Specifile Spotlight October 2021: The Roofing Issue

October 2021

Slate roofing • Concepts for roofing • Roof drainage Inverted roofs • Paint • Awnings • Waterproofing

CONTENT 4 GOING GREEN How Harvey EcoTile® is transforming roofing.

PRODUCT SHEETS

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SLATE ROOFING

ROOF DRAINAGE

Nutec Roof Slates are the ideal roofing or cladding material to use on any project where class, character and individuality are of prime importance.

Nutec Roof Slates are the ideal roofing or cladding material to use on any project where class, character and individuality are of prime importance.

EDITORIAL EDITOR: Melissa Hartland LAYOUT & DESIGN: Ruan van Heerden ADVERTISING: Erika Sparsk erika.sparks@newmedia.co.za

PUBLISHING TEAM GENERAL MANAGER: Dev Naidoo PUBLISHING MANAGER: Johann Gerber ART DIRECTOR: David Kyslinger PRODUCTION MANAGER: Angela Silver Email: angela.silver@newmediapub.co.za

DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Felicity Garbers Email: felicity.garbers@newmedia.co.za © Specifile 2021. www.specifile.co.za Published on behalf of

by New Media (Pty) Ltd.

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MANAGEMENT CEO: Aileen Lamb COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Maria Tiganis BRAND STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Andrew Nunneley CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Venette Malone CEO: MEDIA24: Ishmet Davidson

OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

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CEMCRETE ROOFS Products for roof repairs and finishing.

ROOFSEAL Membrane system for waterproofing roofs.

TPC ROOF Durable, colourful coatings for roofs.

20 THATCHCRETE Cement lining for thatch roofs.

Johannesburg Office: 272 Pretoria Ave, Ferndale, Randburg, 2194 Postal Address: PO Box 784698, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2146 Tel: +27 (0)11 877 6111 Head Office: New Media, a division of Media24 (Pty) Ltd, 8th Floor, Media24 Centre, 40 Heerengracht, Cape Town, 8001 Postal Address: PO Box 440, Green Point, Cape Town, 8051 Tel: +27 (0)21 406-2002 www.newmedia.co.za

FEATURES

PAST ISSUES

26 TESLA SOLAR ROOF TILES Is it a bargain or a bust, or a solar tiles about to go mainstream?

24 CUSTOM-DESIGN AWNINGS From aluminium steel louvres to fixed and retractable awnings, Reboss has the perfect outdoor roofing solution custom-designed to meet all needs and expectations.

Unless previously agreed in writing, Specifile owns all rights to all contributions, whether image or text.

SOURCES: Shutterstock, supplied images, editorial staff.

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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How Harvey EcoTile® is transforming roofing.

A building’s green credentials are determined by a variety of factors such as water efficiency, energy efficiency, environmentally friendly materials, waste reduction, lowering carbon emissions and sustainable development and growth.

In pursuit of sustainable, revolutionary roofing, Harvey Roofing Products has developed the Harvey EcoTile®, a sustainably produced mineral composite roof tile with superior functional benefits and enviable green credentials.

Roofing materials are some of the least environmentally friendly components of construction. In South Africa where roofing materials are primarily steel and concrete, it scores poorly in the sustainability index. It is well known that concrete production is one of the world’s top polluters, causing 8% of global CO2 emissions and is a significant water waster.

WASTE MATERIAL

Harvey EcoTile® is manufactured from mineral waste products and waste polymer from recycling initiatives.

Instead of contributing to water, land and air pollution, EcoTile® removes these waste materials from the environment for productive use. Its blend of 70% mineral (silica) and 28% polymer ensures that for each tile the equivalent

of 3.8 two litre milk bottles are removed from the environment.

100% RECYCLABLE

Each Harvey EcoTile® is manufactured from 100% recyclable waste material.

WATERLESS PRODUCT

A standard concrete roof tile mix consists of

goin

GRE 11.42% water addition, thus for every square metre of roof 5.4 litres of clean drinking water is used. In addition, concrete needs to remain moist during curing which requires yet more water.

The Harvey EcoTile® product requires no water, in fact, we extract moisture from the mineral to manufacture the

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Protects like no other roof tile.

EEN product. It is also the ideal roof tile for water harvesting as it absorbs less than 0.36% of its weight in water (compared to 6-10% for concrete tiles).

