Lets Talk about your roof!
The roof of a building is the ultimate cap that helps to cover up the building envelope, protecting it from adverse natural climatic elements, conceal certain building mechanical services, accentuate the design appeal, protect and and make it stand out in any building project.

Achieving a good lasting and appealing roof structure involves three stages. These are:
1. Design Stage: This is basically the choosing of a height, width, slope, colour, aesthetic pattern, insulation capabilities and most importantly geometry of the roof structure that meet the users needs and purposes.
At this stage all factors like mechanical services e.g conduit wirings, plumbing, AC vents, water tank decks, TV antennas, satellite dish, security cameras and solar panels if required should be planned for.
The best roofs are those that have a little opening for aeration to reduce heat build up within the envelope.
Roof designs should also cater for security within the building.
These can be done by using of concrete fascia design or raising some internal walls within the roof to prevent access of burglars

The design parameters & specifications for these is is often done by an experienced Architect Architectural techonogist or roofing professional.

Thanks for the info!

2. Carcass construction stage
This stage involves the actual fabrication of the roof envelope according to the design specifications given by the Architect/technologist or engineer
Roof carcass are constructed in Nigeria using mostly wood, or metal trusses.
The roof trusses is best constructed in a way that would allow easy access to services within for repair works of both the roof itself and the concealed mechanical/electrical services within. It should also be done in a way as to sustain its own weight and adequately spread forces to the walls down to the foundation.

Metal trusses are often used in big buildings with large spans or curved roof structure that can't be attained using wood; and the trusses should be designed and its forces calculated for by a good structural engineer.

Wood on the other hand is prefered for smaller buildings due to affordability, availability and ease of use.

Things to note when buying wood for roof
* Ensure that the wood for each member are the sizes specified in design or at least very close to it.
* Ensure the wood you get are mostly straight as curved wood might affect your final corrugation or cause puddles on the roof.
*Ensure you buy good quality wood that have not been infected by insects, This might have to be treated or you best go for insect resistant species which are a bit costly but best.
*Ensure you use hardwood for where recommended and softwood for where required otherwise your roof might not last long. Hardwood are best no to be used for some parts of the carcass that need softwood e.g ceiling noggins and some other areas

***for more information about sourcing good wood or buying through us send a mail or Whatsapp 08188212964

3. Roof Covering Stage.
This is the final stage for achieving the specified roof design. The roof covering stage involves the use of materials to cover up the carcass and give it an aesthetically appealing look on the house.
Covering materials for roofing vary in economic advantages, durability, design comfort purposes, and design appeal.
The most common materials used in roof covering include
Locally sourced and manually fabricated
* clay
* stabilized laterite/mud
* Thatch
* palm fronds
Mostly imported and technologically fabricated
* corrugated clay sheets
* Corrugated fibre cement board
* corrugated zinc sheets
* corrugated Bituminous fibre sheets
* corrugated Aluminum sheets
* stone coated corrugated aluminum sheets

^{Note asbestos has been excluded from the list due to its worldwide ban as a result of it being a major source of cancer in humans}

Each of these materials have their perculiar properties apart from keeping the building water tight; Some have a better sound insulation against rain droppings, some have better heat insulation against intense solar radiation, some are completely non corrosive, while some are unbreakable.

Please note that in order to use any of these materials there has to be a pre-planning at carcass stage to ensure specific adequate water run off slope and that noggin spaces specifications are adhered to. The ignorance of this is the reason for many leaking roofs today especially using stone coated, bituminous fibre and some designs of aluminum sheets.

We at Spartial Solutions Nig are seasoned internationally trained Architectural technologists with over a decade of professional experience in design, construction, material sourcing, roof covering and water sealing of complex designs. You can ask questions or make inputs about roofing here for others to benefit from knowledge shared here or reach out to us by email or Whatsapp on 08188212964 for more personal discussion on your roof issues.

cooldipo:
Thanks for the info!

You are welcome Sir

The most trendy roofing sheets used in Nigeria today are mostly corrugated plain aluminium or corrugated stone coated aluminum materials.

The preferences for these two are basically due to their durability and modern aesthetic appeal.

Plain corrugated aluminum sheets could come in various designs, colours, span lengths and most importantly guage thickness

Aluminium roof measurements & calculations
In the open market you might find short span lengths or medium span lengths. But to get long span lengths which are more effective for water runoff without breaks you would have to go through a professional roofer, a marketer or direct to the roof company.
However before you go to a company to fabricate your aluminium roof covering members you need to have taken accurate measurements of the existing roof carcass. This is best done by a professional who will calculate all your bespoke requirements like covering sheets, gutter lengths, fascia covers, ridges, flashings, trimmers, nails & covers, sealants if required and so on.

Long Span aluminum gauge thickness
The most popular and available long span aluminium gauge we have in the Nigerian market are listed below. Yhese gauges vary in prices because they are stronger in their ability to withstand forces according to the increments of their gauge. ^{*contact us on 0818822964 or email at Spartialsolutions@contractor.net for specific information on this}
* 0.35mm
* 0.45mm
* 0.55mm
* 0.70mm
All these have the types of buildings, heights, purlin spans and terrains where each is most suitable for.
The average bungalow or storey building with a not too wide purlin spacing in a moderately windy area in Lagos, Ogun and similar environments should do OK with an 0.45mm to 0.5mm gauge aluminum.

Long span aluminium could also come in various designs which are achieved using different profile materials prior to corrugation. There are stepped tile designs, straight emborsed designs and others shown in the pictures below.

Reach out for a professional like Spartial Solutions for an affordable solution to any stage of your roofing needs I.e design, carcass construction covering or consultancy by mail via Spartialsolutions@contractor.net or text or Whatsapp on 08188212964

Our next focus would be on Stone coated roofing types..
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PRICE LIST OF ROOFING SHEET IN NIGERIA SEE HERE >> https://www.nairaland.com/3364135/roofing-sheets-cost-various-types

Great work has been done by roof repair experts, I really appreciate your work.