How to choose metal roofing for roofing

Each homeowner, planning the arrangement of a roof, tries to find roofing material that will serve for many years without the need for additional repair work. Therefore, if metal shingles are chosen for this purpose, it is necessary to know certain nuances, which should be paid special attention when purchasing it.

At first glance, various samples of this coating look quite similar, and manufacturers always promise its impeccable quality. In practice, some materials behave unpredictably. Some of them are burned out in a year, covered with cracks, and the outer protective layer slides, exposing the metal. In others, the sheets bend or rusty stains appear on them. And only really high-quality samples can serve for dozens of years, without losing their original qualities and appearance.

Therefore, how to choose the metal roofing for the roof correctly, and how to determine its quality, and will go further.

Selection Criteria metal

metal First you need to define the criteria that need to pay attention to the purchase of roofing material. The sheet thickness, the quality of the metal itself, the presence of the zinc coating layer and the resistance of the protective coating, the shape, texture and color of the metal tile, the guaranteed service life, coating technology, and the manufacturer's reputation can be considered as the main ones.

Now, having become acquainted with the whole list of criteria, they should be considered in more detail.

Thickness of a sheet of metal tiles

The thickness of metal sheets used for the production of metal tiles can vary from 0.4 to 0.7 mm, and sometimes even up to 0.9 mm, and thinnersheet, the cheaper the price of this roofing material. However, do not economize on this by purchasing a metal roof made of thin steel sheet. It will not last a long time, since dents on it will remain even from a small fallen branch. Well, if there is a big hail, the "economical" owner of the house risks to remain without a roof at all. In addition, it is difficult to work with thin roofing sheets, as they can easily be damaged during the installation of the coating.

It is often enough in building shops, and even more so in the market, one can find metal roofing packages with incorrect coating parameters. For example, with a thickness of 0.5 mm, in fact, the sheets have a thickness of only 0.4 or 0, 45 mm. Therefore, for clarification of this criterion, you should always contact the seller of the goods, and even better - go to the store with your mic.

. The optimal option for installation and operation under normal conditions will be a metal tile made of a sheet from 0.5 to 0.7 mm thick. Having laid this material with the observance of technology, you can not worry about repairing the roof for at least 12-15 years.

Quality of a metal sheet

The life of a metal roofing material depends largely on the quality of the steel from which it is made. Therefore, when buying, you should also ask about this parameter of metal tiles. Thus, large producers use three types of steel for their products: European, Russian and Asian.

Buying roofing material produced in European countries, there is no doubt that only steel sheets manufactured in the EU were used for them. On the Russian market you can find products of such companies as Corus( UK), RUUKKI( Finland), SSAB( Sweden), Arcelor( Belgium).

Russian rolled metal mainly comes from large plants in Cherepovets, Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk and Lipetsk.

The Asian material is the cheapest, therefore it is attractive for small manufacturers of metal tiles and corrugated board, which do not aspire to achieve high quality of their products. Even more recently, roofing coverings from such steel literally flooded the Russian market, and today one can also "run into" such products that are issued for high-quality European or Russian goods. Therefore, the seller must always require a certificate when buying, where the parameters of the materials used and their manufacturer should be indicated.

In order not to purchase a substandard coating, it is not worth while trying to save money, buying metal coatings in the markets or in small retail outlets. Usually they are designed for a buyer with low or medium income, and it is unlikely that their owners will be able to conclude contracts with major manufacturers of metal products.

It is necessary to take into account the fact that in such shopping pavilions you can easily run into a fake, made in artisanal conditions. Most often, unscrupulous manufacturers mark the roofing sheets with the logo of the most famous plant in Russia, which produces metal and products from it - Severstal. Therefore, if it is decided to purchase domestic material, then it is worthwhile to study in advance the company's original logos and the applied method of packing sheets.

Today the following metal sheets are used for the production of metal tiles:

• Steel galvanized sheet is a traditional material used for making roofing. Products made of it usually have a thickness of 0.45 to 0.6 mm, less often a thickness of 0.7 ÷ 0.9 mm.

