As a building protector from sunlight, cold weather, dust, rainfall, and wind, roof is one of the most important part of a building. Beside functioning as a protector, roof could also affect building’s aesthetics, so the choice of roof material could have an effect on the whole building’s image. Lately, there are various building materials that could be used for house roof construction, and each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, consider carefully before you decide to buy a specific roof material. These are some roof material examples that you could consider buying for a better house protection.
- Clay Roof Tiles
Clay is the most commonly used house roof material. Clay roof tiles are easy to obtain, as it is widely produced in Indonesia. Clay roof tiles are durable, resistant to weathering, fire, as well as insect attacks. This type of roof is available in various models and shapes. The installation is also quite simple. Eventhough this type of roof is resistant to hot, cold, and rainy weather, clay roof tiles are easily broken. The weight is also quite heavy, so to keep the tiles in place, a strong support is needed.
- Shingle Roof Tiles
Shingle roof is usually made of wood. The type of wood used to make shingle roof tiles is ironwood. Shingle roof is not only suitable for use on houses, but also on pavilion and temporary buildings. The material is unique, because every piece of tiles has its own color, thickness, and size, resulting in a natural looking roof tiles. The natural touch given by shingle roof tiles could make a building look simple and modest, but still look elegant. Beside all its advantages, shingle roof tile also has some disadvantages. This material requires extra treatment to make it more durable because shingle is vulnerable to weathering and insect attacks. This type of roof is also harder to install compared to clay roof tiles, so the quality of shingle roof depends on the worker’s installing skill. Furthermore, this material is also vulnerable to fire if it is not covered with anti-heat coating.
- Metal Roof
Metal roof tiles are made of anti-rust metal. It comes in the form of sheets, just like zinc. This kind of roof reflects heat, resulting in a cooler room temperature. The material could also be recycled, so this kind of roof is environment friendly. Metal roof is installed by screwing the sheets onto the building’s roof truss. This type of roof is resistant to cracking, moss, rust, and is not easily burned. This material do not need any special treatment. Beside durable, metal roof is also lightweight, so it does not require a lot of support. However, the price of metal based roof is quite expensive and it is harder to install, which requires an expert worker for installing.
Every roof material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Consider the material that you are going to use carefully before buying. Choose material according to the building’s type and needs. A suitable material will result in a good and durable roof construction. Not only for roof construction, make sure that you are also using high quality materials for the whole building, including main materials such as cement. For a stronger and more durable building, do not forget to use high quality cement, such as Semen Merah Putih.
