As the roof of your extension will account for a significant proportion of the overall building cost, it’s important that you make the right choice. Ideally, you will decide on a roofing material that is affordable, durable and pleasing to the eye. Here are some of the key roofing types to help you make the right decision.

Flat roofs

Flat roofs tend to be cheaper to put up than pitched roofs but they don’t last as long and often suffer from pools of water on the surface and leaks that are difficult to fix. They can also restrict the amount of space within your extension, as you will have no overhead room for loft storage and no limited space for insulation.

Flat roofs can be fitted quickly as roofing materials can be attached as soon as the supporting timbers are in place. It may be possible to use glass for a translucent or transparent roof providing you incorporate supporting frames, but you are more likely to get a good result with flat, multi-walled polycarbonate or corrugated plastic. If you’re adding an opaque roof, plastic, fibreglass or corrugated sheet metal are viable options.

Pitched roofs

Pitched roof almost always look more appealing from a design point of view, and will provide a better return on your investment. You will pay extra for the timber or steel frames needed and the slower-to-lay roof tiles, but pitched roofs tend to be less problematic than flat roofs. An added benefit is that you can use a pitched roof to add loft space or simply to give the room a brighter, airy feel with higher ceilings.

Slate is commonly used for pitched roofs but it can be costly and slates may need to be replaced if they get chipped or broken. Manmade steel slates offer a popular alternative. Cheaper than traditional slate and longer lasting, steel slate is lightweight, eco-friendly, weatherproof and noise reducing. As artificial slate comes in a variety of colours and styles, you may find that you are able to match it to your existing roof or provide an interesting contrast.

Metrotile specialises in lightweight roof tiles that are up to seven times lighter than traditional tiles. This means they put less pressure on the structure of the extension and are more efficient to transport, cutting CO₂ emissions. Tested to withstand extreme weather conditions, every Metrotile installation comes with a 40-year weatherproof guarantee, so are a perfect option for new extensions. For more information, browse our tile profiles or speak to a member of our team on

01249 658514.