The zinc coating serves to protect the steel from corrosion damage, and the applied polymer layers are designed not only for decorative design, but also to increase the overall resistance of the material to external influences. Sometimes, instead of zinc, aluminum is used to coat the steel, which makes the roofing material more durable, but such items will cost more.

• Aluminum sheet is not corroded, so it does not have to wait for a dirty trick to get rusty stains through the polymer coating, even if the protection is damaged.

Aluminum metal is much lighter than the steel version, which greatly simplifies its installation. On top of the base is applied a protective color coating, which decorates the material and imparts additional protective qualities. The thickness of the aluminum sheet varies from 0.5 to 0.7 mm.

A significant disadvantage of such a metal tile is its high price.

• Copper sheet for metal tiles can have a thickness of 4.5 ÷ 0.6 mm. Roofing material from copper can not be called widespread, but solely because of its high cost, because for all other parameters it is the absolute leader.

Copper tiles have no additional decorative coatings, since the material itself has an aesthetic value.

Copper leaf is not corroded, but over time it forms a green patina, patina, which gives the material a special charm. In addition, patina is a natural protection to cover against the influence of external aggressive factors.

Quality of the galvanizing layer

Galvanized sheet is the most common and affordable protective coating for steel. The quality of this treatment is one of the most important parameters in the choice of metal tile, since the thickness of the layer will depend on the service life of the coating - the thicker the zinc protection, the higher the resistance of the roofing material to corrosion.

Galvanized steel sheet is made by immersing it in a zinc melt for a certain period.

The standard galvanizing layer is 275 g / m².Such material is assigned the first class, and it belongs to the category "Standard" and "Premium".It is chosen in the event that it is planned to exploit the coating for decades. The category "Business" includes metal tiles of the second class, which has a coating layer of 220, 200, 180, 140, 126 g / m², but it is naturally designed for a shorter period. Although GOST 14918-80 indicates that the zinc coating should be only 142.5 g / m² or 10 microns, in practice it turns out that such a thickness is not enough for a long time to use the material.

The zinc layer is able to protect the steel even if the coating has received minor damage, that is, scratches have appeared on it, or if the coating sheet has been cut and the integrity of the polymer protection has been compromised. The only thing that is really afraid of such a coating is the cutting of profile sheets by a grinding machine, since from a high temperature the layer of zinc partially loses its protective properties.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to check the thickness of the zinc layer, and what the manufacturer says is not always true. If a metal tile of domestic production is purchased, then it is worth choosing material produced at a large enterprise. The manufacturer, who wished to remain anonymous, is unlikely to use high-quality steel with the necessary layer of galvanizing. Most likely, the roofing material will be made from steel of Asian origin or Russian, but of poor quality. Such a roof will not last a long time.

Design and relief forms of

. The metal tile is manufactured in various relief forms and has a different geometry, therefore, when choosing a material for this parameter, it is necessary to take into account the fact that in addition to influencing the appearance of the roofThis also affects the longevity of the roof.

The rigidity of a sheet of metal directly depends on the depth of the stamp, that is, the height of the wave. At the same time, the higher the relief pattern, the lower the sheet elasticity. Metal tiles are divided into two dimensional shapes: up to 50 mm - it is "small", over 50 mm - "high" wave.

The relief pattern of a sheet can have symmetrical and asymmetric waveforms.

This factor does not affect the quality and durability of the material, so its choice depends solely on consumer preferences.

