Eco-friendly roofing materials are becoming increasingly popular. Many owners of suburban areas cover the roofs of their houses, for example, with clay tiles. Some owners of residential low-rise buildings use shingles, which are absolutely exotic for our time, to clad their roofs. Such planks are laid on the roof according to a certain technology, which, of course, cannot be violated.
What is shingles
Wooden boards having a thickness of about 3-8 mm and a length of 35-50 cm are called shingles (shingles). Shingles are made of ordinary logs. This material is pre-sawed into logs of approximately the same size. Further, the latter are split into shingles themselves. Thus, the width of each plank is approximately equal to the width of the block.
They install shingles on the roof using approximately the same technology as any other piece of material. In the old days, a wooden roof from shingles was usually assembled by combining elements according to the tenon / groove principle. Today, for the installation of such roofs, in most cases, galvanized nails are used.
Features of the selection of material
Effective protection of the attic and a long service life - this, of course, is the difference between a shingled roof. In the photos presented on the page, you can see how reliable such a roof looks.
However, in order for a roof of this type to turn out to be durable, for it, of course, you need to choose a good material. The wood for shingles should be used only the highest quality. From the middle of the log blocks, for example, planks are not allowed to be made. Also, wood with knots, signs of rot or cracks is not suitable for shingling.
In ancient times, shingles were made mainly from oak or larch. Today, this material is also used quite often. The popularity of shingles made of such wood is explained by its excellent performance and very long service life. However, oak and larch are nowadays, unfortunately, quite expensive. Therefore, in most cases, for the manufacture of shingles, the owners of country houses still use a cheaper pine. Shingles from this material also turn out to be quite reliable and durable. But its service life is less than that of oak or made of larch.
In addition, aspen shingles are very popular with owners of country houses. This material, like oak, is also durable.
Varieties of wooden tiles
Plates can be used for the manufacture of roofs:
Complex shingles are usually called shingles themselves. Chips can also be used for roof sheathing. This material is a simplified version of wooden tiles - rectangular planks up to 1 m long.
Sometimes for roof sheathing, a spindle and a share are used. The first kind of material in appearance resembles a tile. The ploughshare can have a very different form and is a real work of art. It was with this type of wooden roof that the roofs of the towers of the rich princes, as well as churches, were previously covered. These were actually very beautiful shingled roofs. In the photo below you can see such a spectacular dome.
How to make shingles and how much does it cost
In our time, shingles are usually purchased ready-made. At the enterprises this material is made using special machines.
Putting shingles on the roof these days is considered quite prestigious. Accordingly, such material costs, in comparison with many modern ones, quite expensive. In order to buy a square meter of such cladding, the owner of the house will have to spend about 600-700 rubles. The shingles are laid on the roof in most cases in 3-5 layers. That is, in fact, a square meter of such a facing will cost 1800-3500 rubles.
Is it possible to do it yourself
The price of finished shingles is quite high. Therefore, many owners of country houses would like to know whether this material can be made independently. Of course, you can make shingles with your own hands. After all, it was in this way that it was made and initially - in the old days.
The technology for cutting shingles looks like this:
It is believed that the best time to make a shingle with your own hands is spring. You cannot dry shingles in the shade. Otherwise, it may rot. To make the shingled roof look more aesthetically pleasing in the future, the craftsmen advise removing chamfers from each plank on both sides at an angle of 45 degrees (in one direction).
What tools will be needed for facing
To cover the roof with shingles, prepare:
Roof preparation
Like any other protective material, shingles are laid on the roof along the crate. As the latter, a beam with a cross section of 50 x 50 or 60 x 60 cm is usually used. Install the crate with a step equal to 1/3 of the length of the wooden tile.
It is believed that waterproofing roofs from shingles is optional. In any case, the traditional technology of mounting this material does not imply the use of roofing material or film. However, many experienced builders are advised to do waterproofing of roofs of this type. But this procedure is performed in most cases not in the usual way, as when using modern materials, but directly at the stage of roof sheathing with a shingle.
How to determine the required number of layers
Wood is an environmentally friendly material, but, unfortunately, is still somewhat permeable to moisture. The shingle itself has a slight thickness. Therefore, for more reliable protection of the internal space of the house, the shingles are laid on the roof in several layers. The number of the latter is determined by the angle of inclination of the roof slopes:
Roofs with a slope angle of less than 14 degrees should not be trimmed with shingles.
Installation technology without waterproofing
In this case, they begin to assemble the roof from the shingles with their own hands from the eaves, gradually moving towards the ridge. The evenness of the masonry is achieved using the guide board. In the first row, which is often made double, an overhang should be made from shingles.
Laying boards in a row is usually just next to each other. Each element is nailed with two nails in the middle along the length. At the same time, fasteners are placed at a distance of at least 2 cm from the edge of each plank. The overlap is done along the guide board, in accordance with its width (usually leaving 15 cm from the bottom). But in any case, each subsequent row should overlap the nails of the previous one. Also, when calculating the step, it is worth considering the length of the shingle and the width of the ramp. Otherwise, in the last row it will have to be cut with a circulation saw.
It is impossible to stack boards tightly to each other when covering the roof. A small gap should be left between them. Otherwise, when swelling during the rain, planks can subsequently warp. After laying the first layer of shingles, you usually have to trim the edges of the resulting coating from the pediments with a saw. When laying each subsequent layer, you need to overlap the slots of the previous one.
How to cover a roof with shingles using a waterproofing
In this case, roll materials are usually used for additional roof protection. The waterproofing is pre-cut into strips of a width equal to the length of the planks. Work when facing roofs with waterproofing is carried out in the usual manner. However, in this case, after stuffing, each row is covered with a strip of roofing material.
Rules for the installation of chimneys on the roof of shingles
There are many advantages to shingles. Such a coating is able to maintain optimal temperature conditions in the attic, looks very aesthetically pleasing and can last for many years. However, there are some shortcomings in shingled roofs. The main disadvantage of such coatings is low fire resistance.
Mount shingles on the roof in the area of the chimney should be in compliance with fire safety. Laying the boards close to the pipe is not allowed. Gaps must be left between the chimney and the lining. The latter are subsequently closed with a tin apron with an overlap. In the case of using thick shingles, this element is mounted even before laying the boards.
What you should know about
When installing a shingled roof , among other things, the following rules should be observed:
the first and last rows on the slope should be stacked from planks having a shorter length than the main material;
tin edges on gables and cornices when using shingles for cladding is not recommended to sheathe.
On the ridge of the roof trimmed with shingles, a lug often fits. It is a log for the entire length of the roof with a longitudinal groove, under which the ends of the boards of the upper row are wound.