Architects recognise the roof as the fifth façade of a house. It enhances the beauty, colour, value and character of a house. You can ascribe over 30% of the overall look of a house’s façade to a roof. The selection of the roofing style, material and look is therefore critical to a house. In Australia alone, roofing tiles are manufactured in over 50 colours and over 15 profile varieties. You have a wide selection to choose from. Trends will come and go. We look at some of the latest trends making waves in this $3 billion market.
Energy efficient roofing tiles
We’ve all become conscious of the environment, the impact of our human activities on the overall health of the planet. Energy reduction and conservation is one aspect of reducing our environmental impact. This has found its way into roofing.
Technological advancement in roofing has seen emergence of new products in this trending category. Solar roofing, solar roofing shingles and solar tiles are just some examples. The trend is towards seamless integration of solar tiles into existing roofing installations without the sticking out effect of bolted on solar panels.
Eco-friendly roofing
Eco-friendly roofing, as with everything else that breathes life to Mother Nature, is seeing a lot of interest. This is a key growth area for roofing. Focus is shifting towards recyclable materials such as wood and clays, opposed to petroleum-based counterparts. Natural materials have seen a re-emergence. The appeal is on rich earth-like tones that cannot be replicated with other materials.
Terracotta roofing is especially worthy of mention. It has a timeless appeal with colourfastness guaranteed to never fade. Architects favour terracotta tiles, largely due to their great finish embodied within them as they are maintenance-free and long lasting. Most of the things that architects are looking for in a material are found in a terracotta tile. The fact that they have had a long lasting heritage in Australia simply adds to the trust of both the parties – the architects and the house owner.
Terracotta is definitely in our trend list. It has lots of heritage in Australia too. You are unlikely to go wrong with it – you get a 50-year guarantee on colour and performance.
Flat and minimal
The flat and minimal look is currently hot on everyone’s list and will continue to see more uptakes in coming years. Flat profile tiles really embody this look while remaining versatile. One of the minimal designs spotted on many high-end homes is the slate look. Slate is classy, sleek and oozes sophistication. Slate is pricey, but alternatives exist in ‘slate look’ roofing tiles at a friendlier price.
Green roofing materials
The ultimate green is living and breathing – a roof built out of plants. These roofs have the standard base on which is laid a waterproof layer. It’s on this layer that all types of plants are grown. Some home owners even have gardens on these roofs. Green roofs have a wide range of environmental benefits while retaining all the features found in other roofing materials. In themselves, green roofs are vibrant and ever changing, hardly comparable to the monotony to be found in standard roofs. There is a great appeal and interest in green roofing. This will continue to pique the interest of many for years to come.
Lighter colours
Traditionally, the approach has been conservative, favouring neutral, black or grey tones. Location has a big bearing on the colour selection of roofing in Australia. In the South the traditional red is prominent while in the North we see a preference for lighter colours like cream and off whites.
Homeowners looking for a very modern, contemporary, look for their homes are leaning towards extra-light colours such as off-whites, light brown, and cream. Mid-tone browns have been especially favoured in recent years across the board. Light colours give an airier feel. They also have the added advantage of contributing to the thermal effectiveness of a house. In some parts of the country the lighter colours can reduce the amount of insulation required to meet building regulations. Some lighter greens, reds, and even orange are being used complement the traditional style homes.
Roof tiles elsewhere
Your atypical roofing tiles don’t always have to be confined to the roof. Architects are conceptualising and experimenting with roofing materials outside of roofing. One area seeing good uptake is using roofing tiles as vertical cladding for buildings. Roofing used in this way deepens texture while bringing out warmth. Expect to see more of this trend moving forward.
The roofing field is always dynamic and ever growing. More colours, profiles, materials and styles are emerging. Technology is definitely improving roofing bringing down costs, improving properties and introducing new ideas. If you are looking of new roofing or looking to re-roof your existing house, refreshing and vibrant options are available to you.