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Harvey Roofing Products sources waste materials from local community

projects, providing support to these initiatives and creating opportunities for gainful employment.

GREEN IS NOT ENOUGH

Having excellent green credentials is only one part of a product’s success. Harvey EcoTile® is engineered for superior functional performance in its intended use. The lightweight roof tiles are precision engineered with an interlocking design to

eliminate gaps, making the completed roof 100% weatherproof. It withstands gale force wind, UV rays, rain, hail and dust and is virtually unbreakable once installed. Future maintenance is also minimised as all roof elements (such as ridge caps) provide a precision fit for a maintenance-free seal. Gone are the days of unsightly crumbling concrete ridges and hips.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions (mm) Tile weight: 1.35kgeach Tiles per m2: 9.35 Weight per m2: 12.62kg

Harvey EcoTile® is taking roofing into the future. A greener future.

Sustainable style.

Sustainably strong.

HARVEY EcoTile

®

Revolutionary roofing

A DIVISION OF

Roof tile design has seen minimal innovation in centuries.

Thick, heavy concrete or clay tiles are simply stacked upon one another and held down by their considerable weight.

This in turn dictates strong, heavy and expensive roofing structures to cope with the load. These heavy roof tiles are hard and brittle which results in up to 10% breakages on installation and further threat of damage from hail, wind and being walked upon. There had to be a better way.

Mineral Polymer Composite Roof Tiles

Non-porous, non-brittle finish ensures low water absorption and light weight in all weather conditions.

Harvey Roofing Products sought to resolve these functional challenges by solving another pressing issue: sustainability.

How could we improve on archaic roof tile systems and at the same time remove harmful plastic waste from the environment?

Stylish Double Roman design combines exceptional functional advantages with classic aesthetics.

The breakthrough came in the form of Harvey EcoTile® Harvey EcoTile® is a proudly South African, revolutionary breakthrough in roof tiles. By utilising 98% waste material, Harvey EcoTile® is 100% recyclable yet provides superior functional benefits to concrete or clay roof tiles.

Harvey EcoTile’s® technological design advantage ensures an interlocking, lightweight tile that is low on maintenance, weatherproof and virtually unbreakable in normal use.

A DIVISION OF

Precision-fit ridge tile provides weatherproof, maintenance-free seal.

Tel: +27 11 741 5600

Advanced engineering provides interlocking system for weather proofing and superior strength.

www.harveyroofingproducts.co.za

Protects like no other roof tile.

Functional benefits

Lightweight

Low on Maintenance

Strong & Durable

Weatherproof

• 70% lighter than comparable concrete tiles

• UV stability

• 4x stronger than standard concrete tiles

• Precision engineered interlocking design

• Virtually unbreakable in normal use

• Gaps are eliminated

• Save on roof-structure timber costs

• Ridge Tile assembly does not require unsightly cement and debris

• Transport 3 times more roof tiles with one load

• No need to repaint your roof

• Easy offload and handling on-site

• Will not shift due to fixing methodology and interlocking design

Attractive design

Easy installation

Paintable

SANS 10400-T Tested

• Classic Double Roman design

• 5 Location points for ease of placement

• Standard matte black coloured tile

• Creates a precise and uniform complete structure

• Fixing screw ensures quick fastening and suitable for high wind areas

• No need to paint

• Consistent matte black textured surface

• On-site speed due to light weight

• Harvey Eco Tile is tested in Accordance to SANS -10177 – 123 and conforms to SANS 10400-T with regards to safety distance

• Through-colour (not coated)

• “Cuts like butter” with no dust unlike concrete tiles

• Shatterproof

• Wind proof beyond gale force

• Walkable once installed

• 100% Hail proof

• Enhanced security

• Water and leakproof

• Non-brittle

• Minimised dust ingress • Low water absorption

• Paintable with Harvey Products approved paint in any colour desired post construction

• Agrément certification ref: 2021/624

Solar compatible: Fixing brackets available.

