Common Questions
What’s the difference between IBR, Kliplok and corrugated?
IBR is a trapezoidal profile with exposed fixings — cost-effective and proven. Kliplok is a concealed-fix standing-seam profile — cleaner look, lower-pitch capable, higher cost. Corrugated is the traditional wavy profile — classic look, still reliable. The right choice depends on pitch, span, budget and look.
Is Chromadek or Colorbond better?
Both are high-quality colour-coated steel systems with similar performance on most sites. Colorbond has longer proven coastal durability, Chromadek has wider colour selection and is usually slightly cheaper. For coastal Garden Route projects we’ll usually recommend the higher-spec coastal-grade coating either way.
Will a metal roof rust on the coast?
Not with the right coating. We use AZ200 Zincalume base with Colorbond or Chromadek topcoat for coastal exposure, plus matching coated fasteners and flashings. Cheap galvanised roofs on the coast rust within 5–10 years — properly specified metal roofs last 30+ years.
Is metal roofing noisy in the rain?
Not with insulation. A layer of double-sided reflective foil, or a proper mineral wool or spray-foam layer under the sheeting, brings the rain sound down to the same level as a tile roof. We’ll quote the insulation as part of the install.
Can you re-roof an existing home from tile to metal?
Yes, provided the existing structure can take the load change (metal is usually lighter than tile, but the fixing method is different). We check the trusses and wall plates before quoting, and our engineer signs off the change in roofing system.
What are the different types of metal roof?
In South African practice: coated steel sheeting in IBR, corrugated and concealed-fix standing seam profiles, which covers most roofs; aluminium, chosen for corrosion resistance and light weight; zinc and copper as architectural metals; and pressed metal roof tiles that give a tiled appearance at a fraction of the weight. Steel sheeting is the default and the choice within it is about profile, coating and gauge rather than about the metal.
Is a metal roof good for coastal areas?
Yes, provided the specification suits the exposure. A pre-painted sheet over a zinc-aluminium metallic coating at an adequate coating mass is the sensible baseline within a few kilometres of the sea; plain galvanised is a false economy. Concealed-fix profiles have an advantage because there are no exposed fixings to perish. Just as important is compatibility — no copper or lead draining onto the roof, no bare mild steel in contact with it, and no cutting swarf left on the sheets.
Is a metal roof noisy in the rain?
Considerably less than the reputation suggests, once the roof is built as a system. The noise people remember is from an uninsulated sheet over an open space — a carport or a shed. On a house with a ceiling, insulation and a properly detailed roof space, rain on a metal roof is not meaningfully louder than on tile. Where the roof is exposed internally by design, acoustic insulation is part of the specification.
Can you put a metal roof over tiles?
Almost never directly, and it is rarely the right answer even where it is possible. The far more common and sensible move is the opposite: replacing a tile roof with metal, which usually reduces the dead load on the trusses substantially. The trusses still need to be checked by an engineer because the load pattern changes, but going from tile to metal is normally the easier direction. We handle the strip, the structural check and the re-roof under one contract.
How long does a metal roof last?
With the right coating specification for the exposure and correct installation, a coated steel roof on the Garden Route has a long service life — but the fixings, washers and flashings need attention well before the sheets do. Periodic inspection, replacing perished washers as a batch, and keeping gutters and valleys clear is what lets the roof reach its potential. Left entirely alone, the fixings decide the lifespan.
Do metal roofs get hot?
The sheet gets hot in the sun, as any roof surface does, but what reaches the rooms below is governed by the insulation and the ventilation of the roof space rather than by the covering. A light-coloured coating reflects more than a dark one, and a ventilated, insulated roof space handles the rest. Specifying the colour purely on appearance and then wondering about heat is a common and avoidable sequence.
