Builders Advice Roofing}

Builders Advice – Roofing

by

Jim Smithy

Roof Covering:

Various materials require different skills. A traditional carpenter will have terrific difficulty adapting to steel roof framing. With time, having said that, individuals develop new abilities and techniques to adapt to changes in technology. It is required consequently that whoever is really installing the roof frame, whether or not it is a traditional timber, timber truss or metal truss assembly, has the suitable skills, tools and knowledge to do the job correctly. Clear instructions, excellent materials and carpenters who take pride in their work are all crucial to make sure of the longevity of a roof. The sudden and unexpected collapse of my neighbour’s carport roof some ten years after it was built has imprinted the importance of good carpentry practice on me.There are a selection of materials that may be employed to cover a building. The appearance or style of a building will largely depend on the supplies and colours chosen along with its design features. The majority of houses in Australia use either tiles or corrugated iron to cover the roof.Tiles:Tiles are made of kiln-fired clay or cement. Clay tiles are typically thicker, heavier and much less ideal in shape than cement tiles. The slight distinction between one clay tile and another is probably a good thing since this permits air to circulate additional freely inside the roof space and thus keep it cooler in summer. On the other hand, the closer fit of cement tiles prevents any wind-blown rain from entering the roof space. Clay tiles may well be merely fired in a kiln to produce the orange-brown colour of the clay or they may perhaps be partially or fully glazed to give them a different colour. Glazed tiles might be impervious to water whilst unglazed tiles may well be slightly porous and enable moss or lichens to grow on the roof after some years. Plant growth along the bedding mortar of ridge tiles can trigger the mortar to break away and dislodge the tiles The use of premixed flexible bedding mortar will minimise this problem. Occasional checks of the roof and some minor maintenance will prevent this from occurring. Cement tiles are normally cheaper than clay tiles but their key drawback is that they fade. Whereas a clay tile roof will age and develop some discoloration as a result of moss, lichens and dirt accumulation, the cement tile roof will gradually lose its initial gloss and develop a dry, powdery surface. The paints employed to colour cement base tiles will break down. Once the gloss is lost the cement tile will absorb water and add weight to the roof frame which might then sag. The only solution to aged cement roof tiles is to have them repainted.There’s a wide range of tile colours and profiles to choose from to achieve the desired look for a building. Each manufacturer will specify a minimum roof pitch for their tiles. Where a lower than specified pitch is desired then sarking might be laid beneath the tiles to stop water ingress. It’s worth checking for inherent problems with the tile you choose. Some glazed tiles tend to stick together when stacked directly after firing. When they are pulled apart the glaze is lifted where it touches with the tile below. Light brown clay marks will show up on each tile and spoil the look. This is especially evident on dark coloured tiles. Cement tiles that are too fresh might be brittle and could break. A careless or heavy person walking on a freshly tiled roof will likely cause some tiles to break.Care needs to be taken to install tiles correctly. The very first row installed is the bottom row which should begin at the centre of the gutter. Battens might be spaced according to the tile being used. Every other tile should be wire tied, clipped or nailed to the batten. On Tuscan style roofs without gutters, every tile on the bottom row should be tied down. In extremely windy areas every single tile on the roof should be secured. This will undoubtedly incur an extra price. Tiles that finish above a valley should be cut cleanly with a gap of 75mm between the two sections of roof. This will be sufficient space to enable leaves to be washed down the valley and not to collect and trigger water problems. The last tile which rides over a gable end ought to cover the barge board and scribe. All capping tiles need to be correctly bedded with mortar finished neatly with a small trowel, and sponge wiped before the mortar hardens. It is best to use a flexible mortar mix to decrease the risk of cracking. All bedding mortar must be of a colour that matches the tiles unless an alternative contrasting colour is specified.It’s necessary that the roof tilers work systematically and in cooperation with each other. It’s not uncommon to see a team of people swarming over a job and creating a mess with mortar splatters, unnecessary tile breakages and littering the site with the broken pieces that they throw back down. The team supervisor must instruct workers to make certain all broken tiles are placed in a bin. The roof will need to be swept down after the bedding mortar has dried and all rubbish cleaned out of the gutters. After the roof tilers have finished the painter ought to return to paint the valley iron with a colour matching the tiles.

Jim is a

Brisbane builder

and building enthusiast from Queensland. Jim builds houses in Brisbane and also builds decks, carports, pergolas and extensions in Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Townsville.

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Builders Advice – Roofing}