Construction using Fiber Cement Roofing

The design and construction of roofs using  Fiber Concrete Roofing Sheets – concrete tiles made of cement mortar mixed with a small amount of natural or synthetic fibre.

The principal advantage of Fiber Cement Roofing Sheets is that they provide an inexpensive ( the focus of this site – low cost construction ) and reliable roof cover and especially suited to the needs of emerging economies.

Several specific advantages of Fiber Cement Roofing are

• The raw materials required for manufacture are almost always available locally.
• Manufacturing is possible at a decentralized and small-scale level with modest investment.
• Production is labor intensive rather than capital-intensive, thus manufacture creates jobs.
• Fiber Cement Roofing Sheets provide better thermal insulation than compared to metal roofing sheets
• Fiber Cement Roofing Sheets are quieter during rain compared to metal roofing sheets
• Construction techniques are easy to learn for semi skilled workers
• Lifespan has been shown to be similar to regular concrete roof tiles – several decades.

A buildings roof is one of most important part of a building and as such special care has to be taken in its design and construction. The best possible raw materials should be used as a defective roof will usually lead to damage of the balance of the building structure.

The construction of  robust and reliable roof requires not only quality roof covering materials but a high quality of the entire roofing structure.

This series of posts aims to provide guidance of how to design and construct a Fibre Cement Sheet Roof in a sound manner on simple roof shapes and forms.

The information presented in these posts is based on general know-how and my personal experiences in building. It is the responsibility of the individual reader to adopt solutions which are meet the safety and building codes of corresponding locations.

Part 2

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