"Monterrey Standard" ( "Rannila" - Finland)	1100	80	350	183.3	25	14
Monterrey Super	1100	80	450	183.3	25	21
Monterrey Lux	1100	80	350	183.3	20	19
Monterrey Maxi	1100	80	400	183.3	25	21
Monterrey Retro	1100	80	150	183.3	19	14
Monterrey Classic	1100	80	350	183.3	23	21
«Monterrey Modern»	1100	80	350	183.3	23	15
«Spanish dune» ( Chelyabinsk)	1040	107	200 ÷ 450	208	10 ÷ 25	n / a
«Spanish dune» ( OZLK - Russia)	457	73	350	230	30.5	16
M-28, E-05,F-045, C-05, C-045 ( Unikma-Russia)	1100	80	350	250	24	15
"Andalusia" ( "RANNILA STEEL" - Finland)	1000	116	400	250	36-48	10 ÷ 30
Cascade ( Northern Shake - Russia)	951-1140	55-139	350-400	210-224	22-25	20-23
Interprofile ( factory Interprofile - Russia)	1100	60	350	183.3	24	15
"The Spanish Sierra" ( OOO Kazan Steel Profiles - Russia)	1065	105	150 ÷ ​​500	210	n / a	26
"Pamir" ( OMI- Russia)	1120	70	350	224	20	20
"EVA" ( "Mera System" - Sweden)	1100	60	350	185	25	15
» ( « Mera System »- Sweden)	1050	90	350	175	30	15
"Finnera" ( "Ruukki" - Finland)	1140	50	330	190	30	22
"Adamante" ( "Ruukki" - Finland)	1125	28	350	225	25	30
"Peltitili" ( "Pelti Ja Rauta" - Finland)	1100	80	350	183.3	25	13
"Tulipolmu" ( "Poimukate"Finland)	1100	80	350	183.3	24	21
"Kruunukate" ( "Poimukate" - Finland)	1040	80	400	206	42	22
Profile: Name, illustration, manufacturer	Useful width, mm	Overlap, mm	Wave pitch( module length), mm	Wave width, mm	Wavelength, mm	Step height, mm

• Metal tile, which has a low wave height, is made by almost all manufacturers, so it can be easily found in warehouses of building materials and in profile stores. These products are quite affordable, and can have a different sheet thickness and outer cover. For example, similar metal shingles are produced by such companies as: Rannila( Monterrey series), Planiya( Classic), Mera System( EVA), Weckman( Type 3)"Metehe"( "Classic") and others.
• Metal tiles with a high wave, the height of which varies from 50 to 70 mm, is also manufactured by many manufacturers, but this type of material has a higher cost. For example, it is produced by such well-known companies as: Rannila( Elit), Planiya( Viktoria), Weckman( Type 1) and other

. In the assortment of these companies, there are enough samples with symmetrical, and with an asymmetric profile.

Original versions are also produced - they are manufactured by Mera System and Rannila.

The relief drawings of the metal tile have their names, and those who have already made a tour of the construction shops should be familiar with such names as "Monterey", "Cascade", "Joker", "Prima", "Classic", "Fashion" and "Banga".In addition to them, new versions of quite interesting reliefs appeared: Modern, Shanghai, Andalusia, and others.

The most popular and common type of metal tiles is the profile Monterrey pattern, but this material, like others, can have different dimensional parameters. The popularity of this profile is explained by the fact that it maximally repeats the configuration of natural ceramic tiles. In addition to this well-known profile, you can also find on the market another metal tile, which is in great demand among consumers.

This table shows the most popular profiles that can often be seen on the roofs of houses:

Protective and decorative coating of metal tiles

Metal tiles can have different types of protective and decorative coatings, and sometimes the price of roofing material largely depends on this criterion. Therefore, to begin with, it is necessary to decide what coatings are available and what characteristics they have.

Specifications and performance	Polyester	matte polyester	plastisol	Pural	PVDF( polyvinyl difluoride)
Surfaces	Smooth	Smooth	embossing	Smooth	Smooth
Coating thickness, micron	25 ÷ 27	35	200	50	27
thickness of the primer layer, micron	5 ÷ 8	5 ÷ 8	5 ÷ 8	5 ÷ 8	5 ÷ 8
Thickness of protective lacquer applied on the back side, μm	12 ÷ 15	12 ÷ 15	12 ÷ 15	12 ÷ 15	12 ÷ 15
Maximum temperatureoperation, ˚С	120	120	60	120	120
MMinimum processing temperature, ˚C	-10	-10	10	-15	-10
Color fastness to burnout	****	****	***	****	****
Resistance tomechanical damage to the	***	****	*****	*****	****
Corrosion resistance	***	****	*****	*****	****
Resistance to atmospheric influences	***	****	**	****	*****

In the table, the resistance of materials to various impacts is evaluated using a five-point system.

