A new look with Nu-lok

Exceptional aesthetics in roofing

Nu-lok is fast becoming the "number one" choice for many of Sydney's leading architects, builders and home owners. The company has rapidly spread not only on the Australian market but also worldwide, with large developments in such countries as America, Ireland and the UK.

Never before has slate and ceramic stone tiles been so simple and cost effective to install, with a saving of up to 50%, compared to traditional methods, on both material and labour costs.

Roofs have never demanded as much attention and consideration as right now, in the aftermath of wild storms and fires. However, imagine how much more valuable a product for a roof becomes when it not only promises strength and durability, but exceptional aesthetic quality as well - whether your home has only just been build or been standing for a century. An Australian invention, Nu-lok offers home owners a unique fixing system, designed specifically for ceramic or slate roofing tiles.

The beauty of the Nu-lok system is that it uses galvalume battens in place of timber - and therefore won't warp, twist or rot. Managing Director of Nu-lok (NSW) Randal Stevenson explained that home owners can, at last, choose a roof that is very affordable, resilient, low maintenance and fantastic to look at.
"The Nu-lok ceramic roof tile is a vitrified ceramic stone - almost unbreakable and immune to weather attacks, acid, moss and fungi", Stevenson explained.

"And while testing has found this product to be non-water absorbent, hail damage and frost resistant, and able to withstand extremes of hot and cold, one of its major attractions is the Nu-lok tiles are identical in colour and are guaranteed for 50 years not to fade."

Nu-lok's revolutionary system allows you to justify the use of ceramic stone and slate tiles on most projects, enabling you to create that unique roof.

Australian roofing innovation takes on the world - and wins

Australian company, Nu-lok Roofing Systems, recently took out the gold medal at the prestigious International Exhibition of Inventions and New Products in Geneva, Switzerland.

Robert (Bob) Hick, founder and CEO of Nu-lok, is the creative force behind what is being dubbed 'the most significant advance in roofing, since the roof itself'. A creative thinker, Bob started putting his mind to improving efficiencies and design applications many years ago, culminating in the design, development and introduction of the unique patented fixing system, which is at the heart of every Nu-lok roof.

"Our plan was to create the world's best roof, and that's exactly what we've done," explains Hick.

A Nu-lok roof differs from the traditional in two key ways. First, traditional and perishable timber battens are replaced with structurally superior galvalume battens, which form the basis of the roofing system itself. These battens allow for link channels and clipping mechanisms to be easily fitted, dramatically speeding up the construction process.

This infrastructure accommodates the roofing tiles themselves which, because of the design technology involved, requires less roof cladding materials. "When you're dealing with prestige and slate roofs, this is a significant cost saving and probably why the Nu-lok roof is receiving such widespread praise," explains Hick.

"Nu-lok ceramic stone roofing tiles are the second major breakthrough. Their profile allows for amazing flexibility of design, and because less product is physically used, the weight saving positively impacts on the rest of construction process - from the foundations up".

"Nu-lok represents the coming of age of the roofing industry, combining the latest technology in ceramic-slate-roof-tile production, along with high-grade metals used in its unique and solidly-performing fixing system. This company stands to turn the roofing industry upside down as the others race to play catch-up" - wrote one Sydney editor recently.

Installing shingles

Ceramic or slate shingles are now said to be an affordable option for roofs thanks to Nu-lok's installation system which requires only half the battens of traditional roofing systems. This equates to extensive savings over traditional roofing methods in structural weight, materials and labour productivity. Because the battens are made of metal rather than the more commonly used timber, they won't warp, twist or rot.

Nu-lok's ceramic shingles are made in Asia and Italy. The Italian shingle is a vitrified ceramic stone that is resistant to attack by weather, and immune to acids, moss and fungi. They have been tested for strength, physical characteristic impermeability, frost resistance, geometric and hail testing. The shingles can be walked on and with the combination of the Nu-lok fixing system the fitting of external accessories such as air conditioning units and skylights is simple.