Guide to Corrugated Roof Covering Materials
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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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Also see ASBESTOS ROOFING / SIDING DUST.

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A Guide to Types of Corrugated Roofing Panels

Corrugated Cement-Asbestos Roofing

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.

Corrugated Duralita Cardboard-reinforced Cement Roofing Roofing Products

Duralita cardboard reinforced cement roofing (C) Daniel Friedman

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 metal roof (C) Daniel Friedman

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.

More on roof shapes and architecture is at ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID.

Metal roofing examples (C) Daniel Friedman

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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ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
ASBESTOS-FREE INSULATION MATERIALS

ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings
ASBESTOS ROOFING / SIDING DUST
ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR

CEMWOOD ROOFING
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS

CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
ASBESTOS CEMENT & FIBER CEMENT ROOFING
  Corrugated Cement-Asbestos Roofing
  Asbestos Roof Power Washing

ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES

BEST ROOFING PRACTICES
BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
BUILT UP ROOFS

CEMWOOD ROOFING
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS

CHIMNEY INSPECTION & REPAIRS
Chimney Flashing Mistakes & LeakS

CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR

CLAY TILE ROOFING
COLD WEATHER ROOF TROUBLE

CONCRETE ROOFING
CORRUGATED ROOFING
COPPER ROOFING

FIRE RATINGS for ROOF SURFACES
FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD

FLASHING, ASPHALT SHINGLE VALLEYS
FLASHING, CLAY TILE ROOFS
FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS
FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
FLASHING SIDING DETAILS
FLASHING WALL DETAILS
FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS
FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
Green House or Solarium Roof Leaks
GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

HAIL DAMAGED SHINGLES
HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions
HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET

ICE DAM PREVENTION
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAKY ROOF DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOW SLOPE ROOFING

MASONITE WOODRUF FIBERBOARD ROOFING

MEMBRANE & SINGLE PLY ROOFS

METAL ROOFING
  ALUMINUM ROOFING
  Aluminized Steel Roofs
  Barn Roofing, Metal
  COPPER ROOFING
  METAL ROOF EXPOSED FASTENER SYSTEM
  Corrugated Metal Roofing
  Enameled steel roofing
  Galvalume Metal Roofing
  GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
  Galvanized Steel Roofing
  LEAD in ROOFING, EFFECTS
  LIFE EXPECTANCY of METAL ROOFS
  METAL ROOF COATINGS & PAINTS
  MODULAR METAL ROOF SHINGLE SYSTEM
  Metal Shingle Roofs, Embossed, Antique
  Metal Roofing Sources & Manufacturers
  METALS USED IN ROOFING
  MODULAR METAL ROOF SHINGLE SYSTEM
  NOISE TRANSMISSION in ROOFS
  SNOW GUARDS on SLATE & METAL ROOFS
  Soldered Flat Shingle and Flat Copper Metal Roofs
  Stainless Steel Roofing
  STANDING SEAM METAL ROOF INSTALLATION
  TERNE METAL ROOFING
  ZINC METAL ROOFING

MODIFIED BITUMEN ROOFING

NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
NOISE CONTROL for ROOFS

PLASTIC ROOFING TYPES

ROLL ROOFING, ASPHALT
ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOF INSPECTION SAFETY & LIMITS
ROOF SLOPE DEFINITIONS

ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS

ROOFING FELT UNDERLAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
ROOFING MATERIALS, Age, Types
ROOF NOISE TRANSMISSION
ROOFING TILE SHAPES & PROFILES
ROOFING UNDERLAYMENT BEST PRACTICES

SADDLE CONSTRUCTION at CHIMNEYS

SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR
SNOW GUARDS on SLATE & METAL ROOFS
SOD ROOFING

STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG
STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE
STANDARDS for ROOFING
STONE CLEANING METHODS
STONE ROOFING
STRESS SKIN INSULATED PANELS

TEST LABS - ROOF SHINGLE
THATCH ROOFING
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in buildings
TILE ROOFING
TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF
TRUSSES, Floor & Roof

UNDERLAYMENT REQUIREMENTS on ROOFS

WALK-ON ROOF SURFACES
WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES

WOOD SHAKE & SHINGLE ROOFING
WORKMANSHIP & WIND DAMAGE
ZINC METAL ROOFING

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
Terry Rubin, proprietor of the Posada del Bosque Encantado can be contacted at gringamaya@yahoo.com or call (502) 5208-5334 or (502) 4146-1050 use 011 (502) from the US.

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.

Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for this article. All rights and contents are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
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.
Asphalt Roofing Residential Manual,
Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724 ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039
Concrete Folded Plate Roofs, C. Wilby PhD BSc CEng FICE FIStructE (Author), Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998, ISBN-10: 0340662662, ISBN-13: 978-0340662663
Concrete Shell Roofs, C. Wilby PhD BSc CEng FICE FIStructE (Author),
Concrete Dome Roofs (Longman Concrete Design and Construction Series),
Concrete Roofing Tile, History of the, Batsford, 1959, AISN B000HLLOUC (availble used)
Copper Roofing, by CDA
Copper Roofing, Master specifications for copper roofing and sheet metal work in building construction: Institutional, commercial, industrial, I.E. Anderson, 1961 (hard to find)
Corrugated Iron, Building on the Frontier, Simon Holloway
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
Handbook of Building Crafts in Conservation, Jack Bower, Ed., Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, NY 1981 ISBN 0-442-2135-3 Library of Congress Catalog Card Nr. 81-50643.
Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008) ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
Historic Slate Roofs : With How-to Info and Specifications, Tina Skinner (Ed), Schiffer Publishing, 2008, ISBN-10: 0764330012 , ISBN-13: 978-0764330018
Low Slope Roofing, Manual of, 4th Ed., C.W. Griffin, Richard Fricklas, McGraw-Hill Professional; 4 edition, 2006, ISBN-10: 007145828X, ISBN-13: 978-0071458283
- Roof failure causes in depth (and specific methods for avoiding them)
- Roof design fundamentals and flourishes, based on voluminous industry research and experience
- New technologies and materials -- using them safely and correctly
- Comprehensive coverage of all major roofing systems pecifications, inspection, and maintenance tools for roofing work
Metal Roofing, an Illustrated Guide, R.A. Knowlton , [metal shingle roofs],
Patio Roofs, how to build, Sunset Books
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).
Slate Roofing in Canada (Studi4es in archaeology, architecture, and history),
Smart Guide: Roofing: Step-by-Step Projects, Creative Homeowner (Ed), 2004, ISBN-10: 1580111491, ISBN-13: 978-1580111492
Tile Roofs of Alfred: A Clay Tradition in Alfred NY
"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
Wood Shingle Roofs, Care and Maintenance of wood shingle and shake roofs (EC), Stanley S. Niemiec (out of print)
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Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

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A Guide to Types of Corrugated Roofing Panels

Corrugated Cement-Asbestos Roofing

Corrugated Fiber Cement Roofing

Corrugated Duralita Cardboard-reinforced Cement Roofing Roofing Products

Corrugated Fiberglass Roof Panels

Corrugated Metal Roofing Panels

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair