What are Roof Sheets?
Roofing sheets protect the outside of walls and roofs and they can be used on new buildings or to fix old roofs. Since they are light, they are easy to set up and don’t need much maintenance.
Roofing sheets are made of various materials, each with different properties, and can be used on different roofs. Choosing the right roof sheet can make your roof last longer and be more durable. Different roof sheet types have their advantages and disadvantages. With the development of new roofing materials, the roofing industry has grown and changed over the years.
Different Roof Sheets Types
Here are the different types of roof sheets in India:
01. Aluminum Roofing Sheet
Aluminium roofing sheet is used in many homes because it lasts a long time, saves energy, requires little maintenance, and is affordable. It can withstand all types of weather, is simple to set up, and doesn’t rust or catch on fire. These types of roof sheets in India are used on a large scale, as they are made of lightweight metal that is often suitable as a roofing material.
02. Corrugated Roofing Sheets
The roof shapes of corrugated roofing contribute to its high level of durability. Since the screws used for attachment reach through the rib’s peak, these sheets need support strips to stabilize the material. The valleys and ribs’ curvature prevent the screws from fully sealing there. Because of the unique corrugated shape, flimsy and lightweight metals like aluminium can be prepared to withstand decades of exposure to the elements.
Galvanized steel is the most widely used corrugated roof sheet material type and is used as the base material. The best applications for these roofing sheets are to cover outbuildings, porches, and garages.
03. Polycarbonate Roofing Sheet
Another type of roof sheet used on a large scale in industries and businesses is polycarbonate sheet. They are easy to put up, withstand the weather, and last long. Their cost to keep up is very low, and they come in many textures and styles. Polycarbonate sheets are good insulators and come in clear and foam-backed versions. With UV-protective film layers, sunrooms and patios often have clear polycarbonates. The base material for these sheets is polypropylene resin, which comes in different colours.
04. Asbestos Cement Roofing Sheet
Asbestos cement sheets last forever and don’t need any maintenance. They are the easiest-to-install, strongest, and longest-lasting roofing material for warehouses, factories, low-cost housing, and almost any other building that requires a roof. They don’t wear down with time and exposure like their metal counterparts.
Asbestos cement sheets need 8% chrysotile fibers to mix with cement and other raw materials. These roof sheet material types are very strong and are best suited to reinforce areas inside. Because they do not erode, they do not need replacement or maintenance after installation. This makes asbestos a cost-effective choice.
In 1977 and 1987, the IInternational Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC) concluded that asbestos is a human carcinogen. Undisturbed asbestos roofs in good condition do not pose a health risk if the asbestos fibres are bound in solid cement, according to research. Asbestos roof sheets deteriorate and become brittle over time with exposure to the sun, rain, and hailstorms. Asbestos fibres may become airborne and deadly if your asbestos roof is damaged, disintegrating, or disturbed by fire, breaking, cutting, drilling, or sanding. The greater the deterioration of your roof, the greater the health risk. The IARC found that all forms of asbestos exposure are associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
05. Plastic Roofing Sheet
Plastic roofing sheets made from PVC are much like bitumen roofing sheets in many ways. These plastic roof sheet types are perfect for homeowners who want a lightweight roof with a corrugated shape at a low price. PVC roofing is a low-cost alternative to roof lights because it lets light in and brightens up a room. PVC sheets are durable.
Plastic roof sheet types are an alternative to polycarbonate roofs because clear finishes are available at a slightly lower cost and they are easier to install. Instead of a full roofing system with glazing bars and other parts, PVC roofing needs basic fixings and flashings to put up. They go with other materials to make a roof with a mix of opaque and see-through areas that let light into the space below.
06. Bitumen Roofing Sheet
These roof sheet types, known as bituminous roof sheets, suit both residential and commercial roofing. These sheets come as rolls of layers, which are set flat later at the construction site. The bituminous waterproofing film is probably the most well-known roof sheet material type for sheet-based coating. This membrane is placed using hot tar-based cement, which is applied to the substrate with blowtorches. The same hot glue attaches the adjacent membranes.
