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Nov 17, 2023

Cost of Roofing Materials in Kenya

Price estimates for popular roofing materials in Kenya. Updated By Home-owners

Price estimates for popular roofing materials in Kenya.

Updated

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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.

Here are popular types of iron sheets in Kenya and prices.

Roofing sheets prices in Kenya range from as low as Sh300 per metre for the thinnest grade with high quality pre-painted sheets going for up to Sh1,200 per metre.

Mabati Rolling Mills’ iron sheets brand Galsheet Resincot (Gauge 30) goes for Sh696 per metre, with similar gauge of unpainted Dumuzas going for Sh475 per metre.

The company's Elegantile roofing sheet (Gauge 28) goes for Sh1,200 per metre, with a similar gauge of Versatile and Orientile roofing sheets going for Sh1,100 and 1,200 per metre.

MRM's MaxCover roofing sheet (Gauge 28) goes for Sh950 per metre, with Gauge 30 of Covermax going for Sh696 per metre.

Imarisha Mabati Wave Tile goes for Sh730, while Imarisha Mabati Bamboo Tile retails at Sh760. The company's Box profile goes for Sh480.

Royal Mabati Corrugated Glossy G30 goes for Sh490, while its Corrugated Matte retails at Sh580 for G30 and Sh730 for G28.

Rain gutters retail for about Sh1,000. On the other hand, the cost for roofing ridges in Kenya is between Sh225 and Sh1,100 depending on the brand and vendor.

MRM's 487mm Ridge 28G Chocolate Textured, for example, goes for Sh1,100 per piece, while the company's 320mm Ridge 30G Maroon Smooth retails at Sh225.

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 Sh250, while galvanized roofing nails, which are best at preventing roofing sheets from rust, retail at Sh300 per kilo.

High quality serrated nails retail for Sh850 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 are fast gaining popularity in Kenya thanks to their visual attractiveness. The materials cost Sh2,000 per square foot excluding the cost of 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.

Decra roofing sheets prices Kenya are above Sh2,000 per square metre for all profiles.

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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Peter Lugaria is a seasoned journalist with a degree in Communications from Daystar University with over a decade of experience in reporting on the latest building materials, fixtures, and appliances.

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