ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the environmental impacts of the main options available in the market for roof coverings. These include clay tile, natural slate, concrete tile, fibre-cement tile, polymer modified cement tile, reconstructed slate, asphalt shingles, steel, stainless steel, aluminium, lead and copper sheet. Wood shingles are covered in the Alternatives section. Concrete and asphalt/felt sheet are not covered per se, but their impacts can be considered as virtually the same as the corresponding tile product. Gravel and hot bitumen systems, roofing underlay, sarking and flashing detail are not covered in this report. Specific multicomponent systems are not covered, although the component parts found in most systems are discussed individually. The insulation value of each material is not covered in this report, but roofing insulation materials are covered in chapter 5.