Sustainability

Waste Material

100% Recyclable

Waterless Production

Community Development

• Manufactured from mineral waste products

• Each Harvey EcoTile® is manufactured from 100% recyclable waste material

• No water is required in the manufacturing of Harvey EcoTile®

• Materials are sourced from local community projects

• Each tile removes the equivalent of 3.8 twolitre milk bottles from the environment

Tel: +27 11 741 5600

• Production stimulates primary and secondary job creation

www.harveyroofingproducts.co.za

HARVEY EcoTile

®

A DIVISION OF

Technical Specifications

Accessories

(Dimensions in mm)

Ridge Cap

Tile weight: 1.35kg each Tiles per m2: 9.35 Weight per m2: 12.62kg

Weight: 0.9kg each

Hip Cap

Weight: 1.4kg each

Hip Starter

41.65

Wall thickness: 4.5mm

Overall thickness: 12mm

Weight: 1.3kg each

A DIVISION OF

Tel: +27 11 741 5600 Fax: +27 11 813 3639 info@harveyroofingproducts.co.za

Agrement Certification ref: 2021/624

HARVEY EcoTile

®

A DIVISION OF

Protecting the environment.

Protecting your home.

Agrement Certification ref: 2021/624

A DIVISION OF

Tel: +27 11 741 5600

www.harveyroofingproducts.co.za

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SLATE ROOFING

St Stithians School Photos courtesy of Carlisle & Associates Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers

Nutec Roof Slates are the ideal roofing or cladding material to use on any project where class, character and individuality are of prime importance. The precise detail of the application and consistent appearance ensure an excellent finish.

Nutec Roof Slates form part of the Nutec roofing range which includes the Nutec Bigsix and Nutec Victorian roofing profile. Favoured for more than seven decades in all sectors of the building industry, the range is renowned for years of trouble-free roofing and offers designers and specifiers freedom and flexibility when functional, aesthetic and cost criteria need to be met.

FEATURES Finish and Colour Nutec Roof Slates are available in a plain or textured finish and a range of standard roofing colours. This provides designers creativity and individuality of expression, whether recreating oldworld charm or meeting today’s critical

architectural design criteria. Nutec Roof Slates are factory coated with a specially developed paint system.

Natural weathering will cause the paint coating to fade over time. Inspection and re-coating of the roof are recommended after seven (7) years.

Economical Their light mass requires a correspondingly light supporting structure, thereby offering an economical alternative to other slate and roofing materials and can be used for vertical cladding applications. Nutec Roof Slates by nature do not corrode and are unaffected by ultraviolet light.

PORTAL BROCHURES PRODUCT PAGES GALLERY NEWS CONTACT

Thermal Insulation Nutec Roof Slates have excellent thermal properties. The thermal Conductivity (K-Value) of the Nutec material is approximately 0.3 W/m.K or 0.3 W/m.°C. (Test method ASTM C518) Fire Resistant Nutec Roof Slates are NonCombustible and have a Class 1 Spread of Flame Index when evaluated in accordance with SANS 10177: Parts V and II respectively. The product can be used in applications with continuous temperatures not exceeding 150°C.

VIEW THE SLATE ROOFING PDF BROCHURE

Rodent and Termite Resistance Nutec Roof Slates have been tested in accordance with SANS 5419 for Rodent Resistance and awarded a rating of Class B1. No damage was recorded when tested for Termite Resistance in accordance with SANS 5471.

Water Tightness Nutec Roof Slates in their natural state pre-coating are non-permeable when tested in accordance with SANS 685. Darkening is normal because of moisture absorption but no droplets form.

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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Pluvia

ROOF DRAINAGE A really good roof drainage system only needs to be able to do one thing – drain water from the roof quickly and in a controlled manner. To further simplify the installation of the Pluvia roof drainage system, Geberit’s new roof outlets are not only more convenient to handle but also have a more compact design.

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ith its Pluvia roof drainage system, Geberit has revolutionised the drainage of water from large roof areas. The technique of draining rainwater using negative pressure achieves almost double the discharge rate of conventional drainage

⌃

systems and simplifies the planning of the entire system. Geberit has now completely redesigned the 12-litre and 25-litre Geberit Pluvia roof outlets.

“Standardisation of the Pluvia range was one of our main aims.

This means that different sizes can be combined in a single system because the roof outlets are constructed in the same way,” explains Izaan Nel from Geberit in Southern Africa.

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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“The streamlined range is thus clearer for the plumbers. For example, they can now use the supplementary sets for weight-bearing outlets for both the 12-litre and the 25-litre roof outlet.

This significantly reduces the complexity of the entire system and its planning.”

