Your roof is one of the key building components of your home; knowing how long the roof materials should last can help you decide if you want to replace with another material or how best to care and maintain your roof for an extended life span. It’s no secret the Australian environment and weather is rough on every home, no matter what its made of; but there are some materials that are built to withstand those conditions better and for longer. Some, like COLORBOND® steel are developed specifically to handle the Australian conditions with ease.
Choosing a roof material isn’t easy, there are many factors to consider. Lifespan, installation, maintenance, local regulations, just to name a few. Let us help with the materials and their lifespan. We have put together a list of the most common roof materials and their expected lifespan to at least help with your choice. Talk to our team about your roof replacement or install needs and we can help you with the rest. Read on as we explore the different roof material options available to you.
Metal
Metal roofs are the popular choice, COLORBOND® steel being a prime choice for many homeowners. Generally, a well-maintained metal roof will last up to half a century. Although, COLORBOND® being the market leader is claimed to last up to the full century. There are other metal roof options such as zincalume, stainless, and galvanised, but COLORBOND® seems to be the most popular choice.
Resistant to fire, coated to protect from the elements, and lightweight, COLORBOND® and other metal materials are the premium choice for those who want a cost-effective roof system, with little maintenance over the years and a roof designed to outlast our lifetime. Easy to install and lightweight to reduce stress on your house frame, its not hard to see why COLORBOND® and other metal roof materials are the popular choice.
Slate
Slate can be a hardy choice for roof tiles for your home. Well suited to tropical and coastal areas, slate is generally resistant to mould, fungi and other nasty materials that can grow on roofs. They are also an environmentally conscious choice, being made from natural materials. Although, the downside is Slate can be heavy and awkward to install. This can add to the total cost of your roof, substantially. So, while Slate might be a beautiful addition to your home and is likely to last a century, it may also be an expensive, wallet bending choice.
Terracotta
Terracotta is one of the oldest building materials known to man. A durable and fire resistant material, terracotta can either absorb heat in colder regions, warming your home and cutting those energy bills, or it can be treated to reflect the heat in warmer regions; again cutting those cooling bills. Unfortunately, terracotta is also known for absorbing water and doesn’t have the longevity as other options, often only lasting half that of slate and metal roofs.
Whatever your choice of materials, GT Roofing Adelaide is here to answer your questions. As always, whomever you choose as your roofing contractor, make sure you are comfortable with their level of experience, licences and guaranteed quality.
Sometimes a roof cannot be restored, and your money would be better used replacing the COLORBOND® roof on your home. GT Roofing Adelaide specialises in roofing restoration, replacements, repairs and extensions and works with COLORBOND® Steel and BlueScope Steel throughout the Adelaide area and across South Australia. For an obligation free chat, please call George on 0434 640 550 or complete our contact form and we will get in touch shortly.