Lightweight Synthetic Tile Sheeting Used For House Roof

[JohnErskine]

I am looking for some advice on tile sheeting.

We are interested in a house which has come on the market. It is a 60s bungalow with a very shallow pitch. I assume because of this, the owner (who is now dead) has replaced the original roof in lightweight synthetic tile sheeting according to the seller's surveyor's report.

I have never heard of this being used on a house and wondered how common this is? Also what are the opinions on covering a house roof with this stuff?

I have attached a pic to let you see what the roof looks like:

 

[robinbanks]

Does it leak? Do you like the appearance?

 

[JohnErskine]

We have not viewed the house yet. We will do that tomorrow afternoon when I hope to get access to the roof. It appears to be fairly new, so I assume it is a replacement for the original tile roof which is likely to have leaked given the shallow pitch and exposure to pretty strong wet westerly winds blowing across some open moor and farmland.

As for the appearance. That does not rouble me other than it may deter others from buying from us in the future when the time comes around.

My main concern is that someone has replaced a tile roof on the 'cheap'. But knowing nothing abolut this type of material, it may be a very 'innovative' design about which I know nothing!

(Kevin MacLeod eat your heart out!)

 

[noseall]

Also what are the opinions on covering a house roof with this stuff?

My main concern would be future maintenance, noise (rain etc) and condensation. This sort of product usually promises much, but delivers little.

What is the pitch of the roof?

 

[erskine]

I don't know as I am only viewing the property with the intention of buying. However, I have a shallow pitch on part of my own roof 22º and this is much less. So I am thinking it may be as low as 15º which may account for the fitting of this type of roof?

 

[robinbanks]

If it's metrotile, it's about £25 a sqm, similar to Spanish slate and a bit cheaper than concrete tile. I'm not sure I'd say it's "on the cheap" by the time the ancillaries have been added. I've never worked with it but always thought it looked a reasonable system

As for noise, having experienced metal roofed houses in New Zealand I guess you'd have to view when it's raining to see if you can cope with it; depending on how the loft is done out you may not hear it

 

[JohnErskine]

Many thanks for this.

In the more exposed parts of Scotland, many different types of roofing is used. It is not uncommon to see metal roofs and even corrugated steel still used. It is just unusual here where construction is much more traditional. So, maybe in that sense, parts of the country are like New Zealand.

It may be a decent system and it is just the lack of familiarity which is making me wary of it. Hopefully when viewing the property I can perhaps find out if the seller still has any documentation and guarantees for the work.

 

[Nige F]

Personally I dislike low pitched roofs ? just saying

 

[ree]

Cutting roofs by "hand" - its a simple skill for experienced carpenters to cut plumb cuts or compound cuts - apprentices & DIY'ers can get confused when marking & cutting a birds mouth.
Sagging can occur on any type or pitch of roof - not because of the cut but by attempting to save money by undersizing using too small sections.
Same penny pinching when double trimming is needed around chimney stacks & roof windows where concrete tiles can sag the roof.
So there, I do hope that you've learned something new?