Aluminium’s application in building took off in the 1950s, but it has far older roots. Famously, the church dome of San Gioacchino in Rome was clad in aluminium sheeting in 1898, and in 1931 the Empire State Building in New York became the first building to use anodised aluminium components. Here are some important factors...

I was woken in the night and began to feel a little disconcerted when it was still shaking the house after a couple of minutes. Of course, the whole family was soon awake and up, and we didn’t get much sleep that night as aftershocks hit. When the ground below you and the building around...

When your site is susceptible to storms of any sort, don’t throw caution to the wind. It’s easy to forget your roof is up there – until it’s not. Access: A safe roof system starts with suitable access. This means you should be able to safely get there in most conditions and with tools. Ask...

The roof, that is. Usually it is out of sight and out of mind. It is not until there is a problem or service workers need access to plant items that you realise the importance of safe access. When items such as air conditioners fail, it is imperative that tradespersons can get up there quickly...

Location location location Like real estate, location is important. You want to place it in a location that is easily accessible but not an eyesore. There needs to be enough support for load bearing as well has having it far enough removed from occupancy so noise is not an issue. The roof is a logical...