In addition to making joints inside a single layer, the same air gun is used to join adjacent layers. There is a covering of about 100 mm over the sheets to make a watertight seam. Some films are melted with a hot compressed air gun and then covered with the previously laid sheet, for linking.
07. Color Coated Roofing Sheet
With a density of only one-third that of steel or copper, aluminium is one of the lightest commercially available metals and can be used to make most colour-coated sheets. When aluminium sheets are exposed to air, they form a thin layer of aluminum oxide. Thus, they are rust and corrosion-resistant. So, you can be sure that your colour-coated roofs won’t fade when exposed to rain, strong winds, or bright sunlight. They are not flammable and have a good fire rating. These types of roof sheets in India are safe for use in homes, gardens, warehouses, and factories.
08. Galvanized Iron Roofing Sheet
The galvanized iron coating has a unique metallurgical structure that safeguards against abrasion and mechanical wear and tear during shipping, installation, and use. One of the roof material types name is GI roofing sheets, which quickly seal off any damaged areas by locking into place. These sheets act as a cathode, or sacrificial anode, shielding sensitive components from injury. So, the coating extends throughout the entire length of the sheets for maximum protection.
In recent years, galvanization of steel has become a physical barrier that reduces the flow of sulphide and chloride ion contamination. It has been discovered that zinc covering steel’s top surface works well for a variety of applications, say R. E. Elewa et al., (authors of the journal – Overview production process and properties of galvanized roofing sheets).
09. Rubber Roofing Sheet
Rubber sheets are one of the different types of roofing sheets that come into play when there is a need for repair and maintenance. Made of Ethylene Propylene Diane Monomer Rubber, these sheets are taped and glued over the existing surface. A single-sheet frame is usually a secondary roofing material glued over the existing roof. It gives the roof heat resistance and waterproofing.
10. PUF Roofing Sheet
Polyurethane Foam or PUF is a type of roof sheet that is a good choice if you want a durable, long-lasting roofing material. This roof material type for flat roofs is getting increasingly popular because it has many benefits, such as being resistant to damage from weather and fire. The PUF sheet is also easy to put up and can fit any size or shape of the roof. PUF sheet roofing is something you should consider, whether you are building a new home or fixing up an old one.
11. Fiber Reinforced Plastic Roofing Sheet
Fiberglass profiles are a cheaper alternative to materials like concrete, steel, aluminium, and wood. While these materials only have one main strength, Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) has more than one. Because of this, fiberglass is a great material for future green buildings. It is just as strong as steel, but it weighs only a quarter as much. Compared to aluminium, it is also possible to save weight because the density is 30% lower.
They do not react to strong chemicals, liquids, or alkalis. It makes them perfect for places where corrosion might happen, like wastewater treatment plants, swimming pools, cooling towers, and building sites. These plastic roof sheet types look good on roofs, skylights, transparent sound barriers, covered walkways, etc.
12. Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride Roofing Sheet
Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) is different from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in its rigidity, which allows it to serve different purposes and have different roof shapes. Unplasticized PVC (UPVC) is a rigid form of PVC that has not been modified using plasticizers.
Different types of roofing sheets, like PVC roofing, are durable and require little upkeep. Because of its high resistance to corrosion and extreme temperatures, it is often used as a roofing material. Because of its durability and rigidity, UPVC is a great choice for bolstering the safety of buildings at home and working against theft and break-ins.
13. Bio-Composite Roofing Sheet
Different types of roofing sheets, like synthetic or composite roofing materials, are superior to their natural counterparts due to their strength and durability. These materials are designed to outlive cedar, slate, and other natural roofing materials. Industrial ecology, eco-efficiency, and green chemistry are directing the creation of cutting-edge sustainable materials, goods, and processes; one example is bio composites (natural fiber composites), which are made from local and renewable resources and offer significant sustainability.
