Roofing Materials for Home Extensions
Posted on 14th August 2023
If you are planning a home extension, one of the most important decisions you will make is what type of roofing material to use. The right roofing materials can protect your extension from the elements for years to come, and can also add to the overall aesthetic of your home.
This article explains some of the most popular roofing materials used in home extensions.
Pitched Roof Coverings
Concrete Tiles
Concrete tiles are popular for a number of reasons, including their ease of installation, cost-effectiveness, longevity, and high-quality finish. They also come in a wide range of colours, styles, and finishes.
Clay Tiles
Clay tiles are a beautiful and natural roofing option that offers longevity and durability. The manufacturing process and the nature of the material itself can result in slight variations in colour, which can add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the tiles.
Natural Slate
Natural slate is a strong and beautiful material that has been used for hundreds of years on buildings of importance, such as military bases, churches, and castles. It is formed over millions of years under extreme heat and pressure, which gives it its unique properties. Slate is highly resistant to weathering and damage, making it an excellent choice for roofs and other exterior applications. It is also available in a variety of colours and textures, which can add beauty to any building.
Manmade Slate
Manmade slates are designed to mimic the look of natural slate, but they offer the benefits of modern technology. They are pre-holed, lightweight, and can be worked with hand tools. Manmade slates come in two types: riven, and flat and square edge. Riven manmade slates have a natural, irregular texture that mimics the look of real slate. Flat and square edge manmade slates are ideal for complex roofs, as they can be cut to fit any shape.
Flat Roof Coverings
EPDM
EPDM is a synthetic rubber that is commonly used for roofing and waterproofing applications. It is a versatile material with several desirable features and benefits, including:
Durability: EPDM is an exceptionally durable material that can withstand a wide range of weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and UV radiation. It is also resistant to tears and punctures, making it a good choice for roofs that are exposed to high winds or hail.
Flexibility: EPDM is a flexible material that can expand and contract with changes in temperature. This makes it ideal for roofs that are subject to thermal expansion and contraction.
Lightweight: EPDM is a lightweight material that is easy to install and does not add a lot of weight to the roof. This makes it an excellent option for roofs that have limited load capacity.
Low maintenance: EPDM roofs require little maintenance. They do not need to be painted or resealed, and they are resistant to algae and mould growth.
Cost-effective: EPDM roofs are a cost-effective roofing option. They are less expensive than some other roofing materials, such as slate or metal roofs.
Roofbase branches offer EPDM cut to length from rolls in widths of 30.5M, 4.57M, and 6.1M. (Widths up to 9.15M are available to order.)
Torch on Roofing Felt
Torch on roofing felt is a common method of applying roofing felt to roofs. It is a relatively fast and easy method, and it can be used on a variety of roof types, and for both new-build and refurbishment projects.
Liquid Roofing
Liquid roofing systems are a type of roofing system that uses liquid materials to create a waterproof membrane. They offer several advantages over traditional roofing materials, including:
They are seamless, which means that there are no seams or joints to leak.
They are flexible, which means that they can expand and contract with changes in temperature.
They are lightweight, which means that they do not add a lot of weight to the roof.
They are easy to apply, even on difficult-to-reach areas.
They are long-lasting, with some systems guaranteed for up to 20 years.
Timber
Timber has many uses in the construction of roofs for home extensions. These include:
Roofing joists
Roofing trusses
Purlins
Rafters
Tile batten
Tilting Fillet
Fascia boards, soffits, and bargeboards
Insulation
Insulation is an essential consideration when extending a roof. Installing the right type of insulation can make a significant difference to your home’s energy efficiency rating and savings on your energy bills.
There are a wide range of insulation products available for home extension roofs, including:
Foil faced PIR boards
Foil faced PIR insulation boards are high-performance, rigid insulation boards that are made of a core of polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam with a facing of aluminium foil on both sides. The foil helps to reflect heat back into the building, which improves the thermal performance of the insulation.
Using PIR boards on sloped areas can provide excellent U-values and minimal intrusion on valuable living space.
