Colorbond vs. Concrete: Granny Flat Roof Choices
Granny flats are a terrific solution to a lot of housing questions. You can have one in your yard so that your parents can be nearby as they age, or you can rent the flat out to someone who might not be able to afford a market-rate apartment. In either case, you'll get a chance to choose fixtures and features when you order the granny flat kit. Roof options abound, with concrete tile and Colorbond steel being two popular choices. Which one you choose depends on where you live and what you're hoping for in terms of maintenance and repair.
Hail and Roof Damage
If you're in an area that gets a lot of hail, chances are you're not choosing a concrete tile roof. If you've just bought a home in a new city or state, though, and you don't know what the hail situation is like, check that first before choosing a roof. Hail will damage any roof material if the hail is large enough or the winds strong enough. But concrete tiles can break more easily than a Colorbond steel roof can be dented and breached. If you find you have a choice, look at what roof materials neighbors use. If you see a majority of roofs are Colorbond, for example, that's the one you should go with.
Repairs That Take Over the Roof
If the roof of the granny flat sustains some damage in one area, you'd hope that a roofing repair company could just patch the damaged part instead of reroofing or replacing the whole thing. With concrete tiles, that could be possible if the damage is contained in one small area. With Colorbond steel, the roofers would have to replace a larger section of the roof, and reroofing might not be possible unless it was done to the entire roof and not just the damaged section. Of course, if the granny flat is small, then even small areas of damage could take up a substantial part of the roof anyway.
Matching the Main House
Maybe you're in a region where hail isn't that much of a concern, and the granny flat will be small enough that even patching would require removing most of the granny flat's roof if there were damage. In that case, aesthetics may be the main concern, especially matching the style of the main house on the property. Granny flats don't have to look like identical, smaller versions of the main house, but it's nice to have some sort of coordination. If the main house has one style of roof, using that same style for the granny flat can visually tie the two together nicely.
For more information on granny flat kits, contact a professional near you.