When compared to roofing sheets materials like thatch or roof tiles, which have been in use for hundreds, if not thousands of years, a roofing sheet is a relatively recent type of roof covering. The global roofing industry has advanced as new roofing materials have been developed.
Roof sheets are quickly becoming the go-to choice for homeowners doing do-it-yourself projects like re-roofing their garage or shed. This is largely because roofing sheets’ can be easily installed over other materials. Plus, most roofing sheets are extremely long-lasting, making them an excellent option for a low-maintenance roof.
So which roofing sheet is best for you? That depends on your budget and the project’s needs.
If you are looking for one of the best roofing sheets for your dream house, you must know what its different types are. We have curated the benefits and drawbacks of each major type of roofing sheet in this piece. Read on to find out!
5 Types of Roofing Sheets in India
1. Polycarbonate Roofing Sheets
These types of house roofing sheets are among the least expensive available and are ideal for letting light into the space below. Polycarbonate is the best material for greenhouses, lean-tos, and conservatories because of this. Both solid and corrugated polycarbonate sheets are available in a variety of finishes and thicknesses, ranging from 4 mm to 35 mm. This makes polycarbonate roofing highly customizable.
The type of project you have in mind will determine which polycarbonate sheet is best for you. Consider the durability, light transmission, and aesthetics you need when you choose a polycarbonate roofing sheet. While DIYers can easily install polycarbonate roofing on a timber-framed carport, we recommend hiring a professional if your roof needs self-supporting glazing bars.
Cost: A polycarbonate roof costs around 800/square metre to 1500/square metre, taking into account necessary accessories like glazing bars. Here are a few details of polycarbonate roofing sheets:
Estimated Lifespan: When installed correctly, polycarbonate roofing sheets should last between 15 and 20 years.
Weight: Because polycarbonate is one of the lightest roofing materials available, it is simple to handle and requires little structural support. However, this can make polycarbonate sheets susceptible to lifting in high winds, but secure fixings can prevent this.
Installation: The majority of manufacturers include a complete polycarbonate roofing system with their sheets. This means that you will have ready-made fixings and accessories for your project. A complete roof can be installed in a day because it takes just a few minutes.
Versatility: Polycarbonate sheets can also be installed on roofs with pitches as low as 9 degrees. Cutting them on-site is incredibly simple, allowing you to quickly modify your sheets to fit your project.
Different hues and thicknesses: Polycarbonate is typically available in clear, opal, or bronze finishes, each of which allows for different levels of light to enter the space below. The thicknesses range from 4 mm, which is ideal for making cold frames and cloches, to 25 mm or 35 mm, which is ideal for roofing conservatories.
2. Bitumen Roofing Sheets
Bitumen is one of the popular types of roofing sheets because of its low weight, long lifespan, solid durability, and affordability. Bitumen roofing can last for more than 20 years with minimal upkeep when maintained properly. Also, these roofing sheets’ price is ₹30 per square meter, which is a significant saving over other roofing materials.
Polycarbonate roofing has many advantages that bitumen roofing shares, including its ease of installation. Each sheet has great coverage and only needs 20 fixings to fit your roof securely. Bitumen, on the other hand, is a much more adaptable roofing material that comes in a wider range of colours and finishes.
Cost: Bitumen sheets are cheaper than polycarbonate sheets. You can expect to pay Rs 1,200 per roll of bitumen roof, including accessories and fixings.
Estimated Lifespan: The lifespan of bitumen roofing is comparable to that of polycarbonate, ranging from 15 to 25 years, depending on the conditions and how well it is maintained. The severity of the weather in your area is the primary factor that will affect the durability of bitumen.
Weight: Although bitumen roofing sheets are not quite as light as the majority of polycarbonate, they are still very simple to handle and move around. Because of this, they are ideal for lightweight structures like pergolas, sheds, stables, and more because they are simple to work with and install.
Installation: Installing a bitumen-sheeted roof will take very little time. To keep each sheet secure on the roof without the use of specialist tools, it will need about 20 fixings. The ease of installation makes bitumen a favourite for DIYers.
Versatility: It is impossible to overstate the flexibility of bitumen roofing. Few roofing sheets are as flexible as bitumen, which can be installed on roofs with pitches as low as 5 degrees. When it comes to covering outbuildings like garages, stables, sheds, lean-tos, and many more, they are an excellent choice.
Numerous Colours: The wide variety of colours and finishes available to choose from is what draws homeowners to bitumen roofing the most. Shades like blue, red, black, green, and help homeowners make their property as aesthetic as possible.
3. Metal Roofing Sheet
There are very types of roofing sheets that can match metal roofing sheets in terms of durability and longevity. Metal is a great option if you want top-notch strength, even though they are neither as cost-effective nor as simple to install as other materials. But what’s a little expense when the material will last you for years and years to come? Metal roofing can last for over 40 years.