• Polyester ( polyester) is most often used for metal coating for the production of metal tiles and profile sheets, since the roofing material with its use has an affordable price. Polyester coatings are applied to a steel sheet 25-17 mm thick. Polyester has not too high characteristics of resistance to mechanical stress, so in regions with heavy winter rainfall, the metal tiles coated with it are not recommended. The material is sufficiently resistant to burning and corrosion, its service life will be 12 ÷ 15 years, provided it is used in suitable conditions, in which damage to the coating will be avoided.

• Matte polyester is a type of conventional polyester, enhanced by the addition of Teflon. Matte polyester coating has a higher resistance to mechanical stress and ultraviolet, therefore suitable for regions with any climate. The coating layer is 35 μm, and its service life is 12 ÷ 15 years.

• Plastisol - this coating made on the basis of polyvinyl chloride is applied to the metal with the thickest layer, which is 200 μm. Therefore, this material is highly resistant to mechanical influences, but is subject to rapid burnup with constant exposure to ultraviolet rays. Not resistant to such a coating and to atmospheric influences - the maximum temperature at which it does not lose its qualities, only + 60 degrees. Therefore, it is not recommended to use roofing material with plastisol in regions with high summer temperatures.

The coating has a relief surface, it is usually printed with an embossed skin pattern or a broken notch. Thanks to this, the roof looks aesthetically pleasing and respectable.

• PURAL is made of polyurethane with the addition of polyamide and is resistant to high temperatures, aggressive media, mechanical stress, and ultraviolet radiation. Pural is applied to a metal sheet with a layer 50 μm in thickness. Due to its high performance characteristics, Pural allows the use of metal tiles in regions with any climate. However, it should be noted that this roofing material has a fairly high price. And not only because of its excellent qualities, but also because the rolling with this high-quality coating is produced by only one Finnish company "Ruukki".Manufacture of the same metal from such sheets is carried out by several manufacturers, such as "Granite HDX Arcelor", "Metalloprofile", "Grand Line" and "Pural Ruukki".

• PVDF is produced on the basis of polyvinyl difluoride 80%, with the addition of acrylic 20%.This material is applied to the metal surface with a layer of only 27 ÷ 30 μm in thickness, but, despite this, it is the most reliable, resistant to various impacts and durable coating.

• "Noble" coatings .It is impossible not to say about this category of materials that make the metal tile more durable and give its sheets a respectable appearance. These include metal tiles collections "Solano 30", "Velur", "Granite HDX", "Viking" and "Prizma".

The most popular of these roofing coatings is "Prizma", which is produced by the Anglo-Dutch company "Corus".The material is distinguished by a wide variety of colors and a noble matte rough texture. In general, such a metal tile has the same qualities as other roofing materials, the coating composition of which includes polyurethane, but differs from them with high resistance to corrosion and ultraviolet radiation. The protective top layer of the sheets is 50 μm.

• are absolutely unique. Composite coating , including granules in its composition, makes the surface of the metal tile rough, which gives the upper layer a relief and a special aesthetics. In addition, the sheets, due to this coating, acquire high strength, since the applied granules are a fine fractional stone crumb that, as it were, "clothes" the roof in a protective "coat".Outwardly, this material perfectly imitates natural tiles, and nothing in it produces a metal base. On the roof covered with such material, the snow melts slowly, and does not come down with an avalanche, which gives complete security of the passage along the walls of the house in the spring. This coating is able to withstand temperatures in a wide range, from -50 to +120 degrees, which indicates that it can be used in any region of Russia.

