Soft shingles benefits. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of roofing. The use of soft roofing

Soft roof - today it is perhaps the most popular option for arranging the roof. And this is well justified. After all, some modern types of roofing materials are incredibly strong, reliable, durable and attractive. In the modern building materials market, you can find a large number of varieties of soft roofs from both domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Types of soft roof

This type of roofing is most common in many European countries. The material is a membrane sheet of three types, differing from each other in composition. There are thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) membranes.

First view membrane roofing has in its composition ethylene-propylene rubber and propylene, between which there is a layer of mesh made of polyester or fiberglass. This roof is incredibly durable. Without special care, it can last more than 40 years. Moreover, the materials from which it is made are quite safe for health. Another plus is that TPO membranes can be installed in all weather conditions and even in freezing.

PVC membranes are composed of numerous plasticizers, due to which the material acquires good elasticity. This type of roof is quite resistant to sunlight and fire. Moreover, the color range of PVC membranes is quite diverse. However, this material also has a number shortcomings:

Firstly, the plasticizers included in the composition have volatile properties. Therefore, over time, the material may lose its former strength and other important characteristics.
Secondly, plasticizers are incredibly harmful to health, so such material cannot be considered completely safe.

Exposure to ultraviolet light can lead to tarnishing and fading of the roof. PVC - membranes do not tolerate various solvents, oils and other bituminous materials.

artificial membranes rubber(EPDM) have a good reputation among many consumers. This type of roof is absolutely waterproof. Most often, this material is used in the arrangement of sports fields and parking lots.

chief advantage such a roof is that its installation does not depend on the direction. This material is quite popular, however, it is difficult to rank it among the elite. And yet, some advantages make it in demand. Due to its lightness, the material is quite easy to transport and install. The rolled roof is durable, elastic and fireproof, besides it has excellent hydro- and sound-proof properties. Modern material is distinguished by absolute environmental security. Moreover, ultraviolet rays and temperature changes do not have any effect on it. Today, roll roofing is fiberglass and bitumen mixed with harmless polymers.

This material is most common in the construction of cottages, resorts, restaurants and hotels. Huge choice of colors makes this material the most versatile. Bituminous tiles are small flat sheets with a figured cut. You can find a variety of forms of sheets. For the manufacture of soft tiles, fiberglass impregnated with bitumen is used. Mineral granules, with which the top layer of the tile is trimmed, perfectly protect against damage and perform an insulating function. Roof from soft tiles is incredibly reliable. The unique feature of this material is that it increases in strength over time.

Due to the fact that the roof of soft tiles has an uneven surface, snowfall is unlikely. Due to its excellent soundproofing properties, this material will allow you to equip bedroom directly under the roof, and no extraneous sounds will disturb the calm environment. Moreover, shingles will perfectly protect the roof from excessive moisture.

This option involves applying a special mastics to the roof surface. Due to this, a waterproofing film is formed. The roof has no seams, it hermetically covers the surface of the roof. A significant disadvantage of this roofing material is its fragility. It is adversely affected by any weather troubles. Therefore, such a roof will often have to be repaired.

The use of soft roofing

Apply soft roofing flat surfaces where traditional materials fail to do their job. Moreover, it is used when it is necessary to carry out installation in a very short time. Also, soft roofing can be used when updating roofs, as it is easy to mount on an old surface.

Advantages and disadvantages of soft roofing

Among virtues soft roof should be highlighted:

Full fusion with any surface. Such material is indispensable for roofs with a complex geometric surface.
A wide selection of colors, shapes and patterns. Colour quite resistant, does not fade and does not fade in the sun.
Large temperature range. The layered structure is able to withstand temperature extremes.
The material is not subject to rotting and rusting. Fine repels moisture.
The surface is reliably protected from strong gusts of wind.
light weight. When installing soft tiles, there is no need to additionally strengthen the supporting structures of the building.
Excellent soundproof properties.
Durability.

Some disadvantages should also be noted:

During the cold season, there may be Problems with installation, so it is better to carry out such work at a positive temperature.
It is better to lay a soft roof on some kind of base, which can significantly increase the cost of repairing the roof.
If a small piece of material is damaged, then it must be completely replace, and the adjacent sections will still need to be replaced.

Materials and tools

Basic set tools for installation of a soft roof includes:

a hammer;
rubber seal;
glue;
hot air burner;
roofing nails;
scissors;
roulette;
pencil;
putty knife;
roofing knife.

During installation winter you may need an electric gun, a fire extinguisher, a shovel and a container of water.

Of the additional materials for the installation of a soft roof, tiles, moisture-resistant plywood, a board, a triangular-shaped rail, sealant and a metal apron can be used.

