Roofing, Gutters and Skylights

The right roof for your house will be one that meets your design brief, performs well, and is appropriate to local environmental conditions. A roof that looks great but is wrong for the local climate may be short-lived, with serious consequences for the structure of your home. So whether it’s a new build or a reroof, choose carefully and seek advice from professionals.

Roofing materials: classification
Rooﬁng products are deﬁned as lightweight or heavyweight depending upon their classiﬁcation within the New Zealand Standard (NZS) 3604. A lightweight material is one that weighs under 20 kg per square metre when ﬁxed and ﬁnished on the roof. There are two widely used products within the light rooﬁng classiﬁcation; both use steel as the core – longrun steel and metal tiles. Other products that can fall within the lightweight code include bituminous shingles, ﬁbre cement tiles, wooden shingles and some slate products. Heavyweight materials range between 20 and 60 kg per square metre. They include concrete tiles and most slate products. Concrete tiles generally weigh around 45 kg per square metre.

For all types of rooﬁng NZS3604 ensures there are standards deﬁned for structural performance, ﬁxing standards, etc., thus all of the various mainstream rooﬁng systems can be considered safe. However, achieving these standards may only be accomplished through additional expense in timber and framing – hence it is essential to talk with your designer, builder or architect about the design and structural requirements for the various rooﬁng options available; it may be that they need to reinforce trusses, frames, etc. to achieve sufficient strength. They can show you the speciﬁc cost savings or penalties involved for each rooﬁng product.

Choosing roofing materials
The chief materials used on roofs include concrete and clay (terracotta) tiles; long-run steel (or other metal, such as copper); metal tiles; wooden shingles; and membranes (for ﬂat roofs).

Concrete and clay tiles require less maintenance than most other rooﬁng materials. They also perform well in windy zones, reduce airborne sound, and help provide effective thermal insulation, while allowing moisture vapour to escape. Water runoff from these tiles does not contain pollutants such as zinc or aluminium ions.

Long-run steel is made from coils of steel, usually but not always painted, that are formed into a variety of long-run proﬁles. They extend as one sheet with laps along edges and ridges. There are many more options for proﬁles than just standard corrugated iron. Select the right grade of metal for the location of your house – for instance, if you’re at a coastal location. Note that non-standard colours on colour-coated metal rooﬁng may have longer delivery times and cost more.

Metal tiles are individually pressed from blanks of primed or painted steel. They are available in a range of proﬁles designed to achieve different appearances on the roof, and there are various protective finishes. When coatings are applied after pressing, protection is high, as there is a reduced tendency for microcracking (where the paint cracks microscopically at bent edges and exposes the base metal to direct contact with the elements).
Design considerations

Make sure the material will perform at the pitch of your roof; some tiles won’t perform at less than 12 degrees to the horizontal, for instance.
If you’re building a new home, keep the roof as simple as possible; the more flashings and joins that are required, the greater the risk of leaks.
Similarly, keep holes in the roof to a minimum! Flues, roof windows, chimneys, etc., will all need professional weather-proofing.

Skylights

If your home is dark inside, consider adding a skylight or two. Windows in your ceiling will admit natural light into your home, while keeping the warmth in. They are great to have for aesthetics and comfort, as well as being great for the environmentally conscious because it negates adding in additional lighting.

Creative use of Skylights now includes roof glass that can be located above beds or living rooms, and even on flat roofs.

Skylight Benefits
Natural lighting is an important tool in attaining sustainability. The generation of electricity is one of the largest contributors of pollution in the United States, which produces harmful chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, carbon, and mercury emissions. Production of electric power can also be linked with other environmental issues such as the impact on water quality, increased production wastes, and a growing number of industrial zones. Therefore, reduction in the use of artificial lighting is vital.

The benefits of skylights extend beyond our environment to our own personal well-being. The increase in natural light that a skylight provides can have a variety of physical and psychological benefits. Skylights help to not only bring new life to a room, but also improve our health and happiness as well.

Why Install a Skylight?
Reduced energy consumption. The lessened dependency on artificial lighting can help reduce the use of electricity by as much as 10% and lower heating bills.

Reduction of mildew or mold buildup. Most diseases, especially chronic respiratory problems, are often associated with bacterial and fungal buildup in damp areas such as basements and bathrooms. Natural lighting can naturally lessen the production of harmful organisms. Sunlight is considered to be one of the best natural disinfectants.

Healthy dose of vitamin D. Ample amounts of sunlight can prevent vitamin D and B1 deficiencies that may cause diseases such as rickets and beriberi.

Improved performance due to change in working environment. Many case studies have been conducted that show significant improvements in employee performance where natural lighting has been introduced into their work environment.

Increased visual appeal to interiors. Natural illumination is still the best type of lighting system used in interior design. It can be a challenging, yet rewarding task to successfully incorporate natural light into a structure or building. Daylight provides better aesthetics, better color, better definition of space, and highlights architectural details.

Overall Health Benefits
Natural sunlight is a free and available mood enhancer. It encourages us to produce vitamin D and protects us from seasonal mood changes.

Poor lighting can cause eye fatigue and headaches, which can make us feel depressed or ill.

Insufficient natural lighting can trigger depression and even have a negative effect on our immune system.

Bright lighting stimulates the mind (which is why it’s great for task illumination) while dim illumination quiets our senses and can make us feel drowsy (which is why it’s great for the bedroom).

Natural lighting stimulate faster recovery from illness or operations.

Sunlight can help to lower blood pressure, which can lead to reduced stress and a variety of other health benefits.
More on Energy Effeciency
White translucent acrylic transmits more light than heat. When the sun shines on the white acrylic dome, the light is transmitted into the room evenly and consistently. This creates a soft, cool light with minimal glare that brings out the natural colors of a room. Transparent glazing, such as bronze acrylic or low e* coated insulated glass, will let in more heat than light. Because the light from the sun travels through the transparent material with little obstruction, the intensity of the sun’s heat passes right through into the area below. The amount of light entering the room is greatly reduced whenever the sun is not directly over the skylight. If you want to view the sky outside, you will not have the advantages of diffused light and your room will likely be much hotter in the summer. Adding a layer of diffusing white translucent acrylic always reduces more heat than light. We guarantee the light to heat ratio of your choice with white acrylic glazing.

Gutters and Spouting

Gutters and spouting have a key role to play (as you’ll discover during the next downpour). Visually, too, they’re more than an afterthought – they can define the entire look of a roof, and make or mar the general appearance of your house.

Design considerations
Check out colours and materials – there are many alternatives to white plastic, including copper and coloured steel. Plus there is a whole range of proﬁles for both gutters and downspouts to match various home styles. Choose a colour that complements the roof and external house colour, or the doors and window frames.

Practicalities

If you’ve moved house, or have contracted builders to install new gutters, check the following:
Do the gutters have the correct drop to ensure no pooling of water?
Are the gutters installed in such a way that overflow from blockage or heavy rain does not flow into wall cavities?
Are the gutters securely fixed and do not sag in places, or have loose sections that require affixing or cementing or sealing?
Are the downspouts in the correct location so they don’t interfere with external features or the lines of your home?