Two visual qualities of roof cladding materials – profile and visual busyness – affect the character of individual houses and the character of an estate’s streets. This bulletin discusses these qualities.
A variety of roof forms and materials can add visual interest to a streetscape.
Visual qualities
Low and high profile tiles
Low and high profile metal sheets
‘Profile’ in roof cladding relates to the height difference between the ridges and the valleys of the cladding material. ‘High’ profile roof cladding is often prohibited, but rarely defined. We define 0-20 mm as ‘low profile’, and anything higher as ‘high profile’.
Visually simple
Visually busy
Visual busyness has three dimensions – the density of lines, the complexity of the lines, and the amount of shadow.
The view of a house from the street is largely composed of the front façade and the front planes of the roof. Typically, the façade is the focus of attention and is the dominant element. However, on pitched roofs, especially over 25 degrees, the choice of roof profile can make the roof equally the focus of attention, or even make it dominant.
While high profile cladding is generally also visually busy, it is not always so. The number of ridges, valleys, seams, lips and shadows also plays a role in the visual complexity of a roof.
For example, the Colorbond Snapseam metal sheet roof shown below has a profile depth of 38 mm. The Colorbond Spandek roof shown below has a profile depth of only 24 mm. Despite the higher profile depth, the Snapseam roof is less visually busy, because it has fewer seams per area.
Snapseam roof - high profile, few seams, visually simple
Spandek roof - high profile, many seams, visually busy.
Metal sheets on a roof always have vertical lines, and so vertical shadows. Tiled roofs usually have stronger horizontal shadows than vertical ones. The extra shadows on tile roofs can make them visually busier than metal roofs. In most cases, metal-clad roofs, with simple long lines and vertical shadows, will be visually simpler than tile-clad roofs.
Tiles
Some typical tile profiles.
Roof tiles have a profile depth between 10 and 100 mm and typically need to be laid on a roof with a pitch of at least 12 degrees. Roof tiles come in a range of profiles, including round, wave, square and flat.
Tile bonding patterns.
The bonding pattern contributes to the visual business of roof tiles. A cross bonding layout is the most common but can appear visually busy, especially when used with a high profile tile. Laid with a straight bond, the roof will appear simpler, but is more likely to allow water infiltration.
High profile roof tiles
High profile tiles typically provide better insulation and better waterproofing than lower profiles. The air pockets beneath the tile help regulate indoor temperatures. The deeper valleys help prevent water penetration through the joints. However, the high profile means more material, so high profile tiles are typically heavier and costlier than flat profile tiles.
Low profile roof tiles.
Flat or low profile tiles tend to be regarded as more contemporary. They are more suitable in localities with heavy snow, as they shed it more effectively. These tiles are typically lighter than high profile tiles. They can be laid in different configurations such as straight, staggered or cross bonded patterns. They are prone to water infiltration between the joints if laid incorrectly or on a low pitched roof.
Metal sheets
Metal sheet roof profiles showing ridge-to-ridge distance and ridge-to-valley depth.
Metal sheets have a profile depth of between 6 and 48 mm. They are suited to any roof pitch, including flat, steep and curved. As metal sheets are much larger than tiles, they have less joints and so less opportunities for water penetration. The long vertical lines are visually simpler than most tiles. The most common profile is corrugations. Colorbond Custom Orb has a 16 mm deep corrugated profile. While low in profile, it is visually busy because of the density of vertical lines. Higher profile sheets, such as Longline, Trimdek or Snapseam, have a wider spacing between the ridges, and are visually simpler.
Cost
Metal sheeting is generally cheaper than tiles. However, if a volume builder does not offer the chosen material in their standard range, additional costs to get the different material and trades may be required. One Victorian home builder requires an extra $22 per m2 on a 22.5 degree pitched roof to install metal sheeting instead of their standard concrete tile. Typically, tiles are approximately two to four times more expensive than Colorbond Custom Orb sheeting.
Colorbond’s Custom Orb corrugated metal sheeting is the most common metal sheet profile. Most other profiles cost more. The following table shows the price of common metal sheet profiles relative to Custom Orb.
Roof sheet cost comparison 2025.
The profile of roof tiles does not affect the cost. Terracotta tiles are typically more than twice as expensive as concrete tiles, due to the material and the number of extra tiles needed per area. Most volume builders do not charge extra if changing the tile profile. The most common tile provided by volume builders is a wave profile such as Monier Elabana or Bristle Designer.
Design standards
Rounded or curved tiles can make a façade look dated. In a streetscape of contemporary facades with flat roofs, one house with a curved roof will draw the eye. Restricting the profile depth to flat or low, such as in the design standard below, avoids unwanted profiles. The following standard can be used in first home owner estates to achieve a consistent and aesthetically pleasing streetscape.
“The profile of roof tiles must be flat to low. High profile tiles, such as half-round ones, are prohibited.”
The colours, materials, profiles and styles of roof cladding can be restricted to achieve a contemporary appearance.
“Roof materials are limited to flat and shingle profile roof tiles or corrugated metal roofing.”
The profiles and material of roof cladding can be restricted to achieve a distinctive appearance.
“Roof cladding must be factory-coated metal sheeting with an angular profile, such as Spandek, Snapseam, or Trimdek.”
Statutory regulations may impact the choice of material. For example, a bushfire prone area may require metal sheets as some tiles can explode under extreme heat.
“The roof cladding of the house must be factory-coated metal sheets.”
Different profiles can be considered for different climate zones, such as alpine and tropical locations. In alpine areas where snow is likely to build up on a roof, a low profile metal sheet is recommended for even weight distribution. Warm climates, where natural ventilation is important, are encouraged to have a high profile roof tile. Tropical areas with heavy rainfall are encouraged to have higher profile tiles with cross bonding, to ensure water doesn’t settle in the joints, or to use metal sheets in any profile.
Conclusion
Roof materials and profiles affect the character of a house’s façade as well as the visual quality of the streetscape. Using the design code to restrict the profile can add value to an estate by creating a more cohesive and visually pleasing streetscape.
