Compare roofing materials before you build or replace
The right covering depends on design, structure, budget, site conditions, maintenance expectations, weight and rainfall — not on a product catalogue.
Corrugated metal (mabati)
Deep-pan corrugated sheets, usually pre-painted galvanised steel, are the most common covering in Kenya.
- Strengths:
- Light gauge, low cost, fast to lay, widely available and easy to transport upcountry.
- Weaknesses:
- Narrow cover width; fix through the crowns; wide profiles can show oil-canning.
- Maintenance:
- Replace damaged sheets, keep gutters clear and inspect fixings after storms.
Box-profile & long-span metal
Flat pans between narrow ribs, sharper lines than corrugated sheets, often laid in longer lengths.
- Strengths:
- Wider cover, fewer side laps; long sheets mean fewer end laps and a clean look.
- Weaknesses:
- Needs accurate purlin spacing and careful handling; dents and under-laying show.
- Maintenance:
- Inspect fixings and flashings; keep valleys and gutters clear.
Stone-coated steel
Steel tile profiles coated with stone granules, giving a tiled look at a fraction of the weight.
- Strengths:
- Lighter than clay, long warranty class, quiet in rain and wind-resistant when battened correctly.
- Weaknesses:
- Must be set out to the manufacturer's module; unforgiving of a wavy structure; premium price.
- Maintenance:
- Check end laps and exposed fixings; keep valleys free of leaves.
Clay tiles
Pressed or extruded clay tiles — the oldest of the common Kenyan roof finishes.
- Strengths:
- Long life, heat and UV resistance, repairable, classic appearance, will not corrode.
- Weaknesses:
- Heavy — the structure must be designed for the load; breakage on site; steeper pitch.
- Maintenance:
- Replace cracked tiles; check battens, underlay and ridge mortar.
Concrete tiles
Mortar tiles pressed in a wide range of profiles and colours.
- Strengths:
- Lowest cost of the heavy tiles, durable and wind-stable, good thermal mass.
- Weaknesses:
- Heaviest common covering; colour fade and efflorescence possible; needs strong structure.
- Maintenance:
- Inspect ridge mortar and broken tiles; keep valleys clear.
Asphalt shingles
Overlapping bituminous shingles fixed to a continuous deck, common in imported specifications.
- Strengths:
- Versatile look, fast over decking, low cost of the pitched finishes, easy to flash.
- Weaknesses:
- Heat softens them in hot regions; deck and underlay required; shorter life; open-flame risk.
- Maintenance:
- Replace lifted or missing shingles; keep gutters clear.
Roofing options compared
| Roofing system | Typical use | Key advantages | Important considerations | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugated metal | Homes, sheds and light commercial | Lowest cost, fast laying, easy transport | Narrow cover; fix through crowns | Check gauge and fixings; keep clear |
| Box profile | Modern homes, wider bays | Fewer laps, crisp appearance | Purlin spacing must be exact | Inspect laps, valleys and flashings |
| Stone-coated steel | Pitched homes wanting a tile look | Light, long warranty class, quiet in rain | Batten set-out decides the finish | End laps, valleys and exposed fixings |
| Clay tiles | Permanent homes and estates | Lifespan, heat resistance, repairable | Heavy roof structure; steeper pitch | Cracked tiles, battens, ridge mortar |
| Concrete tiles | Budget heavy-tile builds | Cheapest tiled roof, wind-stable | Heaviest covering; possible fade | Ridge mortar and broken tiles |
| Asphalt shingles | Imported designs over decking | Versatile and quick to detail | Heat, deck requirement, shorter life | Lifted or missing shingles after storms |
Estimate material quantitiesAsk which covering suits the building
A roof is a system, not a sheet
A covering alone is never a complete roof.
Roof structure
Trusses, purlins, battens
Underlay
Water control under the covering
Roofing material
Sheets, panels or tiles, on the roof
Flashing
Valleys, upstands, junctions
Ridge & hips
Where slopes meet, sealed and capped
Gutters
Collect water at the eaves
Downpipes
Send the water away from the base
Specify once, correctly
Tell us the building and the budget; we will give you the covering options that genuinely fit.