The roof is the most important element of any building. The durability of the building and the level of comfort in the room depend on the quality of roofing materials. To achieve high results, many experts recommend using the Andalusia metal tile. Such building material appeared on the market relatively recently, however, it was able to quickly gain popularity due to the aesthetics of its appearance and high performance.
What is Andalusia?
Metal tile “Andalusia” is a roofing material that looks like a regular tile, but significantly surpasses it in many technical features.
The metal tile is a sheet material, as it is produced in the form of separate sheets that need subsequent fastening and installation. Each sheet has a pronounced corrugation and consists of several layers of the “pie” type.
The main element of the corrugated sheet is sheet steel, which provides the finished product with strength, reliability and lightness. The thickness of the steel plate may vary somewhat. To protect the material from negative environmental influences, steel is coated with several layers of zinc, a primer and a polymer coating.
Characteristics of a metal tile
During the production of this roofing material, the manufacturer adheres to certain technical specifications. Metal tile “Andalusia” boasts the following parameters:
- The thickness of the finished sheet of material can be from 0.4 to 0.6 mm. This indicator depends on the thickness of the metal sheet itself and the type of coating.
- The height of the step reaches 2.5 cm.
- The size of the steps (this characteristic is also called the step of the steps) has an indicator of 40 mm.
- The buyer can choose the length of the sheet independently. There are sheets of metal on the market that reach a length of 0.5-6 m. This is very convenient, as it allows you to choose the most convenient roofing option for any construction site.
Assortment of “Andalusia”
One of the undoubted advantages of the metal tile “Andalusia” is a wide range of products. The manufacturer offers several lines. Among them:
- Monterrey
- Andalusia
- one-step metal tile “Andalusia” luxury;
- two-step Andalusia luxury.
Each of the presented model series has its own characteristics and features. In addition, there are several coating options that more affect the appearance of the finished roof:
- polyester - with such a coating it is possible to achieve a smooth glossy surface;
- pural - like the previous version, the pural provides smoothness to the metal tile;
- matte polyester - in this case, the technical performance of the coating remains as in the case with smooth polyester, and the texture acquires a noble matte;
- plastisols - a very interesting design option, in which the roof has an embossed surface.
The color palette of products deserves special attention - there are 40 shades in the catalog. This makes it possible to give the building object originality and arrange the roof, taking into account all the preferences of the residents of the house. For example, in addition to classic color schemes (brown, beige and black), manufacturers offer metal tiles in red, pink, blue and other creative shades.
The advantages of such a roofing
A large number of advantages - just what noticeably stands out the metal tile “Andalusia”.
- Durability. Such a roofing is ready to serve 40-50 years, absolutely not requiring repair and replacement.
- Strength. The metal base of the metal tile provides the material with high strength. Such a roof is not afraid of shock and other mechanical influences.
- Corrosion protection. The steel sheet is coated with a zinc compound and polymer, which blocks contact with moisture. Thanks to this, the Andalusia metal tile is maximally protected from rust.
- Light weight. Such a finishing material can be safely used on any type of roof - low weight does not create a large load.
- Convenience of installation. Lightweight sheets of metal can be raised to the roof without the use of additional equipment.
- Leakage protection. Maximum tightness is ensured by a z-shaped lock.
The disadvantages of “Andalusia”
Calling the characteristics and dimensions of the metal tile “Andalusia”, one can not ignore some of its shortcomings. In general, these are not so much disadvantages as features inherent in this type of metal tile.
- Relatively high price. Compared to many other roofing, Andalusia is expensive. However, such costs are fully justified by the long service life and the absence of leaks.
- Special installation. In order for the roof covering to be installed correctly, it is best to use the services of specialists. Of course, you can cope on your own, but before that you will have to study the stages of installation and the principles of installation. If you believe the reviews, the metal tile “Andalusia” is laid simply, but when installing the first rows it will take a lot of patience.
Roof preparation
The preparatory phase is extremely important when installing the roof. It is better to foresee everything in advance, as this will save time and effort, as well as protect against possible errors.
Storage. Store purchased metal tiles indoors or under a canopy. Sheets are best placed not horizontally but tilted. This will allow moisture not to accumulate between the sheets, but to drain from them.
Rise. To ensure ease of lifting and the safety of workers, it is advisable to use soft slings and gangways when lifting sheets.
Cutting. Some people prefer to cut metal with special tools with an abrasive wheel, but such actions can damage the protective coating. To prevent this, it is better to choose metal scissors or a hacksaw to fit the Andalusia metal tile in size.
Preparation of the crate. Before laying, make sure that the crate is installed perfectly evenly, since only in this case the sheets will lie down correctly.
Installation of additional elements. This includes the installation of aprons at pipes, lower levels of valleys. If the building has a gutter, then they also install a cornice strip and a gutter on the hooks.
Laying metal roof tiles with a horizontal line of cornice
Experts emphasize: there can be several ways to install Andalusia metal tiles. The choice of one or another option largely depends on the characteristics of the roof itself.
Laying the roof on a roof with a horizontal level of the cornice does not cause any special difficulties. In this case, the metal tile sheets are laid parallel to the cornice line, and no additional fitting steps are required.
For the device of the drainage gutter, brackets and cornice rails are installed on the crate, the initial planks are mounted.
Roof mounting with rectangular ramp
A roof with a rectangular slope requires several other actions. Work with such an object should begin from the lower right corner. The first row of sheets is fixed with a small extension, the size of which is approximately 40 cm. After installing the first sheet (bottom right), they continue to move horizontally to the left side.
With this option, it is very important to take into account wind loads. If their rate is quite high, it is better to stack sheets with a slight offset on the diagonal.
Fastening sheets is carried out using self-tapping screws. An undoubted advantage is that the screws do not have to be selected by color. Mounting holes for self-tapping screws are located in the upper part of the Andalusia metal tile sheet. You can see these holes in the photo of a separate sheet.
During installation, the top row of sheets will completely hide the attachment points, and they will be completely invisible. Between themselves, the sheets are fastened with a special lock.
To top it off, the following fact should be emphasized: the durability of the roof and its integrity depend not only on the quality of the material and its cost, but also on the correct installation. Improper fastening, material calculation or laying on uneven crates over time can lead to roof leakage, mold and mildew due to moisture accumulation and corrosion. To avoid such unpleasant consequences, it is better to entrust the experienced craftsmen with the installation of the Andalusia metal tile.