Roof: Colourbond vs Tiles

donuts · Sep 12, 2007 2:54 pm

Hi all,

I quite like the look of a dark-coloured roof with my chosen bricks (Canterbury from Austral's Melbourne range) and white/off-white windows, fascia etc.

I have read thanks to you good people on Homeone, that the Colourbond dark colours tend to fade. Is this a good enough reason to go for tiles??

What are the advantanges, aside from that it looks good, of Colourbond over regular tiles?

thanks in advance

Perth-1st Timer · Sep 12, 2007 3:06 pm

Advantage of tiles is that you can get access to the roof-space from above, reducing the cost of the following:

- Installing a TV antenna,
- Mounting an air-conditioner
- Installing a security system
- other such activities

When I have rung up to arrange the above services, every single one asked me whether the roof was colourbond or tiles - not to say it cannot be done with colourbond, however it does take longer so extra $$$ in my experience.

On the plus-side for colourbond - It doesnt leak and you (and associated trades-people) cannot crack or break tiles whilst walking on the roof. You also get a good choice of colours in colourbond, sometimes you can be limited with tiles/shingles.

I am sure there are probably some thermal advantages - does anybody know if tiles or colourbond keeps heat out/in better than the alternative?

P1T

Spot · Sep 12, 2007 4:20 pm

There is never a good excuse for tiles!!!!

Sorry - no offence to all the tiled roof people - I just love the sound of rain on a iron roof - and like the look of it better too.

donuts · Sep 12, 2007 9:42 pm

Thanks P1T, I never knew that. Makes our decision much easier!

Sorry Spot, looks like I am about to become a tile convert! No offence taken!

Michelle · Sep 12, 2007 9:48 pm

I’m with Spot….love the sound on the rain!

I have tiles, but about to put a CB roofing over my BBQ area, so now I’ll have the best of both worlds!

It does make it easier to access the internals of a roof with tiles.

off2theburbs · Sep 12, 2007 9:54 pm

Love the sound of the rain on the roof and we just couldn't get tiles in the colours that we liked anyway

lrhodes1 · Sep 13, 2007 12:22 pm

Also, the average colourbond roof weighs about two tonnes, where as tiles weigh about 8 tonnes. I like the thought that my frames will be under less stress. Besides, I love the look, thermal performance, and low maintenance of colourbond.

Casa2 · Sep 13, 2007 1:37 pm

Does colourbond really have better thermal performance?

I imagine on a hot day it will be hotter under a colourbond roof since there isn't much insulations.

And on a cold winters night it would be cold.

Still, for looks and if you need a low pitch roof, colourbond is very nice.

Also, ceramic tiles last "forever", not sure how long colourbond will last. Does nayone know?

Arc · Sep 13, 2007 2:31 pm

Bluescope warrant Colorbond Steel against perforation from corrosion/weathering for 25 years and the paint is covered for 12 years against flaking or peeling;
http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/index.cfm?objectID=3476C572-0109-11D4-89EE00C04FCF6B8F.

Thermally, because Colorbond has less thermal mass than tiles it will heat up and cool down faster. So in summer, the roof space will get hotter earlier, but will also cool down pretty quickly when the sun sets. So in summer it's likely better than tiles where heat is concerned since the tiles will still heat up eventually and then continue to radiate that heat for quite some time after the sun sets. In winter, or cold climates it would seem tiles would perhaps be preferable.

Of course, with decent insulation I'm not sure it would make that much difference in the living areas. I'm getting Colorbond for the look and security. I'm also having Anti-con installed;
http://www.bradfordinsulation.com.au/Bradford/view.asp?contenttype=Bradford-GENERALCONTENT&catalog_name=Bradford&category_id=product_anticon&category_name=Products%2DAnticon&topItem_name=Products&sub_item=Anticon%3CSUP%3ETM%3C%2FSUP%3E

The reaons for Anticon are thermal and sound insulation (thought it's primarily an anti-condensation device). I've had some people tell me that the noise from hard rain is too loud on steel, but then others have said it's not a problem. Some have even complained their neighbors metal roof is too loud... I've only lived in tiled homes thus far. Anticon's a few thousand dollars to have done.

milt · Sep 13, 2007 4:37 pm

What is the difference in overall cost in your experience

Colourbond v's Concrete tiles v's teracotta?

Milt,

Yak_Chat · Sep 13, 2007 9:09 pm

Casa2 - You're analysing too much.

The perfect house is...........
sure pick the best you can - but go with what ****** true to you that also meets your life goals and the lowest impact you can make at the same time.
Steve

Law18 · Sep 13, 2007 10:49 pm

I dont mind either. If I wanted light coloured roof I would go colourbond and dark colours I would always pick tiles due to available colours. If you have a skillion roof I think it really only suits colourbond. Depends on house style, colour preference. I do love my tiles though.

bda20 · Sep 14, 2007 6:38 pm

We are currently renting a house with a tiled roof. Over the last few months, my husband has locked himself out of our house twice - one during the day, and once at night. He climbed onto the roof and kicked a few house tiles out and climbed through the roof. He made a hell of a racket kicking out the tiles and cars drove past while he was doing it. Not one person came out to investigate the noise (we don't know our neighbours). I am so glad we are getting a colorbond roof, as it only took him a few minutes to get into the house each time.

Law18 · Sep 14, 2007 7:03 pm

I dont know if your house would be more secue by having colourbond roof versus tiles. Have you heard of tin snips and they wont make that much noise either. If they want in they will get in.

Arc · Sep 15, 2007 2:19 am

bda20

We are currently renting a house with a tiled roof. Over the last few months, my husband has locked himself out of our house twice - one during the day, and once at night. He climbed onto the roof and kicked a few house tiles out and climbed through the roof. He made a hell of a racket kicking out the tiles and cars drove past while he was doing it. Not one person came out to investigate the noise (we don't know our neighbours). I am so glad we are getting a colorbond roof, as it only took him a few minutes to get into the house each time.

Funnily, some of the guys I work with seem to make a habit of this and have gotten in through the roof as well. I locked myself out once and tried getting on to the roof but it was raining and too slippery. So... I ended up smashing a window, this was late afternoon with neighbours home but no one came to investigate. It made quite a bit of noise as well.

We also had someone throw a bottle through a front window a few years ago when we were all asleep. No one in the house woke up, nor the neighbours presumably. This is one of the reasons I'm going with laminated (Pilkington Lamguard) glass in the house I'm building now. It's not cheap, but besides being very hard to get through, it also cuts down on noise, reduces heat transfer a little and stops 99% of UV light (so significantly reduces fading).

The only problem is, if I lock myself out I'm probably going to need a locksmith to get back in...