A well-designed roof ensures a cool home in summer and keeps your dwelling cosy and warm in winter. A roof is one of the most important elements of a well-designed dwelling. After all, the roof is your first protection against the elements: the style and material not only have to support the aesthetic features of your house but should also be weatherproof, provide good insulation and be economical to build and maintain.
A roof should keep a house cool in summer and warm in winter, as well as have built-in insulation to help regulate the temperature in the home. The pitch of the roof also plays an important role in temperature regulation: in warmer climates and low-rainfall areas, a flat or low-pitched roof works well to keep the house cool, while a steeper pitch works better in colder climates that experience snow and high rainfall, as the water can drain away more easily. The need for heat resistance will determine what style and waterproofing products are required.
Roof problems tend to occur without much warning. Leaks can develop unnoticed over the years and this can gradually lead to rot, mould, rust, warping and other damage that is expensive to repair. Experts recommend that you inspect your roof once a year after a rainy spell for leaks and water damage. Pay special attention to roof and gutter joins, which is where leaks often start. To help ensure proper waterproofing, use products like Topps Products®. Check on top of the roof to see if there are any loose, missing or damaged roof tiles. Loose tiles can often simply be slid back into their original positions. Also make sure that your gutters and pipes are not blocked.
ROOF MATERIALS
Roof sheets
Roof sheets are a cost-effective and popular roof material in South Africa. In direct sunlight sheet-metal roofs can absorb a lot of heat, which can make the building very hot in summer. Also take into account the noise in areas in which it often rains or hails: this makes insulation important. A reflective aluminium insulation product can help to keep the temperature constant and provide a degree of protection against damp. In extreme climates it can be used together with a fibreglass insulation product for extra temperature control. A false ceiling under the roof can also alleviate such problems. Roof sheets can be used for pitched and flat roofs but are especially suitable for roofs with an incline of less than 15 degrees. When the sheets are installed it is important to lay them according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent leaks.
Tiles
The term roof tiles is used for roof materials that can consist of up to 10 pieces per square metre. Larger units are usually described as roof sheets. Cement tiles are most frequently used in South Africa and are available in a wide variety of styles and colours.
PAINTING
Paint colour The colour of your house should complement the architecture of the building and its surroundings. A growing need to feel safe and calm could be a reason for all the green and blue roofs that are popping up nowadays. These are often mixed with grey to create a softer look. There are also quite a number of terracotta roofs around due to the strong Tuscan influence. Lighter roofs are recommended for warm areas because they absorb less heat and reflect light, becoming like a white summer shirt for your house. A house with a light roof requires less cooling and will therefore save on energy costs. Darker colours absorb more light, making houses with dark roofs warmer. How much paint do you need? Measure the floor surface of the house covered by the roof – include the eaves. Also consider the pitch: do this by adding on 50% of the size of the floor surface for a steep pitch and 30% for sheetmetal roofs. Divide the entire surface area by 10 to determine how much paint you will need per coat. Dulux recommends a minimum of two coats for a quality finish.
When is a good time to paint? Avoid windy and rainy weather when painting the exterior of your house because these conditions can influence the drying time of the paint. Wind can blow dust and dirt onto the wet surfaces and rain can create bubbles. The best time to paint is late morning, after the dew on the roof has dried and before it gets too hot. Start again in the early afternoon but don't continue until too late so that the paint will have enough time to dry before dew forms again. Dulux Roofguard provides good protection against diverse weather conditions and can be used for all types of roof surfaces. It contains Solarflex, which contains built-in protection against UV rays and ensures general protection against the weather. The range is available in a variety of colours. Dulux Rosebank is currenty running a special until the end of May 2023, R1389 for 20 litres with 2x free membranes.
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