Roofs and roof coverings

Roofs & roof coverings 1970s fibre cement roof tiles: asbestos, lifespan and risks Fibre cement roof tiles from the 1970s were mainly made of cement and asbestos fibres and were expected to last 30 to 50 years, so many are now reachi... 6 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Cold applied liquid roof coverings: lifespan and risks A cold applied liquid roof covering is a coating applied as a liquid that cures into a seamless, waterproof membrane over flat, pitched or complex roo... 6 min read → Roofs & roof coverings EPDM rubber roofs: lifespan, problems and inspection EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane widely used on low-slope roofs in the UK. Properly installed and maintained, it can last 20 to 25 years or more. T... 7 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Eternit fibre cement roof tiles: lifespan, defects and asbestos Eternit fibre cement roof tiles are made from cement mixed with fibres and have been used for decades. Life expectancy is given as 30 to 50 years, dep... 5 min read → Roofs & roof coverings GRP fibreglass roofs: lifespan, defects and maintenance A GRP (glass reinforced polyester) roof is a seamless, watertight covering made of polyester resin reinforced with glass fibres, used mainly on flat r... 8 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Lead roofing: lifespan, defects, risks and maintenance Lead is a malleable, durable and corrosion resistant roof covering that, when installed correctly and maintained properly, can last over 100 years. Ty... 8 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Mastic asphalt roofs: lifespan, pros, cons and risks A mastic asphalt roof is a flat roof covering made from bitumen, limestone powder and sand, heated and laid as a dense, seamless, waterproof layer. Pr... 5 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Mineral felt roofs: lifespan, defects, risks and alternatives A mineral felt roof is a bitumen covering reinforced with fibreglass, polyester or organic fibre and topped with mineral granules, used mainly on flat... 8 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Redland 49 roof tiles: problems, lifespan and what to check Redland 49s are concrete interlocking roof tiles introduced in 1949 and laid on huge numbers of British roofs from the 1950s to the 1980s. Around 50 y... 10 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Spray foam insulation in the roof: risks when buying a house Spray foam insulation is polyurethane and a foaming agent sprayed into walls, ceilings and roofs, where it expands and hardens. It insulates well, but... 4 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Transferable guarantees when buying a house: what to check A transferable guarantee is a warranty on work such as roofing, structural repairs or remedial damp works that can pass from the seller to the buyer.... 9 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Vermiculite loft insulation: asbestos risk and what to do Loose vermiculite loft insulation is a naturally occurring mineral, popular from the 1940s to the 1980s, that may be contaminated with asbestos. It lo... 4 min read → Roofs & roof coverings Zinc roofs: lifespan, common defects and inspection A zinc roof can last between 80 and 100 years with proper maintenance. Zinc resists corrosion, forms a protective patina and is 100% recyclable. The m... 7 min read →