To facilitate installation into highly insulated roofs, the outlets now have new, longer outlet connection pieces made of PE. The outlet grating, which keeps dirt and twigs away from the outlet,

The Pluvia drainage system can be installed on practically any roof structure

OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

can be attached and removed in just a few steps and without tools, thanks to the rotating lock bar. This makes

installation and maintenance much easier.

Spoilt for choice In addition to these improvements, Geberit has now constructed several components on both outlets in the same way – for example, the anti-condensation insulation, the outlet grating and the functioning disc. This simplifies both installation and maintenance for roofs on which both outlet sizes are installed.

Moreover, with the respective supplementary set, the Geberit Pluvia system can bear weight, thus making it suitable for roofs that people walk on as well as for parking decks. The two sets and an installation sheet for roof outlets on lightweight roofs are now also available as accessories for both the 12-litre and 25-litre models.

The Geberit Pluvia roof outlets are not only available in multiple sizes, but also various designs.

With the Pluvia range, Geberit offers a solution for practically any roof

� Geberit has designed about 300 Mepla fittings.

The Mepla pipe system can deliver both drinking water and heating.

structure: roof outlets for installation on roof foils, bitumen and gutters. There are additional articles available for vapour barrier connection with warm roofs as well as for green or weightbearing roofs. All models ensure a sealed and durable system. The portfolio also includes an emergency overflow set that is used to convert any roof outlet into an emergency overflow.

ROOFS Products for roof repair and finishing

unique

Creating distinctive cement finishes as as you are.

Manufacturers of Distinctive Decorative Coatings

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Roofs

ROOFSEAL Membrane system for waterproofing roofs The RoofSeal Acrylic system embraces a primer/bonding coat, an impregnating RoofSeal coat, a very tough spun bonded polyester membrane, a second impregnating RoofSeal coat and, when all work is dry (minimum 3 days), a final RoofSeal coat.

Benefits Waterproof, very durable and UV light resistant Easy-to-apply waterproof membrane system for concrete roofs

White

Straw

Concrete Grey

Terracotta

Green

Charcoal

Specifications Suitable Surfaces

Concrete, bituminous felt, timber, galvanized iron, asbestos cement and foam cement

Finish

Smooth matt finish

Thickness

When used with the membrane 3mm per coat

Application

Brush-on

Packaging

1, 5 & 25 litre plastic drums

Coverage

0.5m²/litre for full application of 3 coats

Curing

Allow the polyester/RoofSeal sandwich to dry out for 3 or 4 days, depending on the weather, and apply a final finishing coat of RoofSeal

Colour/s

Available in 6 colours

Intended for use with RoofSeal Acrylic Primer Polyester membrane

1 litre, 5 litre & 25 litre plastic drums - 5m²/litre 1m wide, up to 150mm in length The membrane is also available in flashing strips 10m long & widths of 100mm, 200mm & 300mm

Tools needed Brush Roller Broom

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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Roofs

Ivory

White

Straw

Cream

Oyster Pink

Jasmine

Terracotta

Corn

Apricot

Mushroom

Concrete Grey

Clay

Slate

Cocoa

TPC Roof Slate

Charcoal

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Green

OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

The colours depicted are a guide only and Cemcrete recommends choosing colours from an actual on-site sample.

Roofs

TPC ROOF Durable colourful coating for roofs A tough, thermoplastic, textured, weatherproof coating. Contains Mica and Silica for maximum film protection against ultra-violet light and weather abrasion.

Benefits Holds well over fine crazing to prevent water entering the structure Supplied ready to use Weatherproof as it will re-emulsify under ponding UV stable Extremely durable & flexible Specifications Suitable Surfaces

Concrete and corrugated iron roofs

Finish

Slightly textured

Thickness

Approximately 60 microns per coat; the Mica chips protrude higher

Application

Paint or spray-on

Packaging

5 & 20 litre drums

Coverage

Approximately 3-6m2/litre/coat

Curing

Two coat application with a minimum six hour interval between coats

Colour/s

Available in 16 colours

Intended for use with CemBond Bitumen Primer

1 litre, 5 litre & 20 litre plastic containers - 8m²/L for 2 coats

Tools needed Brush Sheepskin roller

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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Roofs

THATCHCRETE Cement lining for thatch roofs For creating a thin, reinforced, waterproof, fire resistant, cement lining to be applied directly onto the exterior of an old or new grass thatched roof. This lining is tough enough to resist mammals like baboons, vervet monkeys as well as birds from causing damage to the roof or entering the building.

