Installing Metal Sheet Roofing on a Home

If you're planning a roof replacement for your home, you might consider corrugated steel sheet roofing. Here are several pointers to help you choose the right alternatives.

Consider Material Options

Because steel can rust when exposed to the elements, metal roof sheets are encased in various protective layers. One possibility that's been around for decades is galvanised steel, which is plated with a zinc coating that hinders rust. A more sophisticated version of this is a Zincalume roof. These sheets are covered with a zinc and aluminium alloy with increased protective powers. Alternatively, you could opt for Colorbond roofs. These roofs have a Zincalume base. But they feature an additional layer of fused-on polyester paint, giving them extra toughness.

Choosing What's Best for You

Which option you select depends on how much you are willing to pay and other factors. For example, you might install galvanised steel roofing if you own a heritage home, and you want to stay true to the original roof it had when it was built. If you want more protection, you could choose Zincalume. Alternatively, a wide colour choice may lead you to prefer Colorbond, which comes in variations of blue, grey, brown, black, cream, red, green, and other hues.

Where you live may be the determining factor. For example, if you live in a coastal area, you can select a marine-grade metal to counteract the conditions. Colorbond also offers stainless steel roofs that can cope with coastal environments.

Cope with Potential Rain

While a roof's resilience matters, how effectively it channels rain away from the building also matters. The roof needs to accommodate the water it will receive without becoming overwhelmed and submerged. This is where the corrugations and profiles play a role. Metal sheets with deeper and bigger grooves can hold more water than those with shallow, small grooves.

You'll need to choose the best profile to cope with your local rainfall. The roof structure also affects how much water it will need to manage. On a steep roof pitch, the rain will quickly flow away. Conversely, the rain will accumulate on a flatter roof as it won't flow away so fast, so the channels will need to be deeper to cope. Another relevant aspect is the length of the roof sheets. Extended roofs with a larger surface area collect more rain than shorter roofs, so they need deeper grooves. Your roofing expert can advise you on the appropriate profiles, considering your roof structure and local rainfall conditions.

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