Roof sheets were once largely reserved for commercial buildings, but with all the new types available, homeowners are increasingly using them for roofs in their private homes. Roof sheets are sturdy and durable, and they go up quickly.
Advantages of roof sheets
It takes a large number of shingles to cover the roof of even a modest house. Each shingle must be laid separately, leaving tons of ridges and notches. These obstacles might appear tiny and insignificant, but they have a profound impact on your roof’s “shedding” ability. In other words, the small ridges made by the rows of shingles hold onto rainwater, snow, and ice, taking them longer to shed.
Since roof sheets come in large panels, there are far fewer ridges, nooks, and crannies. There’s little to impede the downward progression of snow, rain, and ice, so these elements shed much faster from roof sheets than they do traditional shingles.
The advantage of the larger sizes of roof sheets becomes readily apparent during a roofing job. One panel covers a lot of areas, so the labor involved with roofing a building or home with roof sheets is a fraction of what it would take to lay shingles on the same roof.
Types of roof sheets
There are two major types of roof sheets – flat and corrugated. The flat roof sheets are flat, while the corrugated roof sheets consist of a series of ridges and valleys. They somewhat resemble corduroy.
Corrugated roof sheets are much more popular with homeowners. When the roof sheets are rolled to corrugate them, the panels’ strength is increased. Also, the corrugated roof panels are made to fit perfectly over the next sheet, creating a seamless joint.
Roof sheets are made of several different materials. One is steel that has been galvanized to make it more weather-resistant. Steel roof sheets are extremely tough and resistant to dents, so they’re often recommended for buildings in areas with frequent violent storms. Stainless steel roof sheets are similar to galvanized sheets, but the stainless panels will look new for a longer period of time. The stainless steel sheets are not as strong as the galvanized steel roof sheets, however.
Aluminum roof sheets are resilient to corrosion, and they maintain their good looks and help reflect the hot rays of the sun. The aluminum roof sheets aren’t as strong as the galvanized or stainless roof sheets. One of the longest-lasting materials for roof sheets is fiberglass. Thick fiberglass roof sheets will probably last for many years.
Plastic is another popular material for roof sheets. It’s lightweight, and since most brands are UV light-resistant, the panels keep their colors without fading. One disadvantage to plastic roof sheets is that they’re not as strong as metal roof sheets.
Where to buy roof sheets
Roof sheets are popular, so you should be able to find them at home improvement centers. Even so, they’ll probably have to be specially ordered.
To find the largest collection of colors and styles, along with very competitive pricing, shop for roof sheets online.
Corrugated Roofing Sheets
Corrugated roofing sheets have been used on commercial buildings for years, and now homeowners are catching on. The sheets are attractive, tough, durable, and easy to use.
What are corrugated roofing sheets?
Corrugated roofing sheets are roofing panels that have been corrugated. In other words, the sheets have been rolled to create a scalloped appearance. A corrugated panel is much stronger than the same panel would be if it were flat. The last row of the panel overlaps the next panel, with a perfect fit.
Corrugated roofing panels are much smoother than traditional shingles, so they shed water and snow much more quickly than their shingle cousins. Because they come in sheets instead of individual shingles, the corrugated roofing sheets go up soon, too, so there’s much less installation time involved.
Different types of corrugated roofing sheets
Corrugated roofing sheets might be made of plastic, fiberglass, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. Each type has its advantages.
Plastic – Plastic corrugated roofing sheets are attractive and lightweight. Made of PVC material, the color of the panels is resistant to fading. They’re also corrosive-proof, and the quality brands don’t get brittle because they’re resistant to UV light. The PVC corrugated roofing panels are also easy to clean, but they’re not as tough as steel panels. These panels come in several opaque colors and in clear. Different thicknesses and lengths are also available.
Fiberglass – Fiberglass corrugated roofing panels are extremely tough. They come in several thicknesses, and the thickest ones on the market will stand up to hail, heavy snow, and high winds and should last for decades. The panels are available in clear or in opaque white. A few other colors are also available.
Steel – Corrugated roofing sheets made of steel are the strongest type. If the steel is not galvanized, however, the sheets will rust when exposed to moisture. Steel roofing panels are the best choice for homes or buildings in areas with strong or violent storms because the panels will resist denting. The panels are available in several colors and pattern formations, including those that resemble a traditional Spanish-style terracotta roof.
Stainless steel – Stainless steel roofing panels are more expensive than galvanized steel panels. They maintain their looks longer, but they’re not as strong as the galvanized steel corrugated roofing panels.
Aluminum – Aluminum corrugated roofing sheets are not as strong as sheets made of stainless or galvanized steel, but they’re naturally resistant to corrosion. Aluminum sheets are easy to clean and are practically maintenance-free. Because of its reflective properties, aluminum will help keep your home cool in the summer months. Aluminum isn’t naturally brittle, either.
Copper – Copper corrugated roofing sheets are very expensive. The roofs are beautiful, and over time they’ll develop a lovely patina. Copper roofing is often made from 95% recycled copper, so it’s very “green.”