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In Kenya, a lot is happening in terms of roofing from traditional grass-thatched styles to modern roofing styles. Today, there are different materials that homeowners use in roofing and many other roofing styles. This article will explore the variety of options for homeowners to choose from when deciding which style to choose.
Before we continue, it’s important to note that, there are factors that are important in influencing the choice of roofing choice. Weather and climatic conditions are factors that play an important role in roof choices. Extreme weather conditions do not allow for longevity of a roof which may lead to leakages and general weakening of the roof structure.
The second aspect to consider is the interiors and whether or not your house has sufficient ventilation. Lack of good ventilation can cause moist air to rise which may lead to mold build-up and thereby weaken the entire roof structure.
The final aspect to consider is workmanship. Ensure that you have the best professionals installing the roof. Even though you may use the best roofing materials, the lack of professionals doing the installation may affect the durability of the roof. With that, the following are the most common roofing styles in Kenya:
Gable Roofing
A gable roof is a kind that is triangular and is common in many houses in Kenya. These kinds of roofs are cheap and easy to build their shape is not that complex. Furthermore, many other roofing styles borrow their concepts from the gable roof styles. One advantage of this roofing style is that it can utilize any materials including but not limited to clay or concrete tiles, iron sheets, asphalt shingles, and many other roofing materials. In addition, the gable roofing style is suitable for cold places because it allows for easy shedding of water during the rainy season. On the downside, gable roofs are not suitable during the windy season because they can prove to be unstable if the roofing structure is not strong. Gable roof has other variations like box gable, front gable, cross gable, and Dutch gable.
Hipped Roof
Hipped roofs have four slopes and a ridge at the center. The hip roof is a better option than the gable because of the stability brought by the four slopes merging at the Centre. Furthermore, it can provide additional living space in the form of a room called a dormer. Most of the hip roofs in Kenya are built to protect mud walls in areas that receive heavy rains or to protect unplastered walls. Installing a hip roof is very expensive because of the complexities that come with installing this kind of roof. Furthermore, the supporting structure of the roof can affect its durability if not installed properly. There are other variations of hip roofing style including simple hip, cross-hipped, and half-hipped.
Flat Roofing
Flat roofs are becoming common in architectural advancement designs in Kenya. In addition, flat roofs are suitable for building large buildings that have many columns. In most cases, flat roofs are constructed with a slight pitch that allows for the shedding of water with a minimum slope of 1:2. The structure of the roof is composed of supporting beams insulation, decking, and a waterproof surface.
The roof comprises timber, chipboard, asbestos cement decking unit, or concrete slabs. The advantage of flat roofs for townhouses is that they provide extra space for limited playgrounds and are often affordable to construct. However, these types of roofs are prone to leakages and may require constant repairs. These roofs are effective today with the emergence of green roofs. This is where homeowners can plant flowers or any plants on the roofs.
Shed Or Skillion Roof
Shed roofs are sloped roofs that can be supported by one taller wall or can act as an alternative to a flat roof for a standalone structure. In most cases, skillion roofs are best for add-on structures to the main building or they can be good when constructing garages and porches. This is the cheapest roof to install and particularly the best for mountainous regions or a region that experiences heavy rainfall. It’s good for shedding excessive water.
When selecting roofing materials, Kenyans have a lot to choose from. They can choose either iron sheets, concrete tiles, wooden tiles, and shingles. Man-made materials have become more popular as the natural ones are depleted and expensive to maintain.