Preparatory work for installation

Begin work with the acquisition of the necessary material and surface preparation. The base on which the soft roof will be laid must be thoroughly cleaned, washed, dried and leveled. Unlike slate and corrugated board, soft roofing is not recommended to be laid on the crate. For the best sealing it is better to cover the base with moisture-resistant plywood or particle boards. If there are deflections of the sheet material, then they should be eliminated in order to avoid deformation of the soft roof.

Before laying a soft roof, you should insure yourself with additional vapor and waterproofing. Perfect for such purposes. roll material self-adhesive. For example, you can use a polyethylene film impregnated with bitumen. Such a waterproofing plan should be overlapped in rows parallel to the eaves. Insulation is a must.

Mounting soft roof is simple. The main thing is to follow a certain sequence.

The protective coating is removed from the first sheet.
The surface is covered with a special mastic.
The sheet is laid along the cornice line at a distance of 15–25 mm.

Similar In this way, the remaining sheets of the first row are mounted. The main task is the complete joining of the sheets and their reliable strengthening with nails. The next row of sheets is laid closer to the end of the sheets of the first row and nailed. If formed surplus material, then they should be removed and the edges treated with mastic.

When installing the roof, it is worth considering the possible difference in color shades in different batches, so it is better to mix the sheets and lay them evenly.

It should be noted that the installation of a soft roof not so complicated, and anyone who has a great desire to have a beautiful and reliable roof over their heads can fulfill it. Therefore, following the necessary rules, you can safely get to work and soon enjoy the excellent result.

When choosing a roofing material the topic of technical parameters comes to the fore, in which the material selected by the customer will have to work. Optimal today is a soft tile, which has a number of advantages that make such a choice justified.

Ease of installation this modern material, as well as long service life only a few arguments in his favor. Considering the pros and cons of this material, you can make a choice in its favor, but we must not forget about the scope.

The disadvantages of soft tiles are few, one of the main ones limiting its use is slope angle of the roof area of a building under construction. If its value is less than twelve degrees, the use is not recommended. Other characteristics, such as anticipated wind and snow loads, are much more user-friendly, and the building under construction will benefit from such a lightweight and durable, beautiful, weather-resistant material. Other disadvantages of soft tiles that do not affect the possibility of application will be considered below.

Kinds

The most eloquent thing about the advantages of soft tiles is the fact that its use as a roofing material has been going on for more than one and a half hundred years. And also the fact that in the middle of the last century, about half of all roofs in the United States were covered with it.

Throughout the history of the use of this material, the production technology has changed for the better, new substances have appeared for the manufacture of the base and the covering layer. This could not but affect the quality, which is now Competes with inherently more durable metallic finishes and traditional, based on ceramic tiles.

The production of soft roofing material includes the use of a base material treated with bitumen and coating it on both sides with various substances, in accordance with the purpose.

The composition of the soft, the base includes fiberglass treated with oxygen-enriched bitumen. The resulting symbiosis, providing the strength of the connection of bitumen layers, provides high level of resistance to loads, while maintaining flexibility.

Additional protection is given by a covering of the front part. For this, basalt granulate, finely dispersed crumbs of mineral origin or shale dressing are used. The inner surface is treated with an adhesive composition. Before using the material, the protective film is removed, the product is attached to a continuous crate with nails, and under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the tiles are glued to the underlying layer and to each other.

Flexible roofing is divided not only by type, but also by the method of cutting. There are six main types, these methods do not affect the operational parameters, they have only a decorative purpose. For the ridge and cornice part, a special type of tile is used.

The geometric parameters are standardized, the dimensions of soft tiles are 1000 × 317 mm.

With the expected increased loads on the roof, you should pay attention to such a coating option as a two-layer soft tile. The thickness of soft tiles of this type exceeds this parameter in the traditional version. It costs more but has several advantages., including the use of two sheets instead of one for the usual material. It is believed that this type is more convenient when working. Due to its texture, it allows you to hide small irregularities roofing devices.

Soft, it is also flexible, it is bituminous tiles - a relatively new roofing material in our construction market. It came to us from Europe, and to Europe from the USA, where about 100 years ago they came up with a roofing method from combining the properties of soft rolled roofing material and the technology of laying clay tiles. And although during this time it is bituminous tiles that are gaining popularity, the pros and cons during operation are inherent in it, like any other building material.

Over the years, the technology for the manufacture and operation of bituminous tiles has improved, and now it is a "pie", the basis of which is a reinforcing cage made of fiberglass (1), filled with high-quality modified bitumen (2). From above, the base is sprinkled with a protective and decorative coating (3), which significantly increases the service life of a soft roof. It can be basalt chips, granulate, mineral chips with the addition of various dyes. From below, the base "lies" on a bitumen-polymer sticky mastic (4), which is not afraid of frost. In order to prevent sheets of flexible tiles from sticking together during transportation, the bottom layer is protected by a film (5), which can be easily removed before laying the element in place.
On the one hand, it seems strange to want to cut whole rolls of ready-to-use material into small pieces, so that they can then be separately mounted on the roof, overlapping each other. On the other hand, the roof can be designed more beautifully, more spectacularly, and even if one or two elements are damaged during the operation period, there is no need to change the entire roll, as happens when covering from rolled materials. What other surprises does such a roof hold?

