Are you thinking of renovating your house? Building a new home? Or just tired of having to repair your roof every few years? Watch out for this new construction practice that is changing the way Australians build external roof cladding.
Australia has long been a lover of using traditional mortar to construct roofs. Yet, with our extreme weathers and strong heat, is mortar the most sensible choice? Mortar is inflexible, it cracks under heat and movement. Tiles aren’t secured stably. Damp gets into the cracks. The roof needs regular repairs to fix and prevent further damage.
So, if using mortar to fix roof tiles in place is not the best practice, what other options are there? Well, the innovative idea of using dry cladding has taken the rest of the world by storm. More durable and easier to install, this new practice is set to be a game changer for Australian households.
What Is Dry Roof Cladding?
Dry roof cladding is a construction technique of fixed tiles to your roof by use of mechanical attachments. Rather than fixed roof tiles to the structure with mortar, dry roofing predominantly uses screws, clamps and other fixtures to keep the tiles in place.
Despite seeming like this might be less stable, mechanical fixtures are actually more durable than solid mortar. Made of cement, sand and water, mortar does not do well under changing weather conditions. Vibrations from nearby roads and train lines, and heavy winds, move structures. Yet, mortar doesn’t allow the roof any flexibility. Thus, it simply cracks.
Changes between hot and cold temperatures cause these gaps to expand. Cracks in mortar let damp in, which is bad for the health of the building and for the people inside. Damp can cause dangerous particles to fester in the air inside the home.
Fixing your roof and repointing tiles can cost between $120-$170 per square meter of your roof.
Plus, dry roofs allow natural ventilation systems. In a country as hot as Australia, it seems incongruous that natural, cost-free ventilation systems have not been taken advantage of. Investing in a dry roof that allows air to circulate beneath the tiles and prevent hot air entering the home’s interior can save the average Aussie significant sums on their energy bills—up to 5%.
Dry roof cladding is relatively new to Australia’s construction industry. Why not get ahead of the game and invest in a safer, longer-lasting roofing system?
Is Dry Roof Cladding Proven To Work?
Dry roof cladding has been highly prevalent in Europe and the US since the last century. The majority of roofs across Europe and the US are now completed using a dry roofing technique.
First designed in the UK, dry roof ridging is now a requirement for most roof constructions there. At the very least, mortar has to be used in conjunction with mechanical fastenings.
The introduction of regulations furthered the quality of dry roof cladding. Roofing structures are tested for wind resistance across the country before being put in place. Similarly, water and UV resistant materials are required.
That the UK has invested so many resources and regulatory time into the dry roof cladding trade suggests its strong capabilities and future potential. They’ve done the hard work for us, Australia now just has to follow their lead.
What Are The Benefits of Dry Roof Cladding?
As mentioned, dry roof cladding is far more able than mortar fixed roofs at coping with high winds and the hot sun. Dry roofing construction companies use high quality UV resistant fixtures, preventing deterioration from the sun’s intense rays. Therefore, with a dry fixed roof, you are less likely to need to fork out any sums for maintenance any time soon.
Furthermore, as builders are not dealing with ‘wet’ substances, construction is relatively quick and easy. Dry roof external cladding can be fixed in just half the time of a mortar based roof. This lower labour costs, making your roof installation a cheaper endeavour.
In addition, think of the savings you can make on your ventilation bills. With its natural cooling system, your house will be full of fresher, cooler air to see you through the hot summer days. Plus, this ventilation system does not add any giant, unattractive contraption to the outside of your property. Aesthetically pleasing and cost saving, what’s not for Aussies to love?
How Is Dry Roof Cladding Taking Over Australia?
Dry roof external cladding is still a brand new concept in Australia. Unfortunately, most households have not yet taken advantage of this innovative design that the rest of the world has been making use of for decades.
Different types of roof cladding are always met with scepticism. After all, why not stick with what we know?
Yet, dry roof cladding is slowly breaking through into the Australian construction market. Why not get ahead of the curve and get in touch with your local construction suppliers to enquire about building your roof using a dry roof fix.
Perhaps with the rise of extreme weather conditions, more and more Aussies will realise the benefits of dry roof cladding as they get tired of paying for missing roof tiles and fixing structural cracks every few years.
Should I Join The Dry Roof Cladding Trend?
Now that you know that the dry roof external cladding trend is not just some European fad, yes, you should absolutely take advantage of this innovative technique. Sure, traditional mortar has stood us well for the last few thousand years. But, the world cannot survive without new developments and discoveries.
Dry fixed roofing is guaranteed to be the next breakthrough in the Australian construction industry. RapidRidge offers Australia’s first dry fixed roof system. If you’re designing a home, get ahead of everyone else and show the rest of the country how dry roof cladding is the quickest, cheapest and longest-lasting method to fix your roof structure.