Frequently Asked Questions ?

HOW LONG HAS STONE-COATED STEEL ROOFING BEEN AROUND?

Stone-coated steel roofing occurred during World War II when tar and sand were used to cover galvanised steel bunkers. After the war, the practice was commercialised and the first roofs were produced. Stone coated steel roofs have been protecting buildings since then, but the product technology today bears little resemblance to early practices due to advances in the chemistry of coatings.

 

CAN YOU WALK ON A STEEL ROOF?

Yes. Though some care must be exercised while walking on the roof and you should only place your foot on the flat section on the nose of the tile,roofers walk all over the roof during the installation process.

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IS A STONE-COATED STEEL ROOF NOISY IN THE RAIN?

No. The modular tile system and the dead space between the steel roofing panel and the underlay minimize exterior noise even in a rainstorm. The stone-coating also reduces the noise of the rain when it hits the tiles.

 

HOW WILL A TILCOR ROOF STAND UP TO EXTREME WEATHER?

A Tilcor roof can withstand decades of abuse from extreme weather conditions including wind, heat, humidity and rain. Tilcor has many international test reports and actual field results confirming their products are earthquake, fire and freeze/thaw resistant and can withstand hurricane-forced winds of up to 193kph. With a minimal amount of periodic maintenance a Tilcor roof will provide years of lasting performance.

 

HOW DO THE GRANULES STAY BONDED TO THE STEEL?

An acrylic primer is applied to the Zincalume coated steel substrate by the steel mill. Graded, non-oiled stone granules are then embedded in a thick UV resistant water base acrylic polymer. A final layer of acrylic over-glaze is applied on top of the stone before the tiles are cured in an oven at a temperature of 120 degrees.

 

WILL A STEEL ROOF RUST?

The ZINCALUME coated steel has been formulated to give a significantly longer service life than a galvanised coating. The ZINCALUME steel coating combines the corrosive protection of aluminium with the sacrificial protection of zinc, giving the advantages of both metals. The resulting alloy coating enhances corrosion resistance, making it ideal for such applications as roofing. This is why the Tilcor roof system is referred to as “The final Roofing System”, and is backed up with a 50 year limited warranty.

 

DOES THE COLOUR FADE?

The history of Tilcor’s products demonstrates that fading is not a problem. Tilcor uses either naturally coloured or ceramic coated stone granules on their tiles. The natural stone cannot fade and the ceramic coated stone is manufactured with the highest quality pigments and fired at temperatures above 700 deg Celsius. Periodic rain or washing the roof with a garden hose will keep the roof looking new.

 

I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. IS THE ROOFING MATERIAL RECYCLABLE?

Yes, over sixty percent of most metal roofing materials are recyclable. Other roofing products are made of non-recyclable material.

 

IS A STEEL ROOF FIRE SAFE?

Steel roofing is classified as a non-combustible roofing material (Class A). In new construction and in many re-roofing applications the metal roofing system is a Class A non-combustible roof assembly. That means it is the most resistant to fire.

 

WHAT ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

Metal roofs have a high reflectivity, which contributes to the overall energy efficiency of your home.

 

CAN I DRINK WATER FROM MY ROOF?

Yes, rainwater collected from Tilcor roofs is safe to consume. After your new roof has been installed you need to wait for two good rainfalls before beginning collection.

 

WHAT IS THE INSTALLED WEIGHT OF A STEEL ROOF IN COMPARISON TO OTHER PRODUCTS?

PRODUCT Weight/m2 Tilcor Steel panel 7 kg

Standard (3-Tab) Asphalt Shingles 15-25 kg

Clay / Concrete Tiles* 46 kg

*Note that the weights for clay and concrete products are for dry weights and that the weight of these products increases when wet.

 

ARE STEEL ROOFS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES?

Steel roofing is no more susceptible to lightning than other roofing materials. It has been demonstrated that lightning strikes most frequently the highest points of terrain. Where concerns exist, lightning rods can be installed on roofs that are the highest point of surrounding terrain.

 

DOES TILCOR OFFER A WARRANTY?

Yes, when installed to the required standards and with the required maintenance Tilcor roofs can carry a warranty of up to 50 years. A five year installation warranty is also offered by the installers.

 

WHY DO PEOPLE CHOOSE A TILCOR ROOF?

Tilcor was founded by the Ross family who have over 75 years experience in roofing. Tilcor is now a global supplier with roofs now installed in over 80 counties around the world. Tilcor’s design focus is on simple, functional products that provide fast install times and an aesthetic look to suit any architecture. Tilcor ensures that their distributors are experienced and trustworthy companies that are able to provide professional advice with a complete back-up sales service so that homeowners are completely satisfied with their new roof.