In the process of planning a house, the main attention is paid to such elements as the foundation, walls, decoration and architectural parameters as a whole. The roof, in turn, is implemented as a complementary component based on existing structural capabilities. Moreover, it is the upper part of the building that provides its warmth and dryness, while maintaining the optimal microclimate. Therefore, it is very important to initially calculate what the roof will be. What is a roofing and how to arrange it are difficult questions and require their consideration from different angles. It can be said that this is a roof, but such a definition will be inaccurate. Also, the installation of the roof, despite the external simplicity, imposes a serious responsibility on both designers and performers.
What is a roof?
To begin with, it is worth deciding on the concept of a roof. It is clear that this is the upper part of the house, but it, in turn, includes several elements. For example, it includes rafters, beams, insulation elements, reinforcement and the roof itself. “What is a roof finish” - this question will help to determine the very concept of a roofing pie. This is the layer on which the main physical and atmospheric effects fall. It can be made of different materials, and also include the mentioned insulation layers in the design.
Do not forget about the aesthetic effect. In modern houses, roofs differ not only in architectural performance, but also in texture. If the implementation of the roof structure is determined by the supporting elements, then its stylistic design is influenced by the materials for the roof, which were used when laying the coating. They should pay special attention.
What materials are used in the coating?
There are several categories of materials that are used today in laying a roofing cake. The simplest and cheapest ones include natural materials such as reed, straw, wood, etc. Such solutions may be appropriate in some cases, but they are not suitable for a serious roof installation. Among the common and affordable materials, it is worth highlighting metal sheets. Such roofing materials are typically represented by copper, aluminum, and zinc-treated titanium alloys. Their advantages include practicality, versatility and durability, but only if the quality of anti-corrosion treatment is high. It is obvious that direct contacts with water from precipitation do not promise anything good to the metal.
A great alternative to iron can be a huge assortment of tiles. At the moment, sand, composite, bitumen and metal tiles are available to customers. However, the consumer is most interested in two materials from different groups - this is bitumen tile, the so-called soft roof, and corrugated board, which is available in the form of steel sheets. These options should be considered in more detail.
Roofing from bituminous tiles
The material is made from a mixture including mountain resin, stone granulate and asphalt. In addition to operational characteristics, such a coating, according to manufacturers, is environmentally friendly, however, this quality depends on the technology by which the bitumen roof was made. What is this material in terms of operation? First of all, this is the complete exclusion of water absorption - accordingly, the risk of corrosion and biological destruction processes in the roof is reduced to zero. In the long term, this type of tile is also advantageous in that the deformation can affect only certain elements, without affecting the overall integrity of the coating.
Also worth noting is the plus of using this material in terms of translating architectural and design ideas. The fact is that a soft roof makes it possible to lay in structures of various shapes and regardless of complexity. In particular, it is used in the design of onion and domed roofs.
Roofing
The popularity of this material is rather due not to its technical properties, but to an affordable price. Profiled sheets are recommended for use in low-cost homes. One way or another, a steel sheet is able to provide physical reliability of the roof, ease of installation, protection from wind and rain. However, you will have to pay for these advantages with a number of drawbacks, including low noise insulation and poor protection from the cold. These shortcomings can be eliminated with well-arranged insulation layers. However, in decorative terms, the metal coating of the roof seriously loses to the tile, and there is nothing to be done about it. Although manufacturers strive to diversify corrugated board in color solutions, both tile and tile are offered in a wider range of design variations.
Installation technique
Laying the coating is a multi-stage process, during which several activities are carried out. First of all, this is the preparation of the foundation. If necessary, the old coating is dismantled or sufficient reinforcement is provided for the new roof. Next, styling is performed, which will depend on the material used. The easiest in this regard is corrugated board - it is much more difficult to work with tiles, since it requires careful adjustment of each element. However, if it is necessary to repair the roof, the situation will change - it is easier to update the damaged area on the tiled surface than to tear off the steel sheet and sheathe the damaged area in a new way. Separately, it is worth noting the fasteners. Only in rare cases, installation is complete without special mounting hardware in the form of metal or plastic hardware. The final part of the installation may include painting, but this stage is almost not relevant today, as manufacturers initially strive to give the roofing material an aesthetic appearance.
Warming and waterproofing
The presence in the roofing cake of insulation and waterproofing layers has long been a prerequisite for the installation of roofs. For example, roof waterproofing is performed using special films with varying degrees of vapor permeability. Mineral wool or foil is used as insulation. There are also combined options combining several insulation functions at once. The material is also mounted on special fasteners to a previously prepared crate. In this case, much depends on the form in which the insulator is delivered - plates, rolls or film.
Repair Nuances
Regardless of the quality of the materials used in the laying, the likelihood of damage to the roofing cake remains in any case, since loads of a different nature constantly act on it. Among the common problems due to which the roof is being repaired, it is worth noting the presence of leaks, the weakness of the rafter elements, the loss of the initial decorative effect, etc. In each case, a certain set of tools is used, which, incidentally, is provided by the manufacturers of roofing materials themselves. These are reinforcing elements, and additional accessories, and various waterproof putties, as well as many sealants and coatings with anti-corrosion effect.
Conclusion
The roof itself is a fairly responsible part of any home, as it has to cope with snow, rain, gusts of wind and other weather events. The roof itself takes on the greatest load. What is roofing in terms of home protection - this question is understandable. Another thing is that there are different materials for the device of this part of the roof, and this choice is not always obvious. For example, if we are talking about a residential private house with rich finishes, then there is no point in saving - it is advisable to use soft tiles, which, in addition to beauty, will provide good protection against external influences and thermal insulation. If the budget is limited and you need to get a solid and practical coating without special technical advantages, then the choice should be made in favor of corrugated board.