Roofing Materials
Your roofing system plays a crucial role in protecting your home from harsh weather and natural elements. It also significantly influences the overall appearance and value of your property. Choosing the right roof type and roofing material is essential for long-lasting performance and aesthetic appeal. Explore our guide to the most common roof shapes and discover the best roofing materials for each.
Whether you’re considering pitched roofs, flat roofs, tile roofing, or slate roofing, we’ve got expert advice to help you make the right choice.
Roof tiles
Affordable & Versatile Roofing Option
Roof tiles remain one of the most popular roofing choices for homeowners across the UK. Available in both concrete and clay, they offer a cost-effective, durable solution that suits a wide range of roof designs and budgets.
Roof tiles come in various shapes and profiles, making them suitable for different roof pitches and aesthetic preferences.
Whether you're looking for affordable roofing materials or a timeless look, clay and concrete roof tiles are ideal for both traditional and modern homes. Their long lifespan and low maintenance make them a smart investment for any roofing project.
Slate Roof Tiles
Stylish and Long-Lasting Roofing Options
Roof shingles, including artificial and natural slates, have been trusted roofing materials for decades. In recent years, artificial slate shingles have become increasingly popular thanks to their affordable price and lightweight design, making them a great alternative to traditional roof tiles.
For those seeking premium quality, natural slate roofing offers unmatched durability, minimal moss growth, and a classic appearance that can last a lifetime. Pricing depends on the type of slate chosen and the surface area to be covered, but both options provide reliable, attractive roofing solutions for any home.
Thatched Roof
Traditional Charm with Natural Insulation
Thatched roofing adds timeless charm and character to any property, making it a popular choice for cottages and countryside homes. It can be installed using either an open or closed construction, each offering its benefits depending on design preference and maintenance considerations.
A properly maintained reed thatch roof can last up to 35 years, providing excellent natural insulation, often eliminating the need for additional roof insulation. With its eco-friendly properties and distinctive aesthetic, thatched roofing remains a stylish and sustainable roofing solution.
EPDM Roofing
Premium Flat Roof Solution with Long-Term Benefits
EPDM roofing (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a high-performance rubber roofing material known for its durability and longevity. Ideal for flat roofs, EPDM offers numerous advantages—it’s low-maintenance, crack-resistant, UV-stable, and fully walkable year-round.
Although it is one of the more premium-priced roofing options, EPDM is widely recognised for its superior quality and lifespan, often lasting over 50 years with minimal upkeep. As the modern alternative to traditional flat roofing systems, EPDM is the go-to choice for homeowners seeking a reliable, weatherproof, and energy-efficient solution.
Zinc Roofing
Flexible, Durable & Architecturally Striking
Zinc roofing is an excellent choice for modern and uniquely shaped roofs, thanks to its flexibility and adaptability. Ideal for curved, round, or spherical roof designs, zinc offers both design freedom and a sleek, contemporary look.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, zinc is extremely durable, with a lifespan of 50–100 years, and is 100% recyclable, making it a sustainable roofing solution.
Once seen primarily on historic buildings, zinc roofing has seen a resurgence in popularity for both residential and commercial architecture due to its low maintenance and long-term performance.
Sloping Roof
Pitched Roofs:
Popular, Practical & Perfect for Extra Space
The pitched roof remains the most popular roof style in the UK—and for good reason. Suitable for almost any architectural design, a sloped roof offers excellent drainage, enhanced insulation, and valuable additional space for loft conversions or storage.
When constructing a sloping roof, roofers typically use purlins, prefabricated trusses, or prefab roof elements as the base. A purlin roof is completed with rafters, an internal roof layer, counter battens, and battens.
A trussed roof includes a roof underlay along with battens and counter battens, while prefab roof systems integrate insulation, a vapour barrier, interior finishing, and inner roofing—all in one streamlined solution.
Roof Tiles
-
baked clay tiles: extremely solid tiles with a long lifespan
-
plain tiles: flat tiles without ripples;
-
concrete tiles: cheaper than baked tiles and choice of more variations and colours.
Slates
-
natural slate: expensive but authentic and they last a long time;
-
artificial slate: made out of fibre cement.
Metal Roofing
-
metal tile sheets: sheets of steel or aluminium with the look of roof tiles. The system is easily placed and it is not as heavy as a roofing with real tiles;
-
zinc slates: they have the same look as a natural slate, although they are a little bit bigger;
-
zinc, aluminium or copper strips: as time goes by, a patina will be formed. This gives protection (longer lifespan) and a nice colour to the roof.
Other Matyerials
-
corrugated sheets: are profiled, double compressed fibre cement sheets;
-
shingles: this is a bituminous roofing material equipped with fibreglass and especially used on garden houses and extensions. They are protected and decorated by granular minerals or a thin copper layer and they are available in various shapes and colours;
-
bitumen roof shingle: an imitation of slates in bitumen. The low weight also allows a lighter roof construction;
-
reed: this used to be a cheap roofing material in the past. Nowadays, it is mostly used for bigger villas, outbuildings or prestige projects. Reed has great insulating qualities but it is more expensive than roof tiles. It is best to entrust this to specialists.
-
polycarbonate is a transparant, alternative roofing material which is especially used on sloped or flat greenhouses, verandas and carports.