as periodic 8. Maintenance cost is practically nil if not
painting is required to resist corrosion damaged
9. Appearance is not pleasing even if a neat 9. Relatively neat and pleasing appearance
finished is made can be achieved
10. Affected by acids and fumes 10. Not affected by acids and fumes
11. Hot in summer and cold in winter 11. Not much affected by temperature
12. Less possibility of getting damage due to 12. Possibility of getting damaged due to
external forces external forces
13. Prepared from wrought iron plates and 13. Prepared by mixing cement and asbestos
then galvanized fibres
14. Not sound -proof 14. Sound-proof

(Refer Table 24-3 – BC by Rangwala)