Coverage advantages

Any person, when he first hears about any building material unknown to him, will definitely be interested in the question of what he is good at in operation? Let's try and consider the advantages of flexible tiles against the background of other roofing materials. What are they? In addition to the fact that bituminous tiles have a weight of only about 5 kg / m2, it also has the following qualities:

Easy to install due to low weight and small dimensions.
High protection against noise, therefore, when constructing a residential attic under the roof of a house, additional sound insulation is not required.
Low thermal conductivity.
It is not subject to corrosion and rotting during operation.
The rough top layer retains snow and does not allow it to avalanche during the thaw.
The fiberglass “frame” resists tearing well, while maintaining elasticity at low temperatures.
Service life from 30 to 50 years for tiles from different manufacturers.
Large selection of colors and shapes.

If during the construction of the house it was decided in advance to use soft tiles, and the design of the rafters and lathing was thought out specifically for this type of coating, then it will not be difficult to lay such a coating on your own in a short time. To avoid trouble in the future, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with the product.

Cons and Features

So that after some service life a brand new, “sparkling” roof does not cause disappointment, it is necessary to know the shortcomings of flexible tiles before installing it. This will help to do everything right at the stage of installation of rafters and battens, and when laying the shingles themselves, to provide for all the nuances. What are they? Flexible tiles cannot be used if the roof slope is 12 degrees or less! Besides:

Bituminous shingles require a solid base made of waterproof materials.
With a slope of 12 to 18 degrees, additional waterproofing is recommended on problem areas of the roof that are most susceptible to moisture, as well as at the joints of the sheathing and roof ribs.
If any area is damaged, it will be necessary to contact specialists for repair, since the elements of the tile are glued together, and it will not work to replace the damaged sheets on your own.
It is necessary to provide a working ventilation of the space under the roof of soft tiles.
Moving on the roof, especially in the hot season, is unacceptable.
The roughness of the surface contributes to the accumulation of various debris on it, which requires regular cleaning.
In regions with high humidity, near water bodies, in shaded areas, moss or lichen may grow on the roof.
The installation of 1 m2 of bituminous tiles is approximately twice as expensive as the installation of 1 m2 of metal tiles due to the need to use a continuous crate made of waterproof materials. The service life of both types of roofing is approximately the same.

Waterproof plywood or OSB board (OSB board) is used as a crate for flexible tiles. This leads to a significant increase in the cost of a soft roof. Laying of sheets must be carried out taking into account the properties of the material in order to avoid deformation of the crate under the influence of natural factors. Otherwise, it may cause deformation of the coating and shorten its service life.

In the absence of proper ventilation under the roof, dampness of the materials of the rafters and the formation of mold are possible. The tree may begin to rot.

The roof can only be cleaned by hand or with a broom. At the same time, shoes should have soft soles, and the weather should be cool. To avoid damage to shingles by tree branches, you need to constantly monitor their growth and trim them in a timely manner.

You can fight moss or lichen with the help of special solutions. They must be applied with a sprayer, spray gun, spray gun in accordance with the instructions. It is better to wash off the remaining debris from top to bottom with water from a hose. As a preventive measure, the roof can be treated with these solutions annually.

A good protection against the formation of garbage vegetation will be the use of copper mesh or copper plates when arranging the uppermost sections of the roof. Rainwater, reacting with copper, forms an antiseptic solution and, flowing down, naturally treats the entire surface of the roof with it, preventing the growth of moss. Compliance with all preventive measures and operating rules will significantly extend the life of a soft roof.

It's not easy to choose the right one.

metal tile- roofing made of metal wavy sheets, which are sprayed with a protective layer of polymer enamel.

A variety of shapes, colors, determine the popularity of the coating.

Soft roof(otherwise - flexible (bituminous) tiles) - roofing tiles based on modified bitumen and fiberglass and granulate. The granulate on the outside provides the base with various color shades, and the lower self-adhesive adhesive layer ensures reliable installation of the coating.

Soft roof or metal tile: advantages and disadvantages roofing data.

To virtues metal tiles include:

strength coatings;
a wide range of colors;
durability;
water resistance;
ease of installation;
incombustibility;
ease tile sheet.

The disadvantages are:

low level of sound insulation;
complex roof structure high flow tiles;
has good thermal conductivity;
possible occurrence corrosion when the material is damaged.

Despite the presence of shortcomings, metal tiles are one of the most popular coatings on the building materials market. Disadvantages such as low noise insulation and good thermal conductivity can be eliminated by insulating the roof with a high-quality heat insulator.

