ROOFING MATERIALS

• Roofing Materials – A Basic Guide on Roofing Requirements in the

Philippines. by DJL | Aug 10, 2018 |
• This basic guide covers the roofing materials needed when one is
considering constructing an efficient roofing. It is worth noting that
the topic revolves around common roofing materials that are
currently practiced in the Philippines. More importantly, there are
three major components when talking about roofing materials. These
are the following: roofing panels, bendable and hardware materials.
• Roofing Panels – Main Roofing Materials
• When it comes to roofing, a major part of it are the roofing
panels. From all the components, they are the most expensive due to
the fact that they make up 85% of all the roofing materials. There are
a number of factors that contributes to the different variation of a
panel. Some of these are thickness, roof profiles and color. From all
the factors listed, thickness plays a crucial role when related to the
overall cost of the materials. Moreover, the usual ranges of thickness
covers from 0.30 to 0.60 millimeter and the most common design are 
rib type roofs and corrugated roofs.  
•
•
• Gauge Wheel – Measuring Steel Thickness
• As have mentioned, thickness is the most important factor when talking
about roofing panels. Since the differences between the usual ranges are
minute, it can be difficult to determine the thickness through the naked eye.
That is why a specific tool called Sheet Metal Gauge or Gauge Wheel was
invented. It is a circular steel wheel full of gaps with a certain number
indicated per gap. The larger the gauge number the thinner the steel. It can
be used by continuously inserting the steel sheet through a gap until a perfect
fit is identified. For each gap number, it can tell various details about the
material. For brevity’s sake, we are only concerned about the thickness
(millimeters) with the range of 0.30 – 0.60. The table below relates the usual
ranges of roofing panels to the gap number.
•
• Number of Gauge Approximate Thickness (mm)
• 
• 29 0.343
• 28 0.378
• 27 0.417
• 26 0.455
• 25 0.531
• 24 0.607
• 
• An alternative to the sheet metal gauge is the digital caliper. It works
by pressing the release button and inserting the metal sheet betwook
the “hook” like structure of the device. Finally, the thickness of the
metal will then be displayed on its display.
• Roof Ridges – Intersecting Roofing Materials
• The second from the list are bendable materials. They are usually
applied on ridges. To be precise, ridges in the roof system are defined as
the horizontal top area where two sloped roof areas intersect. Placing a
cap on these ridges will ensure a watertight roofing system. Commonly,
there are two roofing materials available namely; (1) Ridge Caps and
(2) Ridge Rolls. The only difference between the two are
their appearances and what particular roofing profile they go with. For
aesthetic purposes, we usually recommend that Ridge Caps should be
coupled with Tile Spans roofing profiles. Contrary, Ridge Rolls should be
used together with Rib and Corrugated roofing profiles.
•
• Roof Gutters – Funneling Water Flow
• The primary purpose of roof gutters are to direct the flow of water away from
the house. Too much water falling near the house can erode the soil
and weaken the foundation. After the gutter collects the water, it passes it on
downspouts and letting the water flow harmlessly away. Just like roofing
panels, their thickness are usually 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 (millimeters). They also have
an attribute of width which comes in various sizes. For our product listing we
offer 6”, 9”, 12”, 16”, 18”, 24”, 36” and 48” (inches). Lastly, the design
commonly used in the Philippines are Box gutters and Spanish gutters. In some
instances, depending on the preference of the architect they can file a custom
design for their gutters. Lastly, homeowners can opt for stainless roof gutters
 for the added durability with the cost of a higher price.
•
• Roof Flashing – Preventing Water Leaks
• Flashing provides an extra protection against water leaks where two
opposing roofing material intersect. There many known types of flashing
and some of the notable ones are Wall, L and End. Wall flashing as the
name suggests is steel embedded into a wall thus redirecting water flow
outside when water sips into concrete. On the contrary, L flashing is
regularly placed on two different unequal roofing surface. This
minimizes water penetration where potential water leaks are likely to
occur. Lastly, End flashing are placed between gutters and roofing
panels. Since the space between these two roofing material are where
water regularly flows, adding an extra layer of protection is necessary.
•
• Hardware Materials – Fasteners and Miscellaneous 
• Hardware materials are the last roofing components. The installation
phase of the project requires these materials. Its primary purpose is
to ensure that all components are effectively and tightly connected
with each other. Fasteners usually involve materials
like rivets and tek screws.
•
• Insulation – Climate Control
• Insulation plays a crucial role in the roofing system. The primary
purpose of this roofing material is to reduce the rate of heat transfer.
Commonly, Polyethylene (PE) Foam are used for insulation. Though it
plays a crucial role in the finishing touches in the roofing system, it is
one of the most costly materials to integrate.
