Roofing materials

The modern construction industry offers a huge amount of both traditional and innovative roofing materials. To understand all their diversity, you need to consider in detail the main types of several parameters. However, in the beginning we will try to understand which principles are guided when choosing one or other roofing materials.

Criteria for choosing the roofing material

Which material to choose depends on many factors.

• Allowable load on the roof. This parameter depends not only on the weight of the material itself, but also on the mass of snow that lies on the roof in the winter.
• Architectural solution for roof construction. The material is chosen depending on the shape and design features of the roof. For example, tiling is possible with a slope of at least 30-35 degrees.
• Requirements for durability and fire resistance. Obviously, the need to make a roof on the shed for firewood for ages is missing.

The most common types of roofing materials

The modern market is variegated with a variety of roofing materials. They should not only be strong enough, but also durable. A mandatory condition is the ability to withstand various negative atmospheric factors.

Ceramic tile

This type of roofing material is produced by firing masses from special clay in furnaces with a temperature of more than 1000 degrees. This gives the material the necessary strength and characteristic brick-red color. Better options for tiles before firing are covered with a special composition, which under the influence of temperature turns into a waterproof film. The finished product looks like a tile of not very large size( from 30 * 30 cm) with a mass of 2 kg. There are different types of ceramic tiles, depending on their location on the roof and the method of stamping:

• Ceramic tiles.
• Flat ribbon.
• Segmented belt.
• Padded punched.
• Single-wave.
• Two-wave.
• Grooved.

Tiled roofing is mainly used in the case when the roof slope is in the range of 25 to 60 degrees. If the slope is less, special measures are required to improve the waterproofing and ventilation. At a slope of more than 60 degrees, you need additional fastening with screws or special nails.

Fastening of shingles among themselves is carried out with the help of special locks and apertures. The upper row is superimposed on the lower row, which ensures tightness and no leakage. Quality tiles can last up to 150 years, an example of this is the old houses in many European cities. Apply this material in rich brick, stone and wooden buildings. After all, the cost of tiles can reach 50 USD.for 1 m2.

The following points can be attributed to the roofing advantages of ceramic tiles:

• Excellent absorption of noise from the rain.
• Minimum operating costs, as cleaning of all components is carried out once a year. And if necessary, to carry out local repairs is not difficult.
• Not at all flammable.
• Corrosion to it is not terrible.
• Roof from tiles has a decorative appeal, due to the variety of colors and shapes.

• Ideal frost resistance, providing more than 1000 cycles.
• The construction of the tiled roof makes it possible to "breathe" the roof through micropores, so that the moisture accumulating under the roof evaporates quickly enough.

Of the minuses of ceramic tiles, the following should be noted:

• Very large weight, which makes reinforcing the truss structure by increasing the cross-section of the bars and reducing the pitch of the rafter legs.
• Friability, which manifests itself even with a slight impact.
• When the roof is complex, the consumption of materials is very much increased and many technological inconveniences appear.

Cement-sand shingles

The main disadvantage of ceramic tiles is its great weight. To level this, cement-sand tiles were invented. It is made from the appropriate mixture by the name of the composition, by the fact that the solution seizes under increased pressure. The firing is not used here. The result is a material similar in shape to conventional tiles, but its weight is not more than 35 - 45 kg per m2.The composition of the mixture is as follows: cement, sand and iron oxides, which play the role of a dye. This gives the product a brownish-red color that does not distinguish it from the ceramic one. Due to the low weight, this shingles can be laid on a roof with a slope of 20 to 60 degrees. Mounting on the lath is performed with a "dressing", which means that each successive row is shifted relative to the previous one by half the width of the tile.

Cement-sand tiles are very resistant to aggressive environmental influences and solar radiation. Its frost resistance exceeds 1000 cycles. At the same time, it is more massive than ceramic because of its thicker thickness( from 10 mm), it has too much damage during transportation( it can reach 10% if the rules are violated).The price of such a tile is also quite high.

curtain rod. The use of this kind of tile is allowed on the same types of houses as ceramic ones. However, its cost does not exceed 20 USD.per m2, which is more than two times lower than ceramics. This circumstance makes it possible to save very much without losing quality and reducing decorative attractiveness.

Bituminous shingles

Bituminous shingles are made of fiberglass or cellulose, as well as polyester which is applied to a bitumen tile. After that, it is coated with a special colorant to give the desired color. Such a tile is a fairly reliable material for the roof, since it has a layer of coating of bitumen-rubber composition. It glues and makes a whole roofing carpet, under the constant influence of sunlight. Each product is a small sheet length of a meter and a width of 30 cm. The mass of the tile is 8-12 kg per m2.The shape can be triangular, rectangular or round and has a large selection of colors. This shingle is very plastic and freely bends by hands at any angle. This circumstance makes it possible to round it with any architectural forms without any restrictions.