Cost: This roofing sheet’s price depends upon ranges from moderately high to extremely high, depending on the metal type, brand, sheet size, and style you select.
Weight: Metal roofing is heavy, especially when compared to bitumen or PVC. When installed, metal roof sheets will weigh approximately 6 kg per square metre, which means your structure must be quite strong.
Installation: Even though metal sheets are still relatively light and can be handled by one person, installing them can take a little longer. This is because the required fixings are larger and thicker, requiring more time to fit each sheet.
Versatility: These sheets are suitable for residential projects as well as extensions, park homes, commercial applications, garages, and more. Metal roofing can be installed on roofs with pitches as low as 5 degrees.
Various Profiles:
- Standard corrugated form factor: It is a versatile all-arounder, available for metal roofing.
- Box profiles: These are ideal for industrial or commercial buildings like warehouses.
- Iconic tile effect sheets: These look like roof tiles and are suitable for house roofs.
Choice of Colors: The staggering selection of colours available is yet another reason why metal roofing offers the greatest variety of styles. Colours like classic blacks and fiery reds are among these. You will be able to select the ideal roofing sheet to blend into your existing property thanks to the unique combination of profiles, finishes, and colours.
4. Plastic Roofing Sheets
PVC-based plastic roofing sheets and bitumen roofing sheets are very similar. Homeowners looking for a low-cost, lightweight roof sheet with a corrugated shape will find these plastic sheets to be ideal. Due to their excellent light transmission, these types of house roofing sheets are frequently utilised as a less expensive alternative to roof lights, making it possible to fill a space with light.
PVC roofing only requires basic fixings and flashings to install, as opposed to a complete roofing system with glazing bars and other features. These sheets can also be used with other materials to make a roof that has both opaque and translucent areas that let light into the space below.
Cost: This PVC roofing sheet’s price is ₹50 per sheet, they are durable and despite their low price.
Estimated Lifespan: There are many benefits to using plastic roofing sheets, but longevity is not one of them compared to other materials. When properly installed and maintained throughout their lifetime, these sheets should last approximately 10 years.
Installation: PVC roof sheets are one of the easiest to install, requiring only a few minutes per sheet. These sheets, like bitumen, are very light and only need about 20 fixings per sheet.
Versatility: Even roofs with a slope of just 5 degrees can be covered with plastic roof sheets. Additionally, these sheets can be installed on virtually any building, including garages, lean-tos, and warehouses. They are even frequently used with bitumen sheets.
Colour Options: When compared to highly customizable metal or bitumen sheets, PVC sheets offer a limited selection of colours and finishes. The majority of plastic roofing is available in clear or translucent finishes which is why it transmits light.
5. Fibre Cement Roofing Sheets
Fibre cement roofing sheets are extremely long-lasting and have a lifespan of more than 50 years. These types of house roofing sheets can be used to match almost any building because they are available in a wide variety of elegant colours and finishes. Additionally, fibre cement sheets have distinct advantages over other materials such as breathability, moisture resistance, and long-term viability.
Even though doing it yourself can be more difficult for homeowners, the weight of these sheets contributes to their unparalleled strength. Fibre cement is a popular choice for many people, particularly in rural areas, even though installation can take longer than with other materials due to the unique combination of durability, longevity, and aesthetics.
Cost: Fibre cement roofing sheets price (₹155 to 192 per square metre) in comparison to a great number of other kinds of roofing sheets. This is in part due to the high-quality materials used in its composite construction.
Estimated Lifespan: Fibre concrete sheets will keep going for an extraordinarily significant time frame of 50 years.
Installation: Even though installing fibre cement sheets will typically take longer than installing other sheet materials, the process is still significantly quicker than installing traditional roof tiles.
Versatility: Fibre cement roofing, like a lot of other sheets, can be put on roofs with pitches as low as 5 degrees. They are a popular choice for barns, stables, outbuildings, garages, and other agricultural structures due to their strength and rural appearance. These sheets resist moisture and salt, making them ideal for coastal properties.
Colour Options: These sheets are available in a ton of fashionable colours and profiles. Because of this, selecting the appropriate sheet for you and your project is a breeze.
A Final Word on Best Roofing Sheets for a House
Sheets for roofing are made for a variety of uses and are used for many different kinds of roofing in residential and commercial construction. Even though they are all used for different purposes, each roofing sheet has its distinct function and quality. The lifespan, cost of maintenance, and durability of your roof are all influenced by the roofing material used to build your home or business. Make sure you’ve done your research and know which roofing sheets are best for you before you go shopping.
