I have a tiled roof which was wrongly made, it has several problems and it leaks. I tried to repair it several times but the leaks seem to reappear and I made the decision to renew it alltogether.

I have my eye set on an aluminium roof, but I have no experience nor knowledge of the material. Does anybody have an aluminium roof or know about it ?

Is it durable, is it leakfree, where can I find a good roofmaker etc. Any input is very welcome.

Thanks for your help.

I think an aluminium roof is as susceptible to leaks as a tiled roof, possibly more so if badly made.
The real disadvantage of this type of roof in Thailand is the 'noise' factor when it rains!!
If you have a tiled roof already then maybe your best course of action is to get it completely re stripped and relaid. Maybe even have the metal structure of the roof modified. The tiles are probably the most expensive part of the roof.

Hi Bob, that was a fast reply ! Are you talking from experience ? I am not talking about sheets of corrugated iron, but about long sheets of good quality aluminium, therefore I am surpised you say that they are as susceptible to leaks as tiles.
I definitely would perefer the looks of tiles, but I've had enough of leaks. However, see very nice roofs made by professional people, that's true, however can't see the problems with them of course...

If I opt for tiles again, the iron structure needs to be modified for sure. Another problem with tiles is that my partner is so sick of leaks and problems that he won't discuss them any more, however, I am footing the bill

We replaced our cement-panel roof a few years ago with a white aluminum roof. It has a reflective barrier pasted to the underside. Everyone told us it'd be noisy when it rains, but we don't notice any difference (we do have 4" of ceiling insulation, so that might help keep the noise down). The last thing I'd worry about with this roof is a leak or the wind blowing the thing off. It's a solid roof as far as I'm concerned.

we had our terrace roof 20 x 12 meters done two years ago.
no insulation, just aluminium.
when raining its noisy, ok. but i like the sound of heavy rain.
no leaks, nothing.
its easy to fit. for me i think its a very good solution.
next year i will do our main home roof the same way.

I have a corrugated Colourbond Steel roof on my home in Australia. OK not Aluminium but suitable for the heavy rain and high winds plus some bloody big hailstones at times that are similar to Thailand. The sheets were delivered cut to length so no overlaps, all one piece from ridge to gutter.

I have an insulating blanket under the roof plus batts on the ceiling.

I think Bluescope Steel (Lysaghts)have a rolling mill in Thailand and sheets MAY???? be ordered cut to length.

Just something else for you to think about.

John

Oops, I need to waffle a bit on my previous post: we installed a white rolled steel roof....not a white aluminum roof. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, a few years ago, Bluescope only operated in the Bangkok/Phuket areas....but they're now in Udon. The company is highly rated. Even so, we're happy with the quality of our roof.....no leaks, no rust, washes clean in the rain, solid as a rock. You can buy a residential grade or a slighly thicker business grade ....we settled on the thicker grade. I've walked the length and width of the roof and feel very comfortable with the quality/strength of the product.

Aluminium Sux

Now if you want long run water tight, quality BHP Australian, Bluescope High Tensile steel 450Mpa 0.3mm BMT ( base metal thickness ) Colorbond 25 year guarentee rolled and pressed into long run tile shape roofing, then go to the ring road at the junction of the Khon Kane road , Honda dealer on one corner, go anti clockwise on the ring road towards Big C, Just before you get the the railroad crossing 150 mt up from the cross roads, there is a shop there on the left that rolls the roofing, it the first shop, you can see the large coils of metal at the back, the office is on the right of the building through sliding glass doors, the second shop is about 20mt from the rail lines, not a Bluescope dealer.

You can see the roofing being rolled and pressed , they have samples displayed, last price was 220B a m2, some price rises since then, never complaints good service sells and makes flashings, screws, vents.

If you dont like the sound of rain on a hot tin roof , then you put anticon under the roofing, 50mm foil with insulation wool attached to one side to quiten the noise, I insulated my roof space, dampens the sound just enough I love the sound of rain, never bothers me the noise

Master Builder

Kally

So, if I understand you guys well, I should forget about aluminium and go for steel ? What about rust after a while? And what really is the big difference with alu ?
Is the color holding after some years ?

And where is the Bluescope agent in Udon ? Parrot, you know ?

How are the sheets attached to the roof, I only know the cement tyles where holes are created and that leaks for sure.

Apparently there are not many out there having a steel/alu roof, is that only because of its looks.

Anyway, thanks for your input, already a bit wiser, have to wait for the dry season

the roof is high tensile zincalume Steel
Zinc as in galvanizing zinc
Alume as in Aluminium
Steel
specially blended and developed by BHP 35 years ago, better than galvanizing, and the oven baked colorbond, first used it 1974 first year apprentice, still look at the same homes today with the same roof on , no rusting

the roof is screwed down with climaseal tek self drilling hex 50 x 10g 12 pitch 450 mpa steel coated in zinc and color to match your roof
Go to the shop and look at the display
or the Blue scope web site in Oz, same steel, same rollers same product, sold to Thailand in 8000kg rolls, which you can see at the udon press rollers factory near the railway crossing

plenty samples to see there, take the wife and kids for a tour, and pack a lunch and watch the rollers in action making long span water tight roof sheets.

Kally

Kally, I'll have a look when I go to Udon in a few days. It sounds pretty impressive, but I never noticed it when passing there, must get blind or so, next to Volvo I suppose.
Would you think they are willing to make roofs for a 'normal' house ? It sounds an operation that only builds for industrial complexes.

I'll report back to you after I've been there. Thanks for all your info, P.

Kally, Would the material you refer to above, be suitable for a sun canopy on the front of a house? I am looking for something to shield the sun off the front patio doors and wall, so it would need to look fairly classy (about 4m wide X 1.5 -2.0m deep.

Currently I have been looking at the rigid polycarbonate canopies, with the curved shape.

Do they sell Colourbond fencing in udon?

I've had a Zincalum roof since 1993 and it still looks brand new. I walk on it all the time cleaning gutters etc and no problems. My gutters are made of the same material installed at the same time and show no signs of rust. When I built I originally asked for Tiles but by the time it was ready for the Roof I changed my mind. The Roofing guy at the time told me that a Tiled roof over the same area would weigh about three and a half tons but the Zincalum used was about three hundred kilos. As a result my Neibours have spent a lot of money repairing cracks in their internal walls from the weight but I have never had that problem. I highly recomend this material. By the way, I still have'nt had a leak

Ard, A penile catherter will sort out your leak problem.

When Zincalume fiest came out we tested it by blocking the ends of a length of guttering and filled it with a very strong brine solution. No problems after 2 years.

Anyone using Zincalume do not try and solder it, use the approved mastic sealant,

John