Benefits Applied directly onto the exterior of an old or new grass thatched roof Not only waterproofing, but resistant to fire, baboons, monkeys and birds

Grey

Brown

Charcoal Specifications Suitable Surfaces

Exterior of an old or new grass thatched roof

Finish

Textured finish

Thickness

Approximately 4mm

Application

Brush-on

Packaging

40kg bags

Coverage

5m² per 40kg bag depending on thickness of final work

Curing

Allow finished ThatchCrete work to air cure for five days

Colour/s

Available in 3 colours. Can also be coated with CemWash which is available in 18 colours.

Intended for use with CreteBond CemForce Optional final coating: CemWash

1 litre, 5 litre and 20 litre plastic drums – 2 litres per 40kg bag of ThatchCrete 1m width, any length - allow 10% for overlapping on joints 25kg non-returnable paper bags - Approximately 24 - 30m² / 25kg bag

Tools needed Block brush

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OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

0860 CEMCRETE info@cemcrete.co.za www.cemcrete.co.za

blog.cemcrete.co.za HEAD OFFICE Showroom & Warehouse 8 Telford Street Industria (011) 474 2415 info@cemcrete.co.za

GAUTENG Johannesburg Showroom 227 Jan Smuts Avenue Parktown North (011) 447 3149 jsa@cemcrete.co.za

Centurion Showroom & Warehouse 15 Coachmen’s Park 26 Jakaranda Street Centurion (012) 653 6808 pretoria@cemcrete.co.za

CAPE TOWN Showroom & Warehouse Unit 3 Eagle Park cnr Bosmansdam & Omuramba Roads Montague Gardens (021) 555 1034 cape@cemcrete.co.za

We have distributors nationally, in most African countries and internationally. Contact us to locate your nearest stockist or contractor.

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Manufacturers of Distinctive Decorative Coatings

Roof Waterproofing PRODUCTS TO USE

Africote uses the latest modern coatings technology to produce a leading range of waterproofing paints. The speciality paint manufacturer also provides comprehensive sealers and waterproofing for the coatings industry.

The products are produced at the factory and include ingredients such as polyurethane, epoxy and acrylic matt or sealers for no water penetration.

PLATINUM WATERPROOFING Platinum Waterproof coating is a thick and durable cementitious / acrylic based waterproof coating, formulated in conjunction with world leaders in the chemical industry.

It is flexible and colourfast and uniquely combines the strength of cement and acrylics. Suitable for industrial and domestic applications.

(2 x coats required)

BITUMEN ALUMINIUM Africote’s Bitumen Aluminium is a high-quality rust inhibitive coating for internal and external use. The bitumen in the products helps with water, acid and alkali resistance and also gives the coating the ability to be a very effective paint system to prevent moisture absorption.

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OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

FIBRESHIELD – WITH FIBRE Fibreshield is an economical waterbased acrylic waterproof coating.

Designed with fibre, this gives the product the following properties, reinforcing the waterproofing resin.

The Fibreshield system can be used to seal all leaking roofs, cementitious, galvanised and tile, also perfect to seal and waterproof all Parra pit walls.

WATERSHIELD- WITHOUT FIBRE (DESIGNED FOR USE WITH A MEMBRANE) Watershield is an economical waterbased acrylic waterproof coating. As Watershield is fibreless, this system must use a membrane in order to achieve these properties, i.e. flexibility, reinforcing the waterproofing resin.

The Watershield system can be used to seal all leading roof, cementitious, galvanised and tile, also perfect to seal and waterproof all Parra pit walls.

BROCHURES PRODUCTS NEWS Scan this QR code with your smart phone to download the PDF brochure.

VIDEOS CONTACT SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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Designed for comfort.

Built for durability.

custom-designed

OUTDOOR ROOFING SOLUTIONS From aluminium steel louvres to fixed and retractable awnings, Reboss has the perfect outdoor roofing solution custom-designed to meet all needs and expectations.

T

here is nothing more efreshing than ample, open shaded space.

Bigger spaces help businesses and properties to provide services to more people and create a sense of grandeur.

Having an option to

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add a roof that can retract whenever the weather agrees, ensures the flow of experience is never interrupted, which is something businesses would need in their entertainment areas.

