Metal Deck, Zinc or Tiles: Which Roof Suits Your Home?
The three most common roof types in Malaysia each have their own strengths and costs. Here is a plain comparison to help you choose.
When it is time to replace a roof, or to build a new roof over a kitchen extension or porch, one question comes up almost every time: should it be metal deck, zinc or tiles? All three are common in Malaysia and each suits a different situation. There is no single right answer for every house. This article compares the three on cost, weight, noise, upkeep and suitability, so you can talk to a contractor with more confidence.
Getting to Know the Three Materials
Zinc roofing
By zinc we mean corrugated coated steel sheets, the material used longest on kampung houses, older shophouses, stores and add-on roofs. It is light, inexpensive and quick to install. On the downside, the thin sheets rust more easily, especially near the coast, and rain on zinc is loud if there is no ceiling or insulation underneath.
Metal deck
Metal deck is a thicker coated steel sheet with deeper ribs, usually factory-painted. It can be cut to the length of the roof, so there are fewer cross joints. You see it on factories, warehouses and newer homes with low-pitched roofs. Spandek is a name commonly used for sheets with a similar profile.
Roof tiles
Tiles, either clay or concrete, are the usual roof on terraces, semi-detached homes and bungalows in housing estates. Each piece is small and overlaps the next. Tiles give a neat look and are quieter in rain, but they are heavy and can crack if stepped on or hit by a falling branch.
Comparing the Cost
Replacement cost per square foot
From our price list, the ranges for roof replacement are:
- Zinc: RM15 to RM25 per sq ft.
- Metal deck: RM18 to RM35 per sq ft.
- Tiles: RM25 to RM45 per sq ft.
As a rough guide, a full zinc replacement for a terrace house usually comes to around RM3,000 to RM8,000 depending on size and zinc type. The final price depends on the area, the pitch, the condition of the truss and access to the roof.
Repair cost per job
- Zinc: RM150 to RM500 per job.
- Metal deck: RM250 to RM600 per job.
- Tiles: RM200 to RM800 per job.
Why tile repairs cost more
Repairing tiles often means lifting several rows to reach the damaged part, finding matching replacement tiles, and sometimes re-bedding the ridge cement. It is slower, more careful work than unscrewing a single zinc sheet.
Factors Beyond Price
Weight and the roof truss
Tiles are far heavier than zinc or metal deck. A house that was built with a zinc roof does not necessarily have a truss designed to carry tiles. Going the other way, swapping tiles for metal deck reduces the load on the truss. Before changing roof type the truss has to be checked; rotten or termite-damaged timber must be replaced first.
Roof pitch
Tiles need a steep enough pitch so that rain does not get in between the overlaps. Metal deck can go on a much flatter slope because the sheets are long and the ribs are deep. That is why near-flat add-on roofs usually use metal deck rather than tiles.
Rain noise and heat
Metal roofs, zinc or metal deck, are noisier in heavy rain than tiles. Sun heat also reaches the underside of a metal roof quickly. Both can be eased by fitting insulation under the roof, which starts from RM5 per sq ft. We go into this in our article on roof insulation for terrace houses.
Rust and salt air
Homes in coastal areas such as Kuantan, Klang or Kota Kinabalu face salt air that speeds up rust on metal roofs. Tiles do not rust, though the metal screws and flashing around them still can. If you choose a metal roof near the coast, ask about sheet thickness and coating type, and make sure the screws and flashing are suitable too.
Long-term upkeep
Each material needs different care. Zinc should be checked for rust at the laps and screw holes, and can be repainted before rust eats through the sheet; roof painting starts from RM8 per sq ft. Metal deck usually needs its screws, sealant and flashing checked from time to time. Tiles need checking for cracked or slipped pieces, especially after storms or where large trees grow close by, and cracked ridge cement should be fixed before water gets in.
Which One Fits Your Situation
Terraces and bungalows in housing estates
If the house was built with tiles and the truss is still sound, replacing broken tiles or re-laying the tiles is usually the best fit, so the house matches its neighbours. If most of the tiles have turned brittle, some owners choose metal deck to cut the load and the upkeep, but that is a decision to make after an inspection.
Kampung houses, stores and add-on roofs
Zinc remains the practical choice because it is light, affordable and easy to repair. If your existing zinc has rusted, whether to patch or replace it is covered in our article rusty zinc roof: repair or replace. For low-pitched add-on roofs, metal deck also works well.
Factories, warehouses and shophouses
Buildings with large, low-pitched roofs usually suit metal deck best, as long sheets cut down the joints that could leak.
Old asbestos roofs
Older buildings still roofed with asbestos sheets are not good candidates for repair. We recommend replacing them with metal deck.
Next Steps
Get advice based on your own house
Send photos of the roof from outside, the ceiling and your location on WhatsApp. We give an initial estimate, followed by a free on-site inspection to check the truss and measurements before you get an exact quote. Projects of RM3,000 and above can be paid in instalments of up to 3 months interest-free, with a 30% deposit to start. See all our roof services on the home page.
Questions to ask your contractor
- Can the existing truss carry the material being proposed?
- What is the sheet thickness and what type of coating does it have?
- Does the price include flashing, gutters and cleanup after the job?
- How will the joints with the walls and the neighbour's roof be finished?