Another table, eloquently speaking about the qualities of external coatings of metal:

Type of coating	Used components	Surface texture	Coating thickness, μm.	Resistance to UV	mechanical stability	Warranty period, years
Polyester glossy	Polyester	Glossy	25 ÷ 27	average	Low	10 ÷ 15
Polyester matt	Polyester + PTFE	matt, semi-matt	35	average	average	10÷ 15
Plastisol	Plasticized PVC	Matte, glossy, corrugated.	175 ÷ 200	Low	average	10 ÷ 15
PVDF	Polyacetal	matte, glossy, rippled	25 ÷ 32	Very high	Very high	10 ÷ 15
Pural	Polyurethane + polyamide	matt, glossy	50	Very high	Very high	10 ÷ 15
Coating with granulate	Acrylic resin, stone crumb coated with acrylic glaze.	Granular	-	Very high	Very high	30 ÷ 50

Color range of roofing material

RAL is a standard color palette that includes a color map of RaColor( RR), developed by the company "Ruukki" with the assistance of architects and landscape designers, taking into account the harmonious combination of the roof with the facade decoration and a number of located buildings. When creating a palette, shades were taken into account, which are most often used for decoration of building facades. The standard color scheme includes 17 colors, and besides them there are more than 1000 shades, from which you can choose suitable for the overall design of the house.

Choosing the color of metal, you need to consider not only how harmoniously it will fit into the landscape design, but also some more factors.

• Dark saturated colors look on the roof aesthetically and nobly. They are excellent for many shades of walls, however, it should be borne in mind that the more saturated the color, the faster it burns out under the influence of ultraviolet rays and other natural factors.
• Light shades of roofing material retain their original color significantly longer, and the change itself occurs less noticeably. In addition, the light surface attracts less sun rays and warms up longer, which is very important in the summer.
• When choosing the color of metal, you should not forget about the technical characteristics of coatings and the terms of the warranty, which gives the manufacturer its products. The lower the price of the roofing material, the less is the warranty period for it, since cheap materials are unlikely to last long. So the "appearance" of the tiled coating should not be the determining factor.

Warranty period

Warranty period for metal can vary from 10 to 50 years. Its duration depends on the thickness of the metal sheet, the quality of the zinc coating, the material of the protective coating and its thickness, as well as the shape of the tile.

Large manufacturers with high quality equipment do not tolerate errors in the manufacture of profiled roofing, as the lines are precisely tuned to stretch a specific material to a specific wave height. The fact is that each of the protective coatings has a critical degree of expansion, and if these parameters are exceeded, then in the wave areas the protective layers are thinned, and under the influence of external factors, microcracks are formed which are visually invisible, but in time will lead to serious damage to the coating.

That's why, when choosing metal shingles, it is advisable to stop at a large and well-known manufacturing company that values ​​its reputation. Taking into account this criterion, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of acquiring a fake or simply a poor-quality product. The manufacturer, confident in its products, will always give it an adequate guarantee, and if there is no desire to cover its roof every five years, then it is not worth saving and purchasing cheap metal roofing.

What else to pay close attention to

From what has been said above, you can summarize that the quality and durability of metal tiles define several parameters that you need to pay close attention to when choosing it, be sure to read the accompanying technical documentation and make a visual inspection of the material. So, when buying, you need to consider the following factors:

• The thickness of the metal sheet from which the tile is made must be at least 0.50 mm.
• The recommended thickness of the zinc coating layer is not less than 225 g / m².
• Protective coating is best chosen with PVDF( fluoroplast), Pural( Polyurethane + polyamide) or composite with granulate.
• It is recommended to choose a material with a profile having a small wave height, remembering the excessive stretching of the material.
• You should buy products of a well-known manufacturer, as in this case you can be sure that the tile was made with modern, properly configured equipment. In addition, in order to preserve the reputation, at such enterprises the strictest control over the quality of products is carried out, oriented to the established world standards.

• It is necessary to make a visual inspection of metal tiles for damage to the coating. Usually in large construction shops a sample of material is put on the stand. It is recommended to try to press the leaf with a finger - if it succumbs, then it is better to refuse such a product.
• If on the surface of the shingles, which has not yet been exploited, there are scratches and scratches, then on this basis, too, one can draw conclusions about its quality.

