Lead V's Felt, V's Fibre Glass

njapaj · 9 Oct 2009

Thoughts ??

We're haveing a small flat roof area covered between the house and pitched extension.

We'd hoped to have lead but the cost is ever increasing.

the builder has recommeded felt, but we're not keen.

has anyone use Fibre glass roofing ?

Any thoughts on which would be best and cost and instalation?

Cheers

HaydnExport · 9 Oct 2009

I'd choose lead , then fibreglass not a fan of felt.

freddiemercurystwin · 9 Oct 2009

GRP (fibreglass) will be fine. Definitely not felt though.

hardmetalking · 9 Oct 2009

I'd recommend zinc as it will have the appearance of lead but will cost less and las longer than anything else.

hardmetalking · 9 Oct 2009

Felt should be banned!

noseall · 9 Oct 2009

Why should felt be banned?

It is adequate and relatively inexpensive.

Done correct it will last 20+ years.

I personally don't like flat roof's and discourage them. I have seen failures of ALL roofing solutions, particularly those done badly.

Incidentally i am not a felter.

Lead cost 5 times that of felt but does not last 5 times as long.

datarebal · 10 Oct 2009

agreed modern torch on felt is fine if fitted correctly with care.My main dislike is naked flame! fires do happen.

Lead is great if fitted correctly with care bit more expensive though.

And GRP looks good (or should) not to expensive I do believe failures do happen.
Personally I probably go for a good felt.

hardmetalking · 10 Oct 2009

Felt isn't good enough for my shed roof! It doesn't last half as long as you'd expect it to.
As for lead............it will most definately be banned from use in the near future due to environmental factors, it is simply a toxic material.
That is why we are promoting hard metals as the only alternative. Copper and zinc have been around for thousands of years and aren't harmful to the environment and when the roof comes to the end of its life (100years+) you can sell it for scrap which in turn is recyled to create new material.
How many times would you replace a felt roof over 160 years?
Can you recycle the old material?

hardmetalking · 10 Oct 2009

Let me ask you this question?

If you were asked to spec the best roofing material money can buy, what material would you choose?

Surely the answer is copper..................

joe-90 · 10 Oct 2009

Copper? lead? The *****'s love it. GRP will do just as well.

noseall · 10 Oct 2009

Hardmetal, you are missing the point. A large number of flat roofs are removed and upgraded long before the actual covering has perished. This is due to insulation or renovation projects.

Spending trillions on a roof covering that may have to be ripped off in the near future is bonkers.

Couple that with the fact that people move on to other properties, then your idea seems more ridiculous by the second.

In an ideal world then maybe all roofs were copper, only if you like looking out onto a dull green roof that is.

hardmetalking · 11 Oct 2009

I don't get your point..........

it doesn't cost trillions and why would they need to rip it off int he near future? Because the roof is hand made it is very easy to add to with very little disruption. Also when you come to sell the property surely the new owner would be pleased to know the roof won't need replacing for 100 years?

My train of thought is that when you buy anything you buy the best you can afford. No?

Not everyone can afford copper but most of us could afford zinc. And it's worthless to thieving scum, so won't be ripped off.

Speak to an unbiased architect and they will tell you the true benefits and why if given the choice between GRP and hard metals what they would choose.
I have worked on the majority of universities, hospitals, museums and schools all over the country, these are specced by top architects.

My point is.......get a quote for zinc, you may be surprised, it won't hurt or cost anything then make your decision.

noseall · 11 Oct 2009

More permanent solutions are good for universities, schools, hospitals, public buildings etc, but not for the domestic market.

The private housing market is too dynamic to warrant such a permanent fabric.

freddiemercurystwin · 11 Oct 2009

hardmetalking said:
Speak to an unbiased architect and they will tell you the true benefits and why if given the choice between GRP and hard metals what they would choose.

No one is doubting the long term benefits but When alls said and done, in reality clients do not want to pay.

hardmetalking said:
I have worked on the majority of universities, hospitals, museums and schools all over the country, these are specced by top architects.

no one would doubt that its important that public buildings do last, however a bloke fixing up his house is not in any way comparable.

Are you seriously suggesting that a zinc valley is comparable in cost to GRP or felt? Ignoring the irrelevant issue that it may last 100 years.

dilly · 11 Oct 2009

best thing i think is to see a sample or grp roof,its the best domestic solution, in terms of life span costs and toughness and can easily be repaired with miniuim fuss,like all work done the installers are going to be an important part of the job as any good product can be installed badly no matter what you go for.

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Lead V's Felt, V's Fibre Glass

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