Advantages and disadvantages of a soft roof

Soft tiles also have their pros and cons.

Its advantages include:

Identified shortcomings soft tiles:

high price;
installed only on a solid crate;
prone to burning.

Manufacturers present soft tiles as a coating that is not affected by the appearance of fungus, mold development, however, during operation, buyers have noticed the occurrence of fungus in the shady places of the roof.

What material is easier and cheaper to mount

The installation of any roofing implies its own characteristics, depending on the characteristics of the material.

Let's compare the installation of metal and bituminous tiles in terms of:

by price;
installation complexity.

cost cost

If we consider separately the price of tiles based on the roof area, then Both covers are about the same price. A: Price difference may vary by manufacturer. When buying, you should focus on the experience of specialists:

metal sheets should take with stock, since during installation there can be a lot of waste;
when installing a soft roof, there is almost no waste, however, will have to spend on the crate, laying it in a continuous way. This version of the crate can be justified: in this case, the insulation characteristics of the roof increase, and the soundproofing qualities increase. But it is not always necessary, especially if the attic is non-residential.
in places prone to drips, it is recommended for bituminous tiles lay special lining materials to provide ;
for the equipment of a roof under a metal tile or under a soft roof they have approximately the same cost (cornices, drains, end strips, gutters).

Thus, the cost of a supply of metal tiles is much lower than for the equipment of a continuous roof lathing, flooring of lining carpets for a bituminous roof, therefore, in general you will have to spend almost twice as much on a soft tile coating.

Difficulty of installation

Complexity laying metal tiles and soft roofs independently roughly the same:

metal tiles are laid with self-tapping screws, and sheets of soft roofing are glued and nailed, you can use ours to calculate the roof;
sheets of metal tiles are lighter, this allows you to spend less physical effort on styling. Soft tile sheets in the package are heavier, so the only difficulty that may arise is lifting the material onto the roof;
metal tiles are more difficult to cut than soft tiles;
much more is spent on laying metal tile sheets less time than the soft counterpart.

NOTE!

Installation of a soft roof should be carried out at a temperature not lower than +5° С. At low temperatures, when pressed, the material may be deformed, and the tightness of the adhesive may suffer.

Mounting temperature is the only difficulty in laying a flexible roof compared to a metal tile. But, since roofing work is most often performed during the warm period, this circumstance is not always relevant.

In general, you can quite easily cope on your own both when covering the roof with metal tiles and when installing a bituminous coating.

Comparison of dimensions and technical characteristics

The dimensions and weight of the cover material are considered in order to determine the load of the cover material on the roofs.

Dimensions and weight of materials

Metal tiles are produced sheets up to 450 cm long, up to 119 cm wide.

The weight of one square meter covered with metal tiles is approximately 5 kg.

Soft roofing is made with shingles 100 cm long, up to 33.7 cm wide.

Despite the small size of the sheets, the weight of one square meter of a soft roof can reach 12 kg.

Thus, the load on the roof truss system of large sheets of metal is much less than sheets of bituminous roofing.

Specification Comparison

Excellent technical performance of one material cannot be expressed in another, but such a problem is solvable:

the soundproofing characteristics of metal sheets are significantly inferior to those of bituminous material. Compensate for this shortcoming when laying metal tiles, you can use laying;
when laying metal tiles, it is necessary to install, which is not required by bitumen coating due to the rough surface that can hold snow;
with good non-combustibility of metal tiles, g A flexible roof, on the contrary, is prone to burning.

Coating characteristics

Characteristics of durability, color fastness, strength, resistance to external influences, environmental friendliness, water resistance of metal and bituminous tiles almost the same. Coatings are able to maintain their properties in different climatic conditions in different ways. All characteristics and indicators are focused on temperate climate regions.

Conclusion: metal tile or soft roof, which is better?

So, flexible tile or metal tile, which is better? Based on all the indicators of materials, it is rather difficult to decide on the choice of coating.

Metal tiles and soft roofs are not in vain the most popular covering materials: their technical characteristics allow you not to think about replacing the roofing for many years, and the color assortment, the variety of material configurations, and the brightness can decorate the building and give it individuality.

The bituminous tile allows to embody the most courageous design decisions, as it is able to cover the most ornate roofs with many bends and slopes.

Metal roofing is cheaper than shingles, but at the same time, soft tiles have excellent sound insulation and are well suited for a mansard roof.

The main indicator of coverage is its price. Experts do not recommend saving on coverage, since the roof is the main indicator of coziness, warmth, and comfort in the house.

metal tile or soft roof

The metal tile is suitable for more strict - two - three-pitched roofs, which have few inclined ribs and are devoid of hard-to-reach places.

Useful video

Comparison of the technical characteristics of these coatings in video format:

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