Bio composites are composite materials made of a matrix (resin) and reinforcement (often natural fibers). Synthetic fibers are more expensive and have an adverse effect on the environment; thus, people started employing natural fiber as reinforcement in polymeric composites. Polymers from renewable and nonrenewable resources combine to generate the matrix phase. It preserves the integrity of the roofing sheets, keeps the fibers from unraveling, and evenly distributes any weight applied to the sheets.
14. Bamboo Roofing Sheet
Bamboo is a good roof materials for flat roofs. It is renewable and versatile. The classic corrugated roofing sheets are the same size as these. In addition to being more insulated from the heat of the sun, bamboo roofs also provide better soundproofing. Many believe that the use of bamboo roofs in cow sheds has marvellous benefits. Cows living in this natural roof setting enjoy a cooler temperature compared to the cattle put up in sheds with corrugated zinc sheets, which in turn results in increased milk production.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Roofing Material
01. Weather Condition
The types of roof sheets in India you use will depend on the local climate. The roofing material should be resistant to both extreme heat and weather.
02. Weight
It is important to consider how heavy the roofing sheets are, as this could affect your house.
03. Colour Variety
If you want your roof to look impressive or to blend in with the rest of your home’s design, you should consider the colour options available.
04. Cost
The cost of roofing materials depends on the brand, material quality, durability, and other factors that influence how much a structure will cost altogether.
05. Energy Efficiency
Using materials with strong thermal qualities is a good idea if you want to save money on your monthly energy or electrical bills.
06. Maintenance
It’s important to remember that some materials may require more extensive or frequent care than others.
Advantages of Roofing Sheets
- The most important advantage of roofing sheets is that they can last up to 100 years because they don’t rust. One of the options that are the most durable is them.
- They can be treated with chemicals that stop algae growth even when it rains.
- Roofing sheets are unbreakable and resistant to termite and other insect attacks.
- Some of these roofing sheet materials are also fire-resistant, another benefit that could save lives in fire accidents.
- Because the sheets are lightweight, they are easy to put up.
Disadvantages of Roofing Sheets
- Some of the most common issues that are hard to avoid when working with roofing sheets are dents, bumps, and bruises.
- The installation cost is a bit higher, but the low cost of maintenance makes up for it in the long run.
- Rainstorms can cause roofing sheets to bend or break.
Health Hazard of Roofing Sheet
Research shows that asbestos roofs that are in good shape don’t pose a health risk. They become hazardous over time when they get brittle and weaker due to exposure to the sun, rain, and hail. In case your roof is burned, broken, cut, drilled, sanded, or if it is falling apart, you need to be cautious. Asbestos fibers in this condition can get into the air, enter your respiratory system easily, get stuck in the lungs, and cause diseases. Because of this, asbestos is also called a “silent killer.” The health risk increases as your roof gets older.
Conclusion
Roofing sheets can be used for many roofing styles at home and in commercial buildings. Although they all have their uses, different roof sheet types have different functions and attributes. How long your roof lasts, how much it costs to maintain, and how often it requires repairs depend on the materials and brand used to construct your home. Before buying roofing sheets, you should research which ones provide you with the features that you are looking for. Go ahead and make a wise decision.
Image Courtesy: Image 12, Image 15
Author Bio
Sikandar Choudhury – Sikandar Monwar Huda Choudhury is a freelance article writer who is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with others through writing. With several years of experience in the engineering field and having written 100+ articles related to construction, Sikandar is a skilled writer with a talent for breaking down complex concepts and making them accessible to a wider audience. Sikandar is always looking for new opportunities to share his knowledge and experience with others through writing and is available for hire as a freelance civil engineering article writer. He is easily reachable on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sikandar-monwar-huda-choudhury-2b3a1a20a/.