Guide to Corrugated Roof Covering Materials InspectAPedia® -
Fiber cement corrugated roofing
Asbestos cement corrugated roofing identification
Duralita cardboard-cement reinforced roofing
Fiberglass corrugated roof panels
Metal corrugated roofing materials
Types & applications for corrugated roof covering products
Here is our photo guide and text that can assist in identification and evaluation of the condition of corrugated roofing products. We describe fiber cement corrugated roofing panels, cement-asbestos corrugated roof panels, Duralita cardboard-cement roof panels, corrugated fiberglass roof panels, and corrugated metal roofing.
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Asbestos cement roof shingles were in popular use in the U.S. from the 1920's (est) through the 1960's (est) and were sold in the U.S. into the 1970's and according to some sources even in the 1980's. The mixture of asbestos fibers and portland cement to form a hard material that was was durable and fire resistant is credited to Ludwig Hatschek who, in 1900, came up with the name Eternit associated with a U.S. producer of these products.
The typical life expectancy of an cement asbestos shingle roof was given as 30 years, But we have seen these roofs that were now 50 years old in good condition. Typical roof wear or failure patterns are either failure of the shingle fasteners or broken and falling shingles.
Virtually all of the inspection points, installation limitations, and environmental concerns which we discussed at Guide to Cement-asbestos roof shingles also apply to corrugated asbestos-cement roofing products.
OPINION: The lichens growing on cement-asbestos roofing (photo at left), especially this thick corrugated material, is probably less of a wear concern than when that material appears on asphalt shingles or roll roofing.
Do not try to walk on this material without taking the same precautions as if accessing a slate roof: the material is easily damaged by foot traffic.
See Corrugated Cement-Asbestos Roofing for details about this material, and about demolition or repair of corrugated cement asbestos roofs as well as for sources of non-asbestos replacement fiber-cement corrugated roofing products. Also see our articles at ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
Corrugated Fiber Cement Roofing
Contemporary roofing product manufacturers make reinforced fiber-cement roofing shingles and other roofing products which look like, perform similarly to, and need to be installed similarly to the original corrugated asbestos-cement sheet roofing - but these new products are free of asbestos. (Photo at left: author points to new fiber cement roofing product.)
As we explained in our discussion of cement asbestos shingles, the replacements for corrugated asbestos cement roofing products are reinforced with a variety of fibers including fiberglass.
Other replacements for asbestos-cement roofing use both different fibers and a different aggregate (perlite) to replace the asbestos. Some of the substitute products have been in use for more than 30 years (2008).
For maintenance or replacement of asbestos-cement roofing products contact Supradur Manufacturing Corporation, PO Box 908, Rye NY 10580 800-223-1948, or from within New York State, call 914-967-8230. Ask about their Supradur(R) mineral fiber shingles.
For handling and disposal guidance concerning old roofing material contact the US EPA, your state Department of Environmental Protection/Conservation, or your local building and health departments.
Duralita, an alternative to both clay roofing tiles as well as other fiber reinforced cement roofing products is produced in El Salvador and used widely throughout central america and north America. Duralita is a series of brightly-colored cardboard-reinforced cement corrugated roofing products produced by the Duralita, manufacturer of the same name. From the ground Duralita resembles clay roofing tiles.
Panels of Duralita are secured using fiber or rubber washers and threaded rods or bolts.
Duralita tejalitas are sheets of reinforced concrete that are intended to resemble roof tiles.
Corrugated cardboard cement products of the same composition, Lámina, are sold in sheets of various sizes and similar colors.
You can see an installation of Duralita at the Posada del Bosque Encantado, a hotel operated by our acquaintance Terry Rubin who was kind enough to inform us about this product.
Other examples of corrugated roofing products (that do not look like clay roof tiles) can be seen at Corrugated Cement-Asbestos Roofing.
