Choosing roofing materials: tile, metal, or composite?

There is no universally best roofing material for Malaysia. There are good materials and there is the right material for your specific roof. This is a short, opinionated guide to the three families we install most often.

Concrete tile

What it is. Pressed concrete coloured through and surface-coated. The default residential roof in Malaysia for two decades now.

Strengths. Cheap to source, easy to find tradespeople for, individual tiles are simple to replace, good thermal mass.

Weaknesses. Heavy — needs a properly designed structure. Surface coating bleaches and erodes after 10–12 years. Brittle if walked on incorrectly.

Cost range (supply + install). RM 80–120 per square metre.

Lifespan. 25–35 years with mid-life restoration.

Clay tile

What it is. Fired terracotta. The traditional roof of the region.

Strengths. Beautiful, holds its colour for decades, very low maintenance, naturally fungus-resistant.

Weaknesses. Heaviest option here. Pricey. Limited shape range compared to concrete. Skilled installers are getting harder to find.

Cost range. RM 140–210 per square metre.

Lifespan. 40–60 years, plus.

Metal deck (steel or aluminium)

What it is. Profiled metal sheets, usually colour-coated steel. Bluescope Lysaght Klip-Lok is the high-end version; corrugated and IBR profiles are the budget end.

Strengths. Light, fast to install, low pitch tolerated (Klip-Lok can go down to about 3°), works well with rainwater harvesting.

Weaknesses. Loud during heavy rain unless you spec sarking and insulation. Coating life is the limiting factor — once it goes, rust follows quickly.

Cost range. RM 55–130 per square metre depending on grade.

Lifespan. 20–30 years for premium coatings; budget profiles closer to 15.

Composite / asphalt shingle

What it is. Glass-fibre mat with bitumen and mineral surfacing. IKO and CertainTeed are common imports here.

Strengths. Cosmetically forgiving, lightweight, good with complex roof shapes (lots of valleys and hips), reasonably affordable.

Weaknesses. Lifespan in tropical UV is shorter than in temperate climates. Granular shedding is real. Needs a steeper pitch than metal.

Cost range. RM 95–140 per square metre.

Lifespan. 18–25 years here.

How we actually advise

• For a long-term family home where structure permits: clay tile if the budget stretches, concrete tile otherwise.
• For low-pitch, modern-architecture homes and extensions: Klip-Lok metal deck with proper sarking.
• For complex roofs with many hips and valleys where aesthetics matter: composite shingle, on a steep enough pitch.
• For pure rental investment properties: concrete tile, plain colour, plain profile.

If you're not sure which way to go, the cheapest way to find out is a one-hour site visit. We won't tell you the most expensive option is automatically right. Send us your address and we'll come and walk the roof with you.