If you’re planning an extension, a loft conversion, a garden room or a new roof, you’ve probably seen metal roofs on the houses around you and wondered whether one would suit your home. The two metals we’re asked about most are zinc and PREFA aluminium. Both make excellent roofs, but they look and behave differently. Here’s a plain-English guide to what each one is, why homeowners choose them, and how to decide which is right for you.

We’re The Specialist Roofing Company, a family-run metal roofing business based in Old Windsor and trading since 2007. We’re approved installers for VMZINC, RHEINZINK and PREFA, so we fit both metals every week and don’t need to steer you towards either one.

What is a zinc roof?

Zinc has been used on roofs since the 19th century. Think of the rooftops of Paris and London mansards, and, more and more, modern extensions and dormers. Today it usually goes on as standing seam: long trays of zinc joined by raised seams that are folded together on site, with no fixings through the surface.

The two best-known makers are VMZINC and RHEINZINK. Both supply natural zinc, which starts bright and slowly dulls, and pre-weathered finishes in blue-grey and dark grey that look settled from day one.

The special thing about zinc is its patina. Over time the surface reacts with the air and forms a protective layer that seals and protects the metal. Small scratches blend back in, and the roof keeps looking better as it ages.

What is PREFA aluminium roofing?

PREFA is an Austrian company that has been making aluminium roofs for more than 75 years. Its aluminium is coil-coated in the factory, so it arrives on site in its finished colour, whether that’s anthracite, a grey, a brown, a red or a green, and it never needs painting.

PREFA makes a whole system rather than just sheets. The range includes:

  • PREFALZ standing seam, which suits low-pitch and curved roofs and can be laid from a pitch of about 3°
  • Roof tiles and shingles, which suit traditional pitched roofs and re-roofing
  • Façade cladding for walls and dormer cheeks
  • Matching gutters and downpipes

Because the roof, walls and gutters come from one maker, the colours and details all match.

Why homeowners choose metal roofs

Long life

A well-designed and properly installed metal roof lasts far longer than felt or many other flat-roof coverings. Neither zinc nor aluminium rots, cracks in frost or rusts. The real key to a long life is what’s underneath: the deck, the ventilation and the way the metal is allowed to move. That’s why we spend so much time on the build-up. Our article on why ventilation matters beneath standing seam roofs explains it in more detail.

Low maintenance

Neither metal needs painting or treating. Zinc looks after itself through its patina, and PREFA’s coated aluminium keeps its colour. Like any roof, it’s worth having gutters cleared and the roof checked from time to time, but that’s about it.

Looks

This is often the deciding factor. Zinc has a soft, natural, mineral look that sits well beside brick, stone, slate and timber, which is why planners often accept it in conservation areas. PREFA aluminium gives you crisp lines in a colour of your choice, so you can match window frames, render or cladding.

Light weight

Both metals are far lighter than concrete or clay tiles. PREFA describes its aluminium roof systems as weighing roughly 2.3–2.75 kg per square metre. That makes metal a good choice for extensions, garden buildings and older roofs where you don’t want to strengthen the timbers.

Sustainability

Zinc and aluminium can both be recycled at the end of their life without losing quality. More than 90% of the zinc used in building is recycled. And because a metal roof lasts so long, it doesn’t need replacing as often as many other coverings.

Zinc or PREFA aluminium: which should I choose?

There’s no single right answer, but here’s how we usually help homeowners decide:

  • Choose zinc if you love the natural look of weathered metal, you’re working on a period property or in a conservation area, or you want a roof that develops character over time.
  • Choose PREFA aluminium if you want a particular colour, the structure needs to be kept as light as possible, or you’d like the roof, walls and gutters as one matching system.
  • Mix them where it makes sense. One thing to watch is that aluminium mustn’t sit in the run-off from copper, so all the metals on a building have to be planned together.

The pitch of your roof matters too. Standing seam in zinc or aluminium suits low pitches, while PREFA tiles and shingles need a steeper roof. We’ll check your drawings and tell you what works.

Our guarantee and approvals

Every roof we install comes with our 20-year guarantee. We’re approved installers for VMZINC, RHEINZINK and PREFA, so we install each system the way its maker designed it. All the work is carried out by our own team.

You can read more on our pages about zinc roofing in Berkshire, Surrey and London and PREFA aluminium roofing.

Talk to us about your roof

Whether you’re set on zinc, curious about PREFA or not sure yet, we’re happy to talk it through. We cover Windsor, Berkshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and London.

Call us on 01753 867288, or get in touch and send us your drawings or photos. We’ll give you honest advice and a clear written quote.