So you may think your roof is safe and sound, but what happens when you put something on it to enhance its looks or functionality? Or say, add a room onto the original building with a roof extension? In this post, we talk a little bit about roof additions.

Coatings and Paint

The first, least invasive update your roof can get is some specialised coating. Whether this is to refresh the colour, change the colour, add fire resistance, or make it stronger against the elements like rain or hail; whatever your reasons, you can certainly add coatings and/or paint without damaging the roof.

Skylights, Roof Hatches, Heating or Air Conditioning units & Vents

Whether it is carried out for the installation of one or all of these elements, any kind of opening work on your roof requires certain precautions. Most importantly, it requires the expertise of professional roofers like ourselves. When closing off the openings after the installation work is complete, our professional roofers will make sure your roof is waterproof and can check to see if your roof is structurally sound to carry the weight without breaking your roof.

Roof Extensions

Usually this is more of a design or aesthetic consideration to be made when building a roof extension. Like with original roofing, check that you have the foundations needed to support it. However, you must also make sure roof additions line up with the main building - construction engineers, architects and roofing experts can help you when planning this. If you want your addition to look like it could be an original part of the building (instead of an afterthought) focus on the roofline. Make sure that the design and materials of the roof are similar, if not the same.

Making your roof a Gable one

Rather than a single slope, a gable roof consists of two slopes that meet at a peak running down the middle of the roof. When matched to the angle and proportions of other rooflines on the house, your gable roof can add visual interest and character to the home.

Dormers

This is typically seen on American homes, but you can find dormers in Australia too. For example, right here in Brisbane, drive through Ascot or Hamilton and you can spy a few dormers here and there. A dormer is a small gable roof that projects at a 90-degree angle from the main roof, usually to house one or more windows. They’re useful when expanding the top floor of your home, because a dormer effectively raises the ceiling.