•
• Sealants – Finishing Touches
• Sealants are also part of roofing materials since it plays a role in
preventing water leaks on roof surfaces. It is normally applied
on rivets during the installation phase when it is preferred. However,
it is commonly known that homeowners use this when water leakage
is detected. This application is considered to be a “hotfix” and should
not be treated as a permanent fix to the problem. The best course of
action is to locate the leak and consider re-applying a roofing program
for the house.
•
• Rib Type Roof
• Rib type roof is a popular roofing profile when it comes to metal
color roofing. Due to their long effective width, they offer cost-
effective solutions to roofing systems. The term ‘rib’ is derived from
having the metal sheet bended similar to a plateau shape which is
followed by a long flat surface. This in turns forms a rib throughout
the metal panel, hence the name.
•
• Different Kinds of Rib Roofs
• Depending on the roofing supplier, the manner on how they are
bended differs with each other. They mostly differ
in looks, width and color. Deciding what to get can be easily
influenced by the budget of the roofing project. Getting the design
with the longest width results to a more cheaper cost. The
appearance and the color also varies depending on the vendor. On
our roofing product catalog, we have several design of rib type roofs
which can also have different colors.
• Rib Type Roof Specifications
•
• Advantages of Rib Type Roofs
• Lower Cost
• As what have been mentioned, they are the most cost-effective design across the
different profiles. Having a longer width results to less required roofing materials to
cover a designated area. This evidently yields lower total roofing cost.
• Various and Modern Design
• In terms of their appearances, they are favored by homeowners when compared to
corrugated roof types. Since corrugated roof are often related to having a traditional
look, rib roofs offer an alternative profile to pick from. Moreover due to their
popularity, vendors are manufacturing it with different appearances. This allows
roofing contractors to have the extra flexibility when deciding what to purchase.
• Different Applications
• The rib roof is not limited to residential types of projects. They are also vastly
applied on industrial structures. One concrete example are warehouses. Due to
their cost effectiveness  and ease of installation, they are the number one go to
pick when selecting the design of the roof. Moreover aside from the roofing
system of the warehouse, they are also applied on the “sidings”. This results on a
type of application we call as cladding. Some more examples include poultry
farms, cow sheds and stables.
• Ease of Installation
• Because of the way rib roofs are bended, the panels easily locked together when
they are lapped. This favors roofing contractors as installing them will be much
easier. This results to faster completion of the roofing system.
• Disadvantage of Rib Type Roofs
• One notable disadvantage of rib roofs are the weak area of its flat
surface. This particular are prone to damages and is considered to be
the weakest part of the metal panel. If an inexperience roofer stepped
on this, the material may be damaged. Hence, it is alright to use this
profile as long as it is handled with care.
• Steps in Installing Rib Type Roofs
• Step 1 – Safety Measure and Tool Checking
• Before any installation procedures can occur, it is important to be equipped with the
appropriate safety gears. These includes having a safety harness, boots, hard hat and
handling gloves. Moreover, one of the essentials in safety is having a lifeline. A
proper installed lifeline will prevent any unfortunate accidents when the roofer falls
or slips from the roof.
• Aside from the safety gears, it is also important to check that all hardware tools
required by the roofer is already with him. More importantly these are the fasteners
(self-drilling screws), tin snips and the electric drill. This improves labor efficiency as
it allows the continuous work of the roofer to install the panels. Lastly, a good utility
belt is helpful when handling all these types of tools within the reach of the roofer.
• Step 2 – Measure the Length
• Before any hard heavy lifting can occur on the metal panels, it is important to do a last minute check on
the length. This ensures that no cutting will happen when the panels are lifted up on the structure. Not
only this will improve the efficiency of the roofer but also reduce the risk of any accidents from
happening. Any procedures on top of the structure should only be reserved for lapping and fastening the
panels together.
• 
• Step 3 – Lifting Up the Metal Panels
• This step is considered to be the most tedious and dangerous across all the procedures. This mainly
involves transporting the panels on the roofing system. Moreover, this procedure is highly dependent on
the site structure. The more storeys a house has the more tedious the job will be. Lifting the panels can
be done in different ways. For residential projects, a ladder or a rope will do the job. For big industrial
projects, a crane may be required to lift the roofing materials. Lastly, a ground personnel is required to
guide the roofer pulling at the other end. Furthermore, this personnel is also responsible for preventing
any bystanders from walking near the site during this delicate process. 
• Step 4 – Lapping
• After the panels have been transferred at the top, it’s time to connect
them with each other. It is worth mentioning again that this is one of
the advantages of this design. Depending on the design of the rib
roof, the number of ribs to be lapped varies. On our end, we only
require a single lapping of rib when connecting two panels.
• Step 5 – Fastening
• Through the use of self-drilling screws, the components are fastened
together. The screws must be placed on top of the rib and must
penetrate the purlins. For overlapping layers ensure that the two
panels are aligned and before fastening.
