Introducción
In the construction industry, weather can be one of the most unpredictable and challenging variables to manage. Rain, wind, snow, and extreme temperatures can delay projects, damage materials, and even cause safety risks. That’s where temporary roof systems come into play. Whether you’re renovating a historic building, constructing a large commercial property, or working on a residential project, temporary roof systems protect your site from the elements and keep work progressing efficiently.
This guide focuses on the benefits of different types of temporary roofing options to help you determine the best fit for your construction project.
What Is a Temporary Roof System?
A temporary roof system is a modular framework installed over a construction site to shield it from weather-related disruptions. These systems are typically used when a building’s roof is being replaced or when the structure is open to the sky for any reason. They allow work to continue uninterrupted regardless of external conditions.
Temporary roofs are usually built using lightweight yet sturdy materials like aluminum or steel, along with durable weatherproof sheeting.
Types of Temporary Roofing Systems
Temporary roofing solutions come in a variety of formats, each suited to different project needs, budgets, and site conditions. Here are the most common types:
1. Keder Roof Systems
A Keder roof is an engineered temporary roofing system built from lightweight aluminum beams that incorporate continuous “keder” tracks. Reinforced PVC/PE roof sheets with welded beads (the keder) slide within these tracks to form taut, weather‑sealed bays. The frames sit on scaffold support trusses and can be configured as static or rolling roofs to provide dependable, daylight‑friendly protection over active works.
- Modular aluminum beam structure with track-mounted sheeting (Keder)
- Excellent light transmission and weather protection
- Reusable, professional-looking, and ideal for longer-term or repeat projects
2. Shrink Wrap Roofs
A shrink wrap roof is a site‑formed membrane created by draping polyethylene film over scaffold purlins/boards, heat‑welding the overlaps, and then shrinking the film drum‑tight with hot air. The result is a continuous, airtight and watertight enclosure that can extend down façades for full encapsulation, offering rapid deployment and superb weather/dust control on irregular geometries.
- Heat-shrunk polyethylene sheeting applied over scaffold boards
- Airtight, highly weather-resistant
- Fast installation (in good weather), disposable material
- Extremely adaptable to complex or awkward shapes
3. Tin Hat Scaffolding (Corrugated Iron Sheets)
A tin hat scaffold is the traditional temporary roof built from corrugated iron or steel sheets fixed to temporary roof trusses and purlins above a scaffold. Overlapped like tiles, the rigid sheets shed rain and resist impacts, creating a robust, reusable cover. The trade‑off is added weight, manual handling, and an opaque interior.
- Uses corrugated iron or steel sheets laid over roof trusses
- Durable and reusable but heavy and opaque
- Labor-intensive installation, traditional but less visually appealing
Why Temporary Roofs Matter in Construction
Climate & Quality Control
Temporary roofs create a stable micro‑climate around the workface by keeping out rain, wind and UV while moderating temperature and humidity. That control protects moisture‑sensitive activities such as roofing, coatings, curing, MEP terminations and interior finishes. It also lifts overall quality assurance by limiting water ingress that can warp timber, saturate insulation, corrode steel or compromise adhesives and membranes, while helping sites manage noise, dust and runoff for neighbouring communities.
Programme Certainty & Compliance
Beyond the physical envelope, a dependable roof improves programme certainty and productivity. With fewer weather stoppages, teams can sequence trades predictably, shorten critical paths and protect milestone dates, which in turn reduces idle labour and rework costs. A consistent enclosure also simplifies compliance with scaffold and temporary‑works procedures and makes inspections, sign‑offs and documentation more straightforward in engineered, repeatable conditions.
HSW, Security & When to Specify
Shelter enhances health, safety and welfare by keeping walking and working surfaces dry, improving visibility and reducing heat/cold stress. It strengthens security and containment too, deterring theft and vandalism while keeping debris and dust within the site boundary. Specify a temporary roof for roof strip‑and‑replace programmes, phased refurbishments, heritage conservation, occupied or operational buildings, winter or monsoon seasons, and any long‑duration project where schedule certainty is critical.
Comparing Temporary Roofing Options
Selecting between a Keder roof, shrink wrap cover, or tin hat scaffold depends on how you balance speed, reusability, appearance, and fit to complex structures. The table below places the three systems side by side so you can judge them against common decision criteria.
Criteria | Keder Roof | Shrink Wrap Roof | Tin Hat Scaffold (CI Sheets) |
Light transmission | High; white keder sheets brighten work areas | High; white film creates a bright enclosure | Low; opaque metal sheets darken interiors |
Weather resistance | Tracked sheeting and gaskets form strong seals; reliable in rain/wind | Excellent when heat‑welded properly; few joints and tight seal | Good in rain; overlaps vulnerable in high winds without careful fixing |
Fit to complex shapes | Moderate; modular bays suit regular plans | Excellent; film adapts to irregular geometries/penetrations | Moderate; rigid sheets are less forgiving around changes in plan |
Installation speed | Moderate; prefabricated modules assemble quickly with trained crew | Fast in good weather; slow/impractical in high wind or rain | Slow; many small sheets, manual fixing and lifting at height |
Install weather sensitivity | Low‑to‑moderate | High | Low |
Reusability & lifecycle | High; frames and keder panels designed for repeat use | Low; single‑use film (can be recycled post‑use) | High; sheets reusable across jobs |
Safety during install | Predictable sequencing, fewer loose items | Requires hot‑air tools; robust edge protection needed | Heavier components; more manual handling and edge work |
Aesthetics / client presentation | Clean, professional; good for urban/high‑profile sites | Smooth, continuous wrap; neat when well‑trimmed | Industrial look; visible overlaps and fixings |
Noise in rain | Low–moderate | Low | High (drumming on metal) |
Typical clear spans | Up to ~40 m depending on system and loads | Dependent on scaffold/batten layout beneath | Very short; relies on truss layout |
Best for | Mid‑ to large‑scale projects needing repeat deployment and daylight | Irregular or phased works needing full encapsulation/airtightness | Budget‑driven jobs reusing existing sheet stock |
Key limitations | Less adaptable to very irregular plans without custom bays | Weather‑dependent installation; not reusable | Heavy, opaque, labor‑intensive |
When to Use a Temporary Roof System
Roof strip-and-replace / open-to-sky phases
Keder excels for stable, daylight interiors and repeat moves (static or rolling bays). Shrink wrap works for airtight, watertight encapsulation when interiors must stay dry at all times. Tin hat suits robust covers where impact resistance is valued over light.
