Here at eRoofs, we sell all kinds of roofing – for small
projects, like your garden shed, to big projects, such as industrial flat
roofing. If you’re looking for roofing that isn’t traditional tiling, eRoofs
can help.
We’ve been writing about all sorts of roofing materials for
years, and in this guide, we’re going to break down the pros and cons of all
the DIY roofing materials so you can choose which is the perfect fit for your
project.
Please Note – All prices
were correct at time of writing.
PVC Roofing
PVC roofing is a type of plastic roofing (also known as
polyvinyl chloride roofing) that is most commonly transparent (but is available
in various finishes) and is often used for applications such as carports. It’s
incredibly durable, lightweight and weatherproof while remaining incredibly affordable. People often
choose a transparent PVC (or polycarbonate) to weatherproof an area while
avoiding blocking light.
PVC is often corrugated in order to allow water to run off
at an angle easily, but you can also purchase a completely flat option, which
is popularly used as a glazing sheet to let in light or add a plastic window to
your project.
PVC roofing at eRoofs starts from just £6.10 for 6ft of
roofing, making it incredibly affordable, and you can choose from a variety of
thicknesses for longer lasting roofing. If you’re looking for roofing that can
withstand the great outdoors but is incredibly cheap and easy to install, PVC
is likely your most affordable option.
You can find great deals on PVC roofing here.
Polycarbonate Roofing
Polycarbonate roofing, similar to PVC roofing, is commonly
transparent and is durable, lightweight and weatherproof. It comes in a variety
of thicknesses to suit most applications – from simple sheds, right up to
conservatory roofing. They are incredibly simple to install and maintain – and
as with most plastic roofing – are an affordable option.
While very affordable, polycarbonate is typically more
expensive than Acrylic or PVC – a flat polycarbonate sheet starts at around £28
per square metre, whereas you can get an acrylic board, 1200mm x 600mm from
around £10. The main difference is that polycarbonate is known to be stronger –
much stronger than glass – and much easier to work with (you should be able to
drill polycarbonate with a very low risk of cracking).
If you have a project that needs an incredible amount of
durability and strength, such as a conservatory or tall unprotected building,
it can be well worth the extra investment to go for polycarbonate over other
options.
Find out more about polycarbonate
roofing here.
Acrylic Roofing
So when should you choose Acrylic roofing? Acrylic roofing
is much like polycarbonate, in that it is often transparent and much stronger
than glass, but it is also cheaper and has much better ‘light transmittance’.
Some say it has better clarity than
glass. It makes sense then that you’ll hear it often referred to as
‘plexiglass’ – plastics answer to glass.
Acrylic is most likely your best option if you’re looking to
create a window for your project, or if you favour light, cost and clarity over
strength. Acrylic is still incredibly strong – it has 17 times the impact
resistance over glass – it just isn’t as strong as polycarbonate (which is 30
times stronger than acrylic!).
Get acrylic
sheets cut to size at a great price right here.
Bitumen (Coroline and Onduline) Roofing
Bitumen roofing is a type of asphalt product that is most
commonly used on shed and garage roofs. They are incredibly strong and durable,
although in the past they have been prone to cracking over time with changes in
temperature. Although it’s not guaranteed that any bitumen product will never
crack under extreme temperatures, there has been incredibly huge improvements
in bitumen roofing technology in the past few decades that make it a much
better product now than ever.
Bitumen is particularly simple to install and should last over two decades when installed
properly. It even has the added benefit of heat absorption – making them a
particularly good product for cold buildings like garages.
Coroline and Onduline roofing sheets are both types of
bitumen roofing products – Onduline is slightly thicker and more costly than
Coroline, so it depends on your project as to which might be more suitable.
There are a large variety of colours and even helpful advisors to guide you on
which might suit your project and how to install bitumen roofing to make sure
it lasts as long as possible, right here at eRoofs.
Read more about bitumen
roofing here.
Steel Roofing
A good quality metal roof should outlast any other option
mentioned here – and unlike bitumen or traditional roof tiles, both plastic and
metal roofing will last longer outdoors if you’re in an area where there are a
lot of trees or vegetation nearby. This is because plastic and metal are easier
to clean and are much less vulnerable to being damaged by moss or lichen.