Corrugated Fiberglass Roof Panels
Corrugated fiberglass roof panels are installed where light is a premium, as shown in this porch constructed by the author in 1983. As we drove out of HG Page lumber with our corrugated fiberglass roof panels, one blew off in the parking lot.
Dashing out to try and rescue our panel, the new fiberglass roof panel was immediately driven over by a heavy lumber delivery truck. We were stunned to see that the panel had survived the accident with no visible damage, so we installed it on the roof shown in our photos.
The next day when bright sun shone on the roof, our client called to ask why there was a perfect imprint of a truck tire across her roof.
At left we illustrate a new translucent fiberglass roof panel during installation (not work performed by the author) after an older installation on the same roof leaked due to poor flashing.
Corrugated panels, like clay tiles, sport an irregular surface that requires use of flashing products that fit the panel surface in order to avoid leaks.
Corrugated Metal Roofing Panels
The patched corrugated metal roofing shown below (left) covers a pre-1900 home currently used as a parsonage in Dover Plains, NY. The modern corrugated roofing shown at right tops a gambrel-roofed barn in New England.
Corrugated metal roofing on very old buildings such as this pre-1900 home in Pawling, NY, may be patched with newer corrugated sections where a chimney has been abandoned. (See Abandoned Chimneys: Outdoors).
Corrugated metal roof panels are sold in both aluminum and steel.
Watch for wind damage, especially where a simple nail-over panel has been installed such as shown here.
Corrugated metal roofing on very old buildings such as this warehouse in Hudson, NY, may be stunningly rusted and yet not leaky.
Corrugated metal roof panels are sold in both aluminum and steel.
The damage at the lower left roof corner was from a truck at the loading dock.
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Duralita: produces cement & cardboard corrugated and clay tile-like roofing products: Duralita is a combination of cement and cardboard - see www.duralita.com/ Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor escribanos a: sales@duralita.com -
El Salvador: +503 22.25.57.44 ext.31 USA +1 305.677.3597
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Architectural elements: the technological revolution: Galvanized iron roof plates and corrugated sheets; cast iron facades, columns, door and window caps, ... (American historical catalog collection), Diana S Waite, available used out of Amazon.
Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide, Edmund C. Snodgrass, Lucie L. Snodgrass, Timber Press, Incorporated, 2006, ISBN-10: 0881927872, ISBN-13: 978-0881927870. The text covers moisture needs, heat tolerance, hardiness, bloom color, foliage characteristics, and height of 350 species and cultivars.
Green Roof Construction and Maintenance, Kelley Luckett, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2009, ISBN-10: 007160880X, ISBN-13: 978-0071608800, quoting: Key questions to ask at each stage of the green building process Tested tips and techniques for successful structural design
Construction methods for new and existing buildings
Information on insulation, drainage, detailing, irrigation, and plant selection
Details on optimal soil formulation
Illustrations featuring various stages of construction
Best practices for green roof maintenance
A survey of environmental benefits, including evapo-transpiration, storm-water management, habitat restoration, and improvement of air quality
Tips on the LEED design and certification process
Considerations for assessing return on investment
Color photographs of successfully installed green roofs
Useful checklists, tables, and charts
Problems in Roofing Design, B. Harrison McCampbell, Butterworth Heineman, 1991 ISBN 0-7506-9162-X (available used)
Roofing The Right Way, Steven Bolt, McGraw-Hill Professional; 3rd Ed (1996), ISBN-10: 0070066507, ISBN-13: 978-0070066502
Slate Roofs, National Slate Association, 1926, reprinted 1977
by Vermont Structural Slate Co., Inc., Fair Haven, VT 05743, 802-265-4933/34. (We recommend this book if you can find it. It
has gone in and out of print on occasion.)
The Slate Roof Bible, Joseph Jenkins, www.jenkinsslate.com,
143 Forest Lane, PO Box 607, Grove City, PA 16127 - 866-641-7141 (We recommend this book).
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
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