• It is important to pay attention to the packaging, as it sometimes can tell about the manufacturer more than a quality certificate or a consultant-seller. A conscientious producer always takes care of ensuring that the goods reach the buyer intact and safe, so they will not save on its protection. Each sheet in the stack must necessarily be replaced with a special material so that the protective coating is not damaged during transport. If the tile is simply stacked on each other without protection and gaskets, then it is better to look for the roofing material in another building store.

Well-known brands of metal tiles

So, as mentioned above, there are a lot of different materials on the market, but the following manufacturers should pay attention:

• Severstal is a Russian steel and mining company, one of the largest in the world and has assets not only in Russia, but also in Italy, Poland, Latvia and Liberia. Severstal has been producing steel products since 1959, but it directly produces roofing materials from steel of its own production. Branches of the enterprise with special equipment, where the roofing is made, are located in different regions of the country. Therefore, if possible, then it is better to order or purchase finished products directly from the manufacturer.

• MetalProfile is a Ukrainian company that works in close cooperation with Severstal, producing metal roofing from a Russian-made steel sheet. The color range of products is diverse and includes more than 100 different shades of different coatings. The material of this manufacturer is distinguished by an affordable price, as for its production a sheet with a thickness of 0,45 ÷ 0,47 mm, with galvanizing in 140 ÷ 180 g / m² is used. The products of this company can be called a budget option, since it is available for a buyer with an average income.

• Finnish manufacturers of metal products have long won an excellent reputation among Russian buyers, and one of such companies that produces metal tiles is Metehe. This company produces a metal tile with the following characteristics:

- steel sheet 0.5 mm thick;

- galvanizing protective layer is 275 g / m², and the primer prevents its destruction;

- priming, designed to prepare the sheet under the polymer layer, provides excellent adhesion between them;

- the top layer of the Pural coating has a standard thickness of 50 μm and is an excellent protection of the material against aggressive environmental influences.

Considerable value for Russian buyers is played by the affordable price of this manufacturer's materials at high quality of products.

• "Grand Line" is a Russian company that has been working in this field for 10 years. For such a small, it would seem, time, seven plants were launched, which are located in the central part of Russia. Very quickly the company won a high reputation among the Russian consumer. It produces metal profiled products, as well as PVC materials.

"Grand Line" produces metal tiles with pural coating, as well as with granules from stone crumbs, which has a guaranteed operating life of up to 50 years.

The metal sheet has a standard thickness of 0.55 mm and a polyurethane layer of 55 μm. In addition, the top layer has protection from ultraviolet radiation, which significantly prolongs the preservation of the original color from burning out.

• Ruuki is perhaps the most popular Finnish manufacturer of metal tiles on the Russian market. Roofing material of this company has a coating of pural, polyester and matte polyester. The thickness of steel used for the production of roofing material is 0.5 mm, the steel is protected by a layer of zinc coating of 275 g / m², the top layer of the polymer coating is 25 μm and has additional protection against burn-out.

In addition to the companies mentioned, other companies, both domestic and foreign, are represented on the market. It is very important, when choosing the products of a certain company, pay attention to the term of its work in this area, it is desirable to look in advance for the feedback of consumers who have already used the product of this manufacturer.

The Swedish companies SSAB, Areco, Mera System, Finnish companies Poimukate Oy, Takotta Weckman, Prelaq Nova, Dutch Finish Profiles andothers who have many years of experience in the production of metal coatings and other metal products with various coatings.

Whichever type of metal tile is selected in the end, it is necessary to remember that in many respects the appearance and duration of the roofing will depend on the quality of the erection work performed. Therefore, this process should be entrusted to professionals who have sufficient experience in this field. In order not to make mistakes in the choice of masters, it is best to contact the owners of houses, where this material has been in operation for several years, and find out which organization was engaged in installing the roofing material, and whether the owners are satisfied with the results.

At the end of the publication - a video with useful information on the choice of metal tile

Video: useful advice on choosing metal tile