Steel tiles

Designing the cover

When you decide to modernize the roofing of your own house or when you decide to build a new roofing for a roof, it is necessary to know the types of tiles used in order to be able to choose the right material according to the slope of the roof. The types of roof are essentially two: the sloping roof, which defines itself in the slope, and the flat one.

The pitched roof can be covered with different materials, the most commonly used is the baked brick, but you can also use tiles in gres, modified bitumen, wood shingles or sheets of metals such as copper, aluminum and steel. When we speak of roof tiles, we can make a distinction between two groups of the cladding tiles and roof tiles. The first one have a semi-cylindrical shape and in the roofing you alternate one posed concave with a convex laid, so as to be clamped. The tiles are rather flat shape in the types called Marseilles and plain tile, or combine a flat part with a curve.

When we speak of a pitched roof, the recommended slope to allow a better water flow is about 30-35%. Slopes of less than this value will return water between a tile and the other, while slopes greater than this require the anchoring of a part or all of the tiles. Another aspect to consider when choosing a roofing material on coverage is undoubtedly its weight.

Tiles made of modified bitumen and copper are the lightest, those in the Roman stoneware or generally weigh more. In addition, when designing a roof there are some fundamental parameters: the static security, the stability in the presence of morphological expansion or shrinkage of the materials, air and water tightness, resistance to shock, intrusion and weathering characteristics thermal and acoustic insulation, electrical safety and fire protection, the absence of harmful emissions, the ability to carry out repairs and maintenance, etc. ..

Technology of steel roofing tiles

Modern studies on materials allowed us to obtain with innovative materials, as can be the steel, coatings very durable, able, however, to preserve the traditional look that has been handed down for centuries in construction practice.

The shape of these tiles truly reflects the typological characteristics of the old Roman tiles, with the only important difference, which stems from the material, the steel which has excellent physical and mechanical characteristics.

The roofs made with this system of steel tiles have been studied with the precise intention of being able to provide a performance that lasts over time, while maintaining quality and appearance, necessitating addition of a poor maintenance.
A very important aspect in the building industry in general, but when it comes to coverage it becomes essential, it is precisely the weight of these items because of their constitution are lightweight, while providing valuable features.

A manufacturer of these types of roofing tiles in pressed steel is the Gerard Roofing System that precisely designs these roofing systems made with steel elements from New Zealand, coated on both sides with a protective layer of zinc-aluminum. An alloy able to combine the protective effect of zinc, with the effect of natural barrier of the aluminum.

The technology of this provides a preventive treatment of the tiles, which are first prepared with a layer of primer, pressed and formed prior to applying the protective layers.

In this way it avoids the problem of micro-cracks that may exist between the folds of the pressed product in the case where the color layer was pre-applied.

How is a steel tiled roof made

Another good example of roof tiles made of steel is the Metrotile roofing, built by the Metro Roof Production, this provides a central part of aluminum coated with a layer of high quality zinc-aluminum and then with a double layer of acrylic.
These types of covers weigh only one-seventh of those made with concrete tiles ensuring very high rates of return associated with the aesthetics of traditional tiles.

The panels for this type of cover to be fixed on a parallel slats laid 368mm away.
On each piece, the lower part, with a lower lip and the upper part, with a fold upwards, guarantee an adequate overlap and, therefore, excellent coverage and resistance to water seepage.

Each panel is attached with nails on top, which is then covered by the overlap of the next tile. The next tile is fixed to the front of the previous one.

Advantages of steel roofing tiles

Surely one of the many benefits that can offer a roof made with steel tiles is its lightness. In fact, the steel tiles allow us to create a very light coverage, about 7 times lighter than a roof tiles or concrete. Obviously the more the roof is slightly lower the load and therefore the pressure that will be imposed on the entire structure of our dwelling.

The steel tiles also do not require excessive maintenance, due both to the nature of the material itself, as the steel is a very durable material, and in all treatments and coatings to which it is subjected. In this way we obtain a significant saving in economic terms, then no actions will be necessary to reinforce the substructure. Moreover, these tiles are very easy to implement and also to carry, because they are so light.