I am looking at buying a house but it has a 'tin' roof. Pros and Cons??

Question

I am looking for information on tin roofs.

Is it noisy when raining?

Is there much maintenance?

Is it hot in summer?

What type of insulation is required (for noise & heat)?

Any other information greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The last rental house I lived in had an uninsulated tin roof - YUK!!  Every possum going from A to B sounded like a maniac with a carving knife roaming around up there.  It was unbearably hot in summer and freeeeeezing in winter.  Maintenance wise I think they're ok.

The house I grew up in though also had a tin roof which was insulated properly and while it was incredibly noisy when raining it maintained an even temperature throughout the year.  No problems at all.

As long as the roof is well insulated it'll be fine.  If it's got low ceilings with no insulation though I'd think twice, or at least research how much it would cost to fix the problem  - but even if it's in a nice breezy location it might not be too bad.  I lived in an area where it was usually over 30oC and very humid - in a cooler climate it wouldn't be so bad.

Answer 2

Is it hot?

Is there a cat on it?

Answer 3

In Australian there are more homes with tin roofs than any other type of roofing.

It is cheaper and can be fitted in one day saving labour charges.

As to insulation that is up to you as all roof cavities  should be done and that is also a good sound barrier.

Maintenance is quick and easy if the tin is prepared with a coating at the place of manufacture.

Answer 4

I have had a tin roof on a barn and I loved the noise when it rained. Not sure if I would want one to live under one. Insulation may cut down on the noise but I don't have experience with that.

Tin roofs will rust eventually so I would think part of maintenance would be preventing rust.

Answer 5

Ignore the first two answers. I'll answer your questions in order.

1. No, so long as you have insulation in the roof, which is as simple as Pink Batts or similar, then it's not noisy at all.

2. No, actually less than tiles. They can't slip, crack, move, or be easily removed. They don't need re-pointing, ever.

3. No, the tin will reflect more heat. Tiles will absorb massive amounts of heat and then radiate it into the roof space over night. Sounds nice in winter, but summer is a nightmare.

4. Anything normal. Glasswool batts, polyester batts, that fluffy stuff they pump into the roof.

An extra point, tiles can weigh anything up to 3 tonnes on your roof. Tin does not. Normally this isn't an issue, but the extra weight can cause extra movement during dry/hot conditions. This can potentially cause more cracks in the house and even structural damage.

Answer 6

I LOVE tin roofs.  You hear the rain which is such a beautiful thing to drift off to sleep listening to.  In terms of maintenance tin roofs are easier to maintain but they have a shorter life span to tiled roofs (my Dad has re-done the roof once in 25 years and it's not showing signs of rust at this stage).

In terms of insulation you just need standard insulation bats.  I'd also suggest having a whirly bird to help take the heat out in summer.  Noise isn't too much of a problem.

When I buy a house I want it to have a tin roof!