Price estimates for popular roofing materials in Kenya.
Home-owners have numerous choices when it comes to buying roofing materials in Kenya; from iron sheets, wooden tiles to concrete tiles and shingles, among other products.
Roofing materials are trending towards engineered products due to the rising cost of natural materials and the high returns offered by engineered materials.
While the upfront cost of roofing is a major consideration, the service life and maintenance costs must also be considered so as to ascertain which roofing material offers the best value.
The cost of roofing materials in Kenya depends on the type and quality of the product.
The cost of roofing sheets in Kenya is as low as Sh300 per metre for the thinnest grade with high quality pre-painted sheets going for up to Sh1,000 per metre.
MRM’s Zentile Mabati (Gauge 28) goes for Sh945 per metre, with similar gauge of Versatile and Orientile Mabati going for Sh980. Elegantile Mabati goes for Sh1,000.
Alloy Zinc Mabati (normal mabati) goes for Ksh330, with Versatile Taifa Mabati; Imarisha Mabati Wave Tile; and Imarisha Mabati Bamboo Tile selling for Sh680.
Imarisha Mabati Box retails at Sh390, while Royal Mabati Corrugated Gloss G30 goes for Sh420. The company’s Corrugated Matte G 30 brand goes for Sh530.
When budgeting for a roof, you should include the costs of important accessories such as roofing ridges, rain gutters, roofing nails, etc.
Rain gutters, which are used for rain water harvesting, retail for about Sh700. On the other hand, the cost for roofing ridges in Kenya is between Sh750 and Sh800 depending on the brand and vendor.
Maisha coloured roofing ridges (Versatile Grey G28), for example, goes for Sh780.
Ridges, also known as ridge caps are dip galvanized metal sheets designed to be fitted at the peak of a galvanized iron sheets roof where opposing roof planes meet. They are meant to keep unwanted elements such as rain water and dust from getting into the building.
Like roofing sheets, the cost of roofing nails in Kenya varies depending on the quality.
A kilo of ordinary roofing nails goes for about Sh220, while galvanized roofing nails, which are best at preventing roofing sheets from rust, retail at Sh270 per kilo.
High quality serrated nails retail for Sh800 per kilo.
Installing clay roofing tiles costs between Sh1,000 to Sh1,900 per square foot, while concrete roofing tiles will cost you about Sh800 per square foot.
Concrete tiles are, however, cheaper than slate roofing tiles at Sh1,700 per square foot, and stone coated steel tiles at Sh2,000 per square foot.
Roofing shingles, which are made of asphalt are fast gaining popularity in Kenya thanks to their visual attractiveness. The materials cost Sh2,000 per square foot excluding the cost of timber roof trusses.
READ: Building and Construction Materials in Kenya
Copper felt tiles and transparent insulated roofs are some of the most expensive roofing materials in the market, with the latter going for Sh5,000 per square foot.
Due to the high installation cost, these materials are mainly used for small portions of the roof such as fanlight areas.
When choosing a roofing material, always consider not only the upfront cost of materials and labour but also the entire life-cycle cost. A mabati roof can last 15 years, but a slate roof can last for 85 years.
This clearly shows that the cheapest roofing product may not save you money in the long run. It therefore makes sense to pay the extra upfront cost.
When considering durability of materials, have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions of the manufacturer’s warranty. It is recommendable to buy commodities from reputable manufacturers who will be there should a warranty need arise many years later.
This depends on the size of the building. For example, the cost of roofing a three-bedroom house in Kenya can be calculated by multiplying the price of a single roofing sheet by 85 – which is the total number of sheets required to cover such a building.
The price of Decra roofing tiles is above Sh2,000 per square metre for all profiles. In comparison, Korean roofing tiles, which are comparable with Decra, retail from Sh1,400 to Sh1,600 depending on the profile.
Editor’s Note: The above prices have been obtained from various retailers and are subject to change without notice. Visit your preferred vendor for more accurate prices.
Did we miss any of the above charges? Please correct us here.
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