Awning Warehouse provides unique

OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

”

Reboss awning installation gives you 99% UV Protection, whilst still allowing natural light to pass through.

designs for large areas and using lighting and durable materials we make sure the shape of the structure meets the customer's needs while creating harmony and unity within the space.

These outdoor

roofing solutions can all be customdesigned and professionally installed to meet individual needs.

South Africa is a land of sunshine where residents grab every opportunity to spend their leisure hours outdoors. Reboss concentrates on providing awnings like Polycarbonate Carports and Domed Awnings roof systems to enhance outdoor living spaces.

Gone are the days of leaky, ugly patio awnings that so often seem to look like an added afterthought.

Now you can decide to be indoors or outdoors with the simple press of a button, no matter the weather condition.

By design, their

structures are windresistant and can withstand winds of up to 117km/h.

The retractable patio awnings are roofs with a structure that combines innovative materials and cutting-edge technology. These superior design elements protect against the elements in any season.

Each awning is custom designed and manufactured according to the client's requirements.

Retractable Pergola Awnings provide true versatility that will fit in with any architectural style, from classical to contemporary, in the innovative use of aluminium, anchored to a wall or selfstanding. You can

also choose to have this outdoor haven constructed with the perimeter sides open or closed. Numerous choices are now available in these beautiful, customised and personalised patio awnings, allowing you to maximise the enjoyment of any outdoor area, transforming it into a welcoming haven, even in the strongest sun, wind or rain.

DOWNLOAD PDF BROCHURE

DoublePitch Pergola Modulation

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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Are

SOLAR ROOF TILES

about to go mainstream?

TESLA SOLAR ROOF TILES

Supplementing residences' power requirements without compromising on the aesthetics of roofs with traditional photovoltaic cells is becoming a reality for homeowners.

What was once an expensive upgrade to a home with a lengthy installation is becoming more affordable and with faster turnaround times. For American and European homes, at least.

W

hen Tesla unveiled version three of the Tesla solar roof in October of 2019, it garnered a lot of our attention.

Not only in the renewable energy sectors but also the roofing industry.

They spent a great deal of time and effort refining the installation process to make it faster and more affordable to install. The larger tiles increase efficiency in manufacturing costs and reduce the number of parts needed to install it by half.

In the end, it's reduced the overall

cost of installing a Tesla solar roof by about 40%.

But since that announcement, there hasn't been much said about it.

We've seen some customers sharing their experiences online, but as a homeowner, I've been really curious about what it's been like to install them.

Particularly in a country where power outages have become the norm.

Elon Musk, CEO, and Product Architect of Tesla, Inc., had mentioned during the announcement that they were most likely going to ramp up a partner program to

bring installers into the fold to support the rollout.

Weddle and Sons Roofing, a Coloradobased roofing company is doing just that, joining Tesla's piloting programme for new partners. " Everything's still kinda the pilot with our relationship," said CFO, Eric Weddle "because we've been one of the early entrance the way that we work with them now, it may not be the way that we worked with them forever."

Initially, Tesla shared some leads with them that had been sitting in their queue, experimenting with redirecting people to Weddle

and Sons Roofing that are in their territory.

Training for the roofing company involved a week-long classroom environment inside one of Tesla's warehouses. The team would sit down and work through all kinds of installation procedures.

After that, they then ventured into the adjacent warehouse to practice what they'd learned. Two test houses were provided on-site, built in the corner of Tesla's Fremont car factory.

Traditionally, homeowners would turn to solar installers, however, installing a roof is a completely different skill set. On that front, it gives roofing, a bit of an edge.

"I felt like this product and this system just installation wise, it's a better fit for a roofing company just because there's so much detailed metalwork, the trims and the flashings and the waterproofing are just critical."

Weddle continued.

Solar tower products like the silver roof are still

28

new. Not just to customers, but the industry at large.

Tesla isn't the only player in this field though. There are solar tower products from companies like DeSol Power and Luma Solar with some distinct differences between the systems.

On the aesthetics front, the DelSol product doesn't mask the look of the solar cell. The shiny reflective cells are very apparent within those tiles. It does have a lower profile consistent shape, but not colour.

The Luma Solar product looks far more consistent in colour but the solar cells are still very noticeable.

And that's where Tesla stands out from the pack because they've spent a good deal of time and energy figuring out how to make their tiles blend in closely.

