Metrotile Lightweight Roofing

Since our first article in HA flagging up lightweight metal roofing systems as a viable and attractive option for social housing related roofing projects, we at Metrotile have had a load of requests for more information, many of which highlighted that the enquirer didn’t really understand the concept of lightweight metal roofing, so we’re taking the opportunity to revisit the basic information we shared to re-introduce readers to what exactly it is and what it can do for you and your projects.

For many people mention a ‘metal’ roofing system and they will conjure up a vision of corrugated metal sheets on a shed roof. They are missing out on possibly the most sustainable, eco-friendly and low maintenance roofing systems available in today’s roofing sector.

Many people have now heard of lightweight metal roofing systems, but many have not seen one in action. Because they look so much like a traditional roof, its easy to miss. A recent example of an award winning roof from Metrotile is the replacement roof for a hospital in South Wales.

When Metrotile was asked to provide options for re-roofing part of Glanrhyd Hospital in South Wales, the company’s Barry Jordan suggested Metrotile Woodshake for a number of reasons and John Rhys-Williams, the Project Officer for Capital Planning agreed.

In these difficult times, it’s important to look at your options when making a decision on which type of roof to use on new build or replacement roofing projects and to consider why it is that many social housing organisations are switching to using lightweight metal roofing systems for a number of their projects.

The list of benefits that come with using steel roofing panels is a long one and its one that needs careful consideration before going with more expensive options. Can these lightweight metal roofing systems be cost effective and easy to fit, as well as looking good?

When you’re looking for a roofing solution for social housing – for either new build or replacement roofs – you should take a closer look at the option of lightweight metal roofing from Metrotile. Amongst the benefits is a 40 year weatherproof guarantee that comes with the tiles.

Light metal roofing systems are widely used for a range of roofing requirements from housing association, local authority and private development housing projects, to health centres, leisure centres, fire stations, ambulance stations, refurbishment projects for BISF and Cornish projects, park homes, garden rooms and conservatories and in modular building projects where roofs are assembled off site and transported to site. Its flexibility is the key to its success.

UK manufacturing is at a seven month high, accounts for around 10% of economic output and employs around 2.6million workers, whilst construction accounts for around 7% of economic output and employs approximately 1.4million workers.

Increased labour rates and shortage of skilled labour is going to be an issue in traditional construction and it will drive prices up and cause project programmes to lengthen.

I hear every day from roofing contractors across the UK and other areas of construction, of how less and less trades people are now available.

For a number of years now, we have used the line ‘The Roof Tile Has Evolved’ in our advertising and branding. Metrotile isn’t just an alternative roofing tile – it’s the next evolutionary step. Roofing has evolved frequently as long as it’s been needed, and despite being a long way from widespread use of the thatched roof, living in the 21st century doesn’t mean that the design and materials of the roof should remain stagnant; there are certain alternative roofing materials that exceed the benefits of what can be expected from a roof tile.

Metrotile Lightweight Roofing originated in New Zealand over 40 years ago, demonstrating that you should expect so much more from a product as established as the traditional roof tile.

The concept is deceptively simple – press roof tiles from a highly durable, modern material (in this case, the highest quality steel), galvanise with an aluminium, magnesium and zinc (ZAM) compound and cover with a stone-chip coating. The result is a roof tile that, to this day, exceeds the expectations of a traditional modern roof tile by a significant margin and can be seen on rooftops all over the world.