The material is used to cover the roof, which has a slope of more than 12 degrees. At maximum, it is not limited. The only condition is that for bitumen shingles it is necessary to lay a waterproofing lining layer on a continuous crate of plywood.
Note the advantages of bituminous shingles:

• It can not be broken during transportation or installation.
• Local repair is carried out very quickly and inexpensively.
• The roof can be made from almost any angle.
• No sound is heard during the rain.
• Non-corrosive.
• Very little waste remains during installation.

We also point out the minuses of the material:

• The material can not be considered "elite" as opposed to natural.
• Has too high combustibility.
• is exposed to ultraviolet( fades in the sun),
• In winter, the installation of this shingles is impossible in principle, as it freezes and becomes brittle.

As for the cost of the material, it is quite liberal - no more than 10 cu.per m2.

Metal tile and corrugated board

Metal tile is a sheet of steel with a galvanized and decorative polymer coating, which protects against corrosion. The number and method of joining the layers may differ depending on the manufacturer. Nevertheless, there are always the following: double-sided galvanizing, coating of polymers such as acrylic, plastisol, polyester, or PVF2.They also determine the color and property of the surface of the product, which is glossy or matte. The texture of the sheet punching resembles a natural tile, but is, in contrast to it, one whole.

This kind of shingles is used on roofs with a slope of 15 degrees. The maximum gradient is not limited. If the slope is less than 20 degrees, then it is necessary to provide a sealing between the joints between the sheets. In the installation of metal tile is very simple - fastening is carried out by screws on a wooden crate. The sheets along the slope are lapped 250 mm, and across one wave. The scope of metal roofing is very extensive, from stalls to large mansions and industrial facilities.

Profiled sheeting does not differ significantly from metal tiles. Their differences are only in the form of sheet punching. The corrugated board has only longitudinal relief ribs, and the metal texture has a stepped texture. From here there are some differences in the styling. Profiled laying on the roof is somewhat easier.

Among the undisputed advantages of metal and profiled sheeting are:

• Quick installation.
• High resistance to mechanical stress.
• Affordable price.
• Light weight( 3-5 kg ​​/ m2).
• There is no risk of damage during transport.

The material and certain minuses are not devoid of:

• Weak noise insulation during rain and hail.
• There is a lot of waste left during installation.

Market price of metal from 7-15 cu.per m2.

Asbestos-cement slabs or slate

One of the traditional roofing materials is a conventional slate. It is a composite material consisting of cement and asbestos fibers. Slate is produced in the form of rectangular wavy plates. Most often, there are 6 such waves on a sheet. In the standard, the slate size is 1.2 * 0.7 m and the wave height is 28 mm, the weight of 1 m 2 of such roof is 10-15 kg. Lay the sheets on the lath and overlap with nails. Under the hats of the nails put elastic pads. The rims are made from bars measuring from 50 to 75 mm. The step of the battens is 500 to 800 mm. At the device of slate roofs make a layer of pergamene or roofing material. Slopes of the roof when using slate make from 12 to 60 degrees.

The availability of more modern roofing materials today led to the fact that the slate is only used to cover roofs on buildings of low importance, such as barns, farm blocks, summer kitchens. The reason is that this material is fragile, heavy, not eco-friendly, and also not attractive in appearance. In addition, over time, the slate becomes wet and mold begins to grow on it, and even moss. However, this material also has advantages: it is strong enough to strike, it is cut well by the Bulgarian, and costs less than other roofing materials, no more than 3 cu.per m2.

seam roof This roof is a smooth coating made of steel sheets, which allows the water to flow easily even at low slopes. The sheets are galvanized and zinc-coated, coated with polymers and not. The slope of the roof for the seam roof is not less than 20 degrees, the maximum gradient is not limited. The sheets join each other mechanically with the help of special locking hooks - folds. To the crate, the sheets are fastened with special punches. Seam folding is done manually or with a special electromechanical tool.

The advantages of folding roofs are that:

• It does not support and does not promote the spread of fire.
• Attractive appearance.
• Smooth sheets give the opportunity to give the roof any shape.
• Light weight allows you to save on rafters.

Among the minuses:

• Low resistance to external shocks that cause damage.
• The seam roof needs to be insulated.

The cost of a steel seam roof is 5-7 dollars per m2.

In addition to the types of roofing materials listed and described above, there are others that, although less popular, but still used in construction, are:

• Bituminous slate - molded sheets of cellulose impregnated with bitumen.
• Shale roof. Expensive natural material from flat shales, whose age is 400 million years.
• Natural materials: straw, cane, tree, turf. They are used for exclusive decoration of bars, restaurants, hotels, bungalows, etc.

When choosing the type of roofing, one must be guided not only by your preferences, but also by the appropriateness, appropriateness in a particular case and financial possibilities.