On the announcement call, they spoke to that point.

"Solar cells are optically isotropic, meaning they can look purple from one angle and green from another. And we have through a

OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

”

Solar cells are optically isotropic, meaning they can look purple from one angle and green from another. And we have through a number of different iterations from technology experiments landed on the technology that gets the solar tiles to the point where they're anisotropic.

number of different iterations from technology experiments landed on the technology that gets the solar tiles to the point where they're anisotropic." said a Tesla representative.

So they blend in with the surrounding, non-solar tiles and the trim. They look the same from any angle, exactly. But just as impressive as that, is the cost differences between the systems.

Based on an assessment from Solar Power World, the Tesla solar roof costs about $2 and 11 cents (approximately R33) per installed watt. While DeSol Power Tiles cost about $7 (R108) per installed watt and Luma Solar Tiles cost about $4 and 50 cents (R70) per installed watt.

Just comparing Tesla's prices between regular panels and solar roofs, you can see that there's still a sizeable gap and per installed watt prices.

Unfortunately, these prices are based on incentivised in the United States, so expect a hefty price bump here in SA.

It's pretty clear that if you're happy with your existing roof, you're not going to replace it with a solar roof. Going with regular panels is the obvious choice in that case. But what if you're replacing your roof or building a new home? How does the price compare to roofing costs?

Considering that a Tesla Solar Roof Tile installation will cost approximately four to five times of a standard asphalt roof on a typical home, you will need to compare it to a premium roof product, like a standing seam metal as a synthetic shake.

It compares favourably to a premium roof plus solar panels. In that regard, it's comparable in cost.

Data Geek, Ben Sullins put together a great price breakdown between the different options.

Based on his search criteria he found that the Tesla solar roof would cost about $56,000 (R860 000) and compared that to a solar array on a shingled roof at 42,000 (R644 000).

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

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A solar array in a metal roof at $70,000 (R107 000) or a solar array and a tile roof at $111,000 (R1.7M) or the big one with a solar array in a slate roof at $134,000 (R2.05M).

From a roofing cost comparison, even without the added solar, the solar roof is already fairly competitive with higher-end roofing materials.

Unfortunately, these prices are not yet feasible to even the higher-income households in South Africa.

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However, consider how much an average family would spend on their electricity over a twenty-five year period. The national average daily consumption for a typical household according to Eskom is over 30 kWh. In Johannesburg, that can be a charge of upward R625 000.

Still, that's not an amount that's accessible to the vast majority of homeowners.

In terms of maintenance and repairability, the

OCTOBER 2021 SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT

tables are turned.

The Tesla Solar Roof Tiles can cost as much as half the price to replace (per m2) compared to a traditional roof tile.

There's also a significant cost if the homeowner already has solar panels.

Those panels need to be pulled and stored before the roof can be replaced.

When you start to take into account that this product is very strong against impacts and the twenty-five-year warranty from Tesla means it should also age well, the

economics start to work out. Tempered glass is exceptionally strong.

The modularity also makes it easier to repair. If one of these tiles break, all you have to do is vacuum it up and clip in a new tile.

Repairability is going to be a real advantage going forward.

While we may not be there yet, at some point the solar roof may prove to be cheaper to maintain and repair than other roofing materials.

That's certainly something to be

factored into the cost, especially if you live in an area prone to hail storms.

But much like everything else in the world, you have to follow the money.

Affordability and price competitiveness is the only way forward for solar tiles to catch on and go truly mainstream.

Elon's goal was to make the silver roof truly a competitive product with asphalt shingles and solar panels. One area to drive that cost down is on installation. If a roofing company can get it down to two days, it suddenly becomes a really attractive segment for them.

In the US there's

already a lot of demand for solar roof tiles at its current price point. People are reporting wait times of several months to get it installed. Roll that kind of demand out across the world, and you could see that Tesla is really onto something here.

Imagine how much that demand will ramp up as they continue to drive the cost down even further.

If you're feeling sceptical about this, remember that this product was envisioned by the same guy that started PayPal and went on to land rockets, you know, vertically.

SPECIFILE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2021

31

HARVEY EcoTile

®

A DIVISION OF

Protecting the environment.

Protecting your home.

Agrement Certification ref: 2021/624

A DIVISION OF

Tel: +27 11 741 5600

www.harveyroofingproducts.co.za