CHAPTER 15

ROOFING MATERIALS

I. INTRODUCTION
The Philippines has a tropical climate characterized by high temperature, humidity, and
abundant rainfall. When building up a home, the first thought that crosses our mind is how
to keep it cool in a natural way and to protect it from the weather. The house roof is the
frontline warrior, protecting it from the sun, rain, and harmful radiation. However, it’s
essential to choose the roofing materials judiciously, or else the purpose of having a ‘roof
over the head’ is not fulfilled. The professional architects emphasize the careful
construction of roofs built using the best materials for a comfortable home.

II. OBJECTIVES
1. Know the different roofing materials used in the Philippines

III. KEY CONCEPTS

What is a roof?
A roof is a structure forming the upper covering of a building or other shelter. Its
primary purpose is generally to provide protection from the elements, but it may also
contribute to safety, security, privacy, insulation, and so on.

Roofs may have openings or windows within them to allow light into the buildings, as
well as providing, access, ventilation, views, and so on. They also frequently include
other features such as chimneys, communications infrastructure, building services,
drainage, lighting, access routes, and so on.

Roofs can be constructed from a wide variety of materials and in a wide variety of
shapes depending on the requirements they have to satisfy, the local climate, the
availability of materials and skills, the span to be covered, and so on.
What is Roof Construction?
In the process of building homes and other structures, one of the most important
features is the roof. The roof provides the building with interior protection from the
elements by way of a weatherproof outer shell. This protection is important, so roof
construction is one of the first things to be handled after the basic framing of the
building's exterior and load-bearing walls is in place on most construction sites.
There are many different methods of roof construction that vary according to local
conditions, product availability and local customs.

The biggest component of roof construction is achieving a suitable design. The

design of roof includes three main elements: the roofing materials used, the
construction process and the overall durability and cost-effectiveness of the roof for
the application. These three factors are the deciding elements for the
appropriateness of a particular roof for a given application.

Best Roofing Materials for Philippine Home

1. Concrete on the Roof
Versatile, durable, robust and affordable, concrete is a relatively common and
traditionally popular material for roofing. Cement, sand, and water are combined
in proportion to make the concrete roofing. It can be laid as an in-built roof over
the house or fixed as overlapping tiles over the existing roof surface. The
concrete roofing can be further weather-proofed by coating it or installing
reflective tiles fixed on it.

2. Slate on the roof

Suitable for all-weather conditions, slate especially acts as a great barrier to heat.
The slate colors in the black, grey, green, red, and purple shades add elegance
and beauty to the home exterior. It’s durable, robust, and the natural slate
material is low on maintenance, making it the best roofing material to be on the
roof.

3. Terracotta on the roof

The common roofing material on the countryside homes, terracotta has become
popular in city homes for the rustic charm it adds to the aesthetics. Terracotta is
also a good shield to protect the home from harsh rays of the sun, keeping it
relatively cooler even in extreme heat. Well-baked terracotta tiles can withstand
all-weather and last longer.

4. Wood on the roof

The best roofing choice that can go on for generations, wood brings in traditional
houses' aesthetic charm in modern homes. As wood shingles or shakes, wood
fits perfectly in any style of home. While the wood shakes are handmade and
rustic, wood shingles are machine cut and more refined.

5. Glass on the roof

With the developing technology, glass is no longer a fragile, delicate material. A
toughened glass on the roof brings in the natural light inside the house but
protects it from the rain. Use it as a sunroof or the roof over the portico, it will add
to the house's aesthetic.

6. Solar technology on the roof

Use the roof of your house to generate electricity for private use by installing
solar panels or photovoltaic shingles. The recent development to harness the
sun's energy has revolutionized the technology and introduced new types of
photovoltaic shingles that are lightweight, affordable, and eco-friendly.
 7. Plastic polymer on the roof
Sustainable, durable, affordable, and low on maintenance, the plastic polymer
roofing material is slowly becoming popular because it is recyclable too. The best
thing about this roofing is that it can be moulded according to your imagination.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF ROOFING DESIGNS

1. Gable Roof (Dos Aguas)
It’s the most common type of roof. It is shaped like a triangle and that is formed by
two sections of the roof sloping down. This type of roof is easy to build, can
effortlessly shed water, and allows good ventilation for the attic or vaulted ceiling.

2. Hip Roof (Quatro Aguas)

The hip roof usually has four (4) downward sloping sides. It may be more expensive
to build than the gable roof and does not put more ventilation, but it permits water to
easily slide off, and can perform better in high wind areas.
3. Mansard Roof
Also known as French roof, it has four sides of roof with two slopes steeper on the
bottom part. This French design creates flexibility in order to produce additional
space at the top portion of the house.

4. Gambrel Roof
It has two sides of roof with steeper on the lower part. Much like the Mansard roof, it
creates more space that is great idea for storage buildings and sheds. This roof
design is not ideal for wind areas and should be inspected yearly for damage from
storm or rainfall.

5. Flat Roof (One Aguas)

The flat roofs are actually flat; they still have a little slope to allow the water to run
off. This kind of roof usually used in commercial or industrial buildings, but it could
be also installed in residential houses. It is also easier to construct allowing you to
have fewer material with spending little less amount of money. You may also
consider the space it may provide as it can be used as the patio and can put cooling
or heating units to keep them out of sight. Flat roof can also be design if you wish to
install solar panels for a more energy efficient home. In places with high rainfall, it
could be your less option, as it is more susceptible in water leakage but could be
suggested to use materials that are waterproof to lessen repair and replacement
costs.

6. Skillion Roof (One Aguas)

Skillion roof is also called shed roof. It is similar to a flat roof but with a more angled
or sloping roof, which is usually attached to a wall. It is commonly used for home
sheds and porches. The steep incline design allows water to easily run-off, which is
great in the high rain regions.
7. Butterfly Roof
Butterfly roof is a modern design, constructed of two tandem pieces that formed in the
middle creating a V-shape. The meet in the middle section gives a butterfly wings flight
effect. In this midsection of the roof, the rainwater is collected, so you will be requiring
having more drainage down the center. The butterfly roof also can provide an area for
installing PV solar panels making your house more environment-friendly.

8. Saltbox Roof
The saltbox roof is an eye-catching design because of its unique style and visual
appeal. It has a long pitch, asymmetry design, and two sides with contrasting long and
short lengths. In this plan, you can have more space with less material by adding a
lean to the roof. The saltbox is also good for the areas with heavy rainfall because of
its slope making it easier for the water rain to run off.

9. Curve roof
There is nothing much difference between the curved roof and the skillion roof,
except that the planes are curved. It is a modern, unique design with a lower slope
effective for high winds areas, and a higher slope that allows water to run off easily.
10. Pyramid Roof
It is an excellent architecture design with its four sides forming a pyramid, which is good for
high-winds areas. The pyramid roof is commonly used for smaller buildings, such as bungalow,
pool houses, garages, as well as storage buildings allowing for extra space and ventilation.

REFERENCES
7 Best Roofing Materials for Philippines Home (msn.com)
https://www.ugc.ph/news/different-kinds-of-roofing-designs/