You can even buy steel
roofing precoated in a number of colours with additional benefits to
help your roof last even longer, or you can choose the paint and coating
yourself which means you can be very particular about any colour you wish to
have. It’s also not always the most expensive option, so definitely worth
looking into.
Read more on galvanised
roofing here.
There are some drawbacks, of course. Metal roofing for one,
can be very noisy – if there’s a slight shower, you’ll know about it. They are
also not as easy to install as other options mentioned here – for example,
cutting a plastic sheet is easier than cutting a metal one – but overall, they
are still relatively simple to install for a competent DIYer. You can also
reduce noise by investing in good insulation or even buying an insulated
sheet, that comes with an insulating layer on the underside of the
metal which will reduce noise and help keep heating bills down.
Find affordable
metal roofing here.
Wood Roofing Shingles
Wood roofing shingles are easily one of the most attractive
looking options you can buy for any roof; but it does come at a cost. Both a
little more expensive than other options and deteriorating faster, wood
shingles are a great option for a project you want to be proud of but don’t
mind spending a little more on.
They also have a very low carbon footprint and a high degree
of thermal insulation so they aren’t just for show. When installed well and
maintained properly, they can last up to thirty years so you shouldn’t be
completely put off if you can’t face replacing your roof quickly.
They can be relatively easy to install and aren’t just used
for roofs either – people have been known to use them for walls of buildings,
even their homes, for a beautiful natural looking project.
Find everything you need to create your
wood roof (or siding) right here.
Felt Roofing
Felt roofing is usually a bitumen roofing product that is
‘torched on’ to your roof. It’s most commonly used for flat roofs as it’s
extremely weather-proof – it can be sealed at the seams during the torching on
process. It’s incredibly easy to repair and low maintenance as well as being
super low cost. It comes in a wide variety of colours which is appealing to
some. High traffic areas, however, may benefit more from rubber roofing.
Find out more about flat
roofing options here.
Rubber Roofing
Rubber roofing is also a common choice for flat roofs. It’s
slightly more expensive than bitumen felt, and some don’t much like the look of
it, but it’s much more hardwearing and is highly recommended for flat roofs
where you’re expecting a lot of footfall. It’s incredibly durable and repairs
are incredibly easy should you need to fix any splits – you can even buy liquid
rubber to simply fill in any tears.
Get everything you need for your rubber
roofing project here.
Coatings For Roofing
Once you’ve chosen the right roofing material for your project,
you can also decide on which coating, if any, that you’d like to use. For many
roofs, simply adding a good coat of paint can provide some much needed
protection, but here at eRoofs, we have professional roof coatings to provide
that next level of protection you might need.
All weather roofing coats are used for exactly what they say
– weatherproofing. Unlike bitumen paint, they’ve been specially designed for
weatherproofing and can be applied to all types of roofs, from wood shingles to
rubber.
Bitumen paint is often used as an extra protective layer for
porous materials like concrete and brickwork, but also metal roofing. It can be
used on wood too and provides a layer of waterproofing protection to help your
roof last longer.
Aluminium paint is often used for protection against sun
damage on roofs, notably on bituminous felts and exposed steel to provide a
reflective quality to your roof which helps avoid problems with extreme
temperatures, especially with felt products.
Need More Help Choosing Your Roofing
Materials?
Check out any of the following roofing articles for more
information on which might be the best option for you. If you’re still unsure,
feel free to speak directly with one of
the eRoof advisors who are often available on the eRoofs website directly on online
chat, or you can call or email via our contact page here.
Flat
Roofing Materials
Porch Roofing
Materials
Shed Roofing Materials
Metal Roof Coatings
Vistalux Roofing
Fixing Coroline Roofing
Installing Onduline Roofing
Last, but not least, If you’re looking for any of the above
options for your roof, eRoofs doesn’t just offer incredible prices on all
roofing materials, but they also offer:
48 hour express
delivery on many products
Super-fast FREE
delivery on most orders over £100
Unbeatable prices
FREE help &
advice – just call 0844 474 4444
