Zinc Roofs: All You Need to Know About Choosing Zinc
Zinc roofs are not only durable but also versatile with an impressive lifespan. Here, we’ll look at the advantages and important considerations when choosing zinc roofs.
You might assume that zinc is a contemporary roofing material, but the reality is that it has been used for the better part of the last two centuries. Still, there’s much to consider before installing a zinc roof, including the service life, maintenance, finish, and cost. If you’re located in Hampshire and prefer a lead roof instead, make sure to seek a qualified contractor for lead roofing Hampshire.
Zinc Roof Options
One of the best things about zinc is the wide range of finishes and colours that you can find it in. It is worth spending enough time discussing roof design ideas with your architectural designer and supplier during your project’s design phase.
For instance, natural zinc has a metallic surface that’s shiny and develops a patina over time.
Pre-patinated products, however, provide a smooth, matte surface. Roller-applied textures can also be incorporated at the fabrication stage, which creates attractive textured finishes, which include ripples, grooves, as well as fish scales.
When it comes to fixing methods, a standing seam roof is the commonest type of application for a zinc roof. Shingle systems (small individual sheets of metal) are also available, for a different type of aesthetic.
Advantages of Zinc Roofs
- Longevity: If your roof is properly detailed and installed, zinc can offer a service life of 60 to 100 years.
- Corrosion-Resistant: Zinc roofs are highly corrosion-resistant, and unlike other types of metal roofs are self-healing, which means that scratches on the surface recover on their own over time.
- Malleable: Zinc is a relatively thin building material (typically just 0.7mm) that can be shaped to follow interesting angles and curves while still retaining its durability.
- Good Match: From an aesthetic perspective, zinc roofs blend perfectly with slate roof coverings and are also a great solution for agricultural-style buildings.
- Weather-proof and isn’t easily degraded by UV light.
- Environmentally-Friendly and 100% Recyclable. It takes less energy to produce zinc than other metal roofing solutions since it has a lower melting point.
- Low maintenance: Besides ensuring that the roof isn’t covered by fallen debris e.g., leaves, little upkeep is needed.
- Quick installation.
If you are taking on a self-build close to the coast, you need to take special care, Since the air in marine environments contains a significant amount of salt, staining, and corrosion of some metal surfaces may occur. Salt deposits, however, are easily washed away from the surface of your zinc roof by rainfall.
How Much Do Zinc Roofs Actually Cost – Is It an Expensive Option?
Prices tend to be higher for more complex installations where areas of the zinc roof structure are tapered, curved, or roof windows are actually apertures. Zinc roofs may also cost extra for homes where access is challenging.
Zinc Roof Alternatives
Copper: It can be purchased in a wide range of finishes, which include bright raw copper and aged Verdigris green copper. After installation, the metal immediately starts oxidising and loses its bright natural patina.
Coated Aluminium: It is both lightweight and comes in a variety of colours. It uses similar installation techniques to those of zinc. However, it cannot be soldered, meaning that some installations have to be approached in a different way.
GreenCoat PLX: It is a coated steel that’s commonly found in Scandinavian countries. It is made using an environmentally-friendly coating such as rapeseed oil. It is the perfect alternative to zinc due to its similar installation technique and lower cost. It is similar in appearance to zinc but can be supplied in RAL colours to match doors and windows.