Today, in this post we want to discuss roof materials and their importance. What is used commonly in Uganda? How can we decide which option is the best for us to use in our building? Let’s analyze together.

First, we define what a roof is. The roof is the top cover of a building. It provides protection against rain, sunlight, extreme temperature and wind. Obviously, the roof is crucial.

Now, what are our options when choosing the roof materials in Uganda?

Metal roofing (iron sheets etc.)

Clay tiles

Green roofs (Makuti, grass, thatched etc.)

Onduline sheet

Unfortunately, metal roofing (iron sheets) materials dominate the market in Uganda. Why is it unfortunate? The reason is that iron sheets increase the heat indoors. Also, they create noise during rain. On the other hand, clay tiles are heavy. In construction, we always tend to reduce the structure weight due to earthquake impact. People don’t pay attention to earthquakes in Uganda. However, it must be considered during design process.

Although green roofs are great, most people fear maintenance.

However, there is one new option available, and it is a game changer. It is called the Onduline sheet: a bitumen base lightweight sheet. It reduces the noise incredibly and blocks the heat due to high Solar Reflectance Index value. As a bonus, it is suitable for green buildings which apply for LEED, BREAMM.

As a result, you must pay attention to your roofing material choice. You must consider our environment. We love Uganda. Let’s build sustainable buildings for our future generations.