Multifoils
Easy to install and delivering outstanding performance, Multifoils enable reduction in the space needed for insulation but still offer high performance. Multifoils meet building regulations and can be used on their own, with mineral wool or with PIR. Additional benefits for multifoils include:
Lightweight, making them easy to carry, transport, and store
Flexible and easy to install
No irritating fibres
Fibreglass
Fibreglass insulation is available in rolls with thicknesses of 100, 150, and 200 mm. It is easy to install and provides excellent performance both thermally and acoustically.
ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation Slab
ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation Slab has been designed for use in internal and separating walls and floors, reducing noise from adjacent properties, and from other rooms within the same dwelling.
Advantages:
Provides noise reduction - Quiet Mark™ approved
Non-combustible stone wool with a Euroclass A1 fire rating
Water repellent and vapour permeable - resists rot and mould
Patented FLEXI Edge® for friction fitting
Quick and easy to install, no gaps and minimal waste
Dimensionally stable and durable, maintaining performance over time
Produced from sustainable, renewable volcanic rock
Flat roof insulation
Flat roof insulation can be used beneath mechanically fixed/fully adhered single ply waterproofing and partially bonded built up felt and mastic. Easy to handle and install, it can also be used in tapered and cut-to-fall systems.
Breather Membrane
Breather membrane is used for pitched and flat roofs. It is designed to allow water vapour to escape while providing a barrier against wind-driven rain.
Ventilation
Ventilation products are used to ensure that air can circulate freely beneath the roof and help reduce the risk of condensation occurring. Ventilation products include:
Tile vents
Ridge vents
Dry verge
Over fascia vents
Vented soffit
Sheet Materials
There are a wide range of sheet materials for use in roofing. These include:
Polycarbonate roofing sheet
PVC corrugated sheeting
Galvanised steel corrugated roofing sheet
Bitumen corrugated sheets
Cladding
Exterior cladding is a great way to add visual appeal and protection to your home extension. It is available in a range of materials, including timber, PVC, and fibre-reinforced cement and in a variety of options, such as Shiplap, Double Shiplap Open V, and Weatherboard.
To further increase the visual appeal, many cladding manufacturers produce the product in a range of colours and wood effect finishes. This allows you to choose a cladding that perfectly matches the style of your home.
Here are some additional benefits of using exterior cladding for your home extension:
Protection from the elements: Cladding can help to protect your home from the wind, rain, and snow. This can extend the lifespan of your extension and prevent damage to the underlying structure.
Improved insulation: Cladding can help to improve the insulation of your home, making it more energy efficient and therefore help to save you money on your energy bills.
Roofline and Rainwater Systems
Fascia, soffit, and rainwater systems provide the finishing touches to your home extension.
Fascias and soffits are available in either timber or uPVC. However , the weatherproof, low maintenance properties of uPVC make them the most popular choice for home extensions. Full replacement fascias range in thickness from 16mm to 22mm. Timber fascias can be 'capped' with a thinner uPVC fascia - typically 9-10mm in thickness.
uPVC fascias are available in a range of styles including square edge, bullnose, and ogee. There are also a wide range of colours and woodgrain finishes to choose from.
Rainwater systems include guttering and downpipes are designed to direct rainwater away from your property. They are available in various materials including PVCu and aluminium, and in a range of styles and colours to match your fascia and soffit boards.
Roof Windows
Roof windows add natural light and ventilation to your home extension. They come in various sizes and styles, including centre-pivot, top-hung, side-hung, and combination windows.
Roof windows are available in both PVCu and timber frames. The frames can be finished with a range of colours and woodgrain finishes to match your other windows and doors.
For a contemporary look, consider installing roof lanterns or flat rooflights. These provide an unobstructed view of the sky above and allow maximum light into the room below.
Roofing Accessories
Roofing accessories are essential to complete your roofing project. These can include lead flashing, sealants, fixings, and trims.
Trims help maintain a neat finish around windows, doors, and other openings on the roof surface.
Flashings are used to help prevent water penetration around the edges of your roof and can provide an effective waterproof barrier that will last for many years.
Need help with roofing materials for your home extension project?
All Roofbase branches carry a wide range of products that provide homeowners, builders, roofers, and loft conversion specialists with everything they need for their roofing and home extension projects.
As well as stocking a wide range of products at every Roofbase branch, our branch teams have a depth of product knowledge and are ready to provide help and advice on the products that you require for your project.
Tagged as: Flat Roofing, Pitched Roofing
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