Irregular geometry, penetrations, or complex façades
Shrink wrap adapts fastest to awkward shapes and phased openings. Keder fits regular grids and rectangular spans; custom bays can address modest irregularity. Tin hat is least flexible around plan changes.
Long-duration, winter/monsoon programmes
Keder provides durable, reusable protection with predictable performance and lower weather‑dependency during installation. Tin hat is also durable but heavier and darker. Shrink wrap performs well once installed, but best scheduled for calm, dry install windows.
Occupied buildings / dust & noise control
Shrink wrap enables full encapsulation and tight joints for containment. Keder delivers good weather control with brighter interiors; add shrink wrap to façades for full enclosure. Tin hat controls rain but transmits more noise and air movement.
Heritage and high-visibility urban sites
Keder offers a clean, professional aesthetic with translucent light. Shrink wrap presents a smooth, uniform exterior when trimmed well. Tin hat reads more industrial and may be less desirable visually.
Fast-track, short-duration tasks
Shrink wrap is quickest where weather allows safe/efficient heat-weld work. Keder is moderately fast with trained crews and standardized modules. Tin hat is slowest due to manual handling of many sheets.
Budget and asset reuse priorities
Tin hat y Keder both offer strong reuse potential over multiple jobs. Shrink wrap is single-use (recyclable) but can reduce labour on complex shapes, offsetting material spend on tight programmes.
Security and impact-prone environments
Tin hat provides rugged, impact-resistant coverage. Keder delivers robust roofs with engineered fixings. Shrink wrap protects from weather/dust but can be vulnerable to sharp impacts if unprotected.
How to Choose the Right Temporary Roof System (For Distributors & End Users)
From a distributor or rental‑house perspective, the “right” roof is the one that maximises fleet utilisation and return on capital while keeping crews efficient and safe. Keder systems offer standardised, reusable modules that interface cleanly with common modular scaffolds, stack densely for transport, and shorten training time once teams are familiar with the bay sequence. Shrink wrap adds a consumable revenue stream for full encapsulations and can differentiate your service offer on irregular projects, but it ties performance to calm, dry install windows and requires film inventory plus recycling logistics. Tin hat remains a rugged, reusable option where your market already owns or rents corrugated sheet stock, though it carries heavier manual handling, larger storage volumes, and longer install/dismantle durations that may limit weekly turns.
For end users (contractors and owners), start with geometry, programme and environmental constraints. Keder is the go‑to for mid‑ to long‑duration works that benefit from daylight, predictable weatherproofing and a tidy urban presentation. Shrink wrap is ideal when you need a tight, clean enclosure on irregular plans, with strong dust/noise control and quick progress in favourable weather windows. Tin hat suits impact‑resistant covers where light levels are less critical and existing sheet stock keeps costs down. Also consider access for cranes and plant, ventilation and fire strategy, and neighbour relations—bright, sealed enclosures often improve safety, productivity and client confidence.
As a quick match: prioritise reusable assets, fast repeat deployment and bright interiors—choose Keder; prioritise airtightness, irregular shapes and façade encapsulation—choose shrink wrap; prioritise ruggedness, sheet reuse and the lowest material outlay—choose tin hat. On complex sites, combine systems—for example, a Keder roof over the main span with shrink wrap to encapsulate elevations, reserving tin‑hat elements where impact resistance is paramount. APAC Scaffold supports both distributors and site teams with modular roof components and configuration guidance to balance programme, cost and compliance.
Conclusión
Temporary roofing should be chosen based on geometry, programme, weather windows, safety, and presentation needs. Keder delivers reusable, daylight‑friendly coverage with predictable performance; shrink wrap enables tight, adaptable enclosures on irregular shapes; tin hat offers rugged, reusable protection where impact resistance and existing sheet stock are priorities.
Many projects benefit from a blended approach. Select the system—or combination—that best balances risk, cost, and schedule for your specific site.
FAQs: Temporary Roof Systems
What is the maximum span for a Keder roof system?
A: Most systems allow spans of up to 40 meters, depending on load requirements.
Can shrink wrap be reused?
A: No, shrink wrap is a single-use solution best suited for quick-turn projects.
Are Keder roof systems suitable for small projects?
A: Yes, but they are most cost-effective for mid-to-large-scale jobs.
What safety measures are needed for installing temporary roofs?
A: Proper edge protection, scaffolding compliance, and fall prevention systems are essential.
How long does it take to install a Keder roof system?
A: Installation time varies by project size but is generally quicker than traditional tube & fitting setups.