• 
• Corrugated Roof
• 
• Definition of Corrugated Roofs
• Corrugated roof is a roofing profile when it comes to galvanized color
roofing. Their design in a way similar to a “wave-like” structure. They
offer an alternative design to roofing when compared to rib-type and tile
span profiles. One of the notable feature it has is its durability. The
formation of multiple grooves and ridges from the metal panel leads to
increased strength of this design. Moreover because of its characteristics,
they add an extra protection agains the elements of weather.
• Different Kinds of Corrugated Roofs
• Depending on the roofing supplier, the manner on how they are bended differs with
each other. Unlike the rib-type and tile spans, this design has little room for the
variation of its appearances. Picking out the right kind of corrugated roof greatly
depends on the aesthetic preference of the decision maker. The color also varies
depending on the roofing supplier. On our roofing product catalog, we have two
notable designs of corrugated roofs which can have several colors to pick from.
• Corrugated Roof Specifications
• On our product listing, there are various kinds of corrugated roofs. Below are some of
the types we manufacture. The primary difference between the two are their effective
widths. With respect to our product lines, Florence 1 has an effective coverage of 955
millimeters while Florence 2 has an effective coverage of only 760 millimeters.
• Advantages of Corrugated Roofs
• Durability
• Because of their design, they are the most durable across the 3 common profiles of metal
roofing. The short surface area of this design results to a more stronger property. With the
same concept of a cardboard box, the paper is bent to form multiple grooves. This increases
the overall durability of the paper. The same is true when bending metal panels to achieve a
similar result.
• Ease of Installation
• Just like rib type roofs, they are fairly easy to install. Ensuring that the “waves” are perfectly
aligned together is the essential part during installation. Moreover, roofing suppliers
provides panels according to the length of the structure. This is what we refer to as “cut-to-
size” yero. This minimizes any further cutting done by a roofer when the materials arrived at
the site.
• Disadvantages of Corrugated Roofs
• Shorter Widths
• One disadvantage of this profile is its shorter width when compared to rib type roofs.
The average effective width of rib type is at least 1 meter. However because of the way
on how they are bended, some corrugated roof designs can be less than 1 meter.
Because of this, more roofing panels are required to cover an area. This might lead to
higher cost for the roofing project.
• Traditional Design
• One major disadvantage in this design is its appearances. There is this notion of having
a traditional or old look when using this profile. However, not all are discouraged by
the aesthetic features of this material. In fact, they are highly favored by a niche
market. This is true for schools and residential structures around rural areas.
• Steps in Installing Corrugated Roofs
• Safety Measure and Tool Checking – Step 1
• Before any installation procedures can occur, it is important to be equipped with the
appropriate safety gears. These includes having a safety harness, boots, hard hat and
handling gloves. Moreover, one of the essentials in safety is having a lifeline. A
proper installed lifeline will prevent any unfortunate accidents when the roofer falls
or slips from the roof.
• Aside from the safety gears, it is also important to check that all hardware tools
required by the roofer is already with him. More importantly these are the fasteners
(self-drilling screws), tin snips and the electric drill. This improves labor efficiency as
it allows the continuous work of the roofer to install the panels. Lastly, a good utility
belt is helpful when handling all these types of tools within the reach of the roofer.
• Measure the Length – Step 2
• Before any hard heavy lifting can occur on the metal panels, it is important to do a last minute check
on the length. This ensures that no cutting will happen when the panels are lifted up on the structure.
Not only this will improve the efficiency of the roofer but also reduce the risk of any accidents from
happening. Any procedures on top of the structure should only be reserved for lapping and fastening
the panels together.
• Lifting Up the Metal Panels – Step 3
• This step is considered to be the most tedious and dangerous across all the procedures. This mainly
involves transporting the panels on the roofing system. Moreover, this procedure is highly dependent
on the site structure. The more storeys a house has the more tedious the job will be. Lifting the panels
can be done in different ways. For residential projects, a ladder or a rope will do the job. For big
industrial projects, a crane may be required to lift the roofing materials. Lastly, a ground personnel is
required to guide the roofer pulling at the other end. Furthermore, this personnel is also responsible
for preventing any bystanders from walking near the site during this delicate process. 
• Lapping – Step 4
• After the panels have been transferred at the top, it’s time to install the first panel. Ensure
that the initial panel is placed near the edge of the structure. Afterwards, fasten it through
the use of a self-drilling screws (Refer to Step 5). Depending on the roofer, they might opt for
a single or a double lap when connecting the two panels altogether. Personally we advise in
applying a double lap for the extra protection against water leaks.
• Fastening – Step 5
• Through the use of self-drilling screws, the components are fastened together. The screws
must be placed on top of the “wave” and must penetrate the purlins. For overlapping layers
ensure that the two panels are aligned before fastening. It is also advisable to run the screws
vertically. One important note is not to over-tighten the fastener to the metal sheets. These
can result into having the rubber washer to break which can lead to water leaks. To finish the
roofing system, do step 4 and 5 repeatedly until the designated area is covered.