Roof repair materials must comply with existing requirements. It is not only about their appearance, but also operational properties. Modern materials for the roof roof should reliably protect the structure from the negative effects of external factors. First of all, from wind, rain, snow and other precipitation. Is there a better roofing material? Let's try to figure it out further.
General information
The market today presents various types of materials for roofing. Coatings are classified according to characteristics. In this regard, when choosing a material for a roof, it is necessary to consider the following:
- The purpose of the building. Buildings can be residential, industrial, household, domestic. In accordance with this, coatings with certain properties are selected. For example, the material for the roof of the garage roof may not be as attractive as for a residential building.
- The estimated life of the coating and the structure as a whole.
- Correspondence of the material for the roof to the other elements of the roof structure.
- The complexity of installation and subsequent maintenance.
- Compliance with current trends.
- Noise-insulating and heat-saving properties.
Main classification
Coatings are divided into:
- Heavy.
- Lungs.
- Having / not having a waterproof surface.
- Other.
Experts say that absolutely universal and ideal coverage does not exist, as, however, there is no perfect criterion of "ideality". However, the following is important: the material for the roof must correspond to the rafter system and other elements of the structure and structure as a whole.
Coating composition
In accordance with this indicator, the material for the roof can be:
In a large assortment today the materials of the last category are presented on the market. In earlier times, shingles and straw were the most popular of organic coatings. Modern materials for roofing of this type can last from 5-7 to 25-30 years. These include, in particular, bitumen-polymer, polymer and bitumen coatings. The disadvantage of these coatings is instability to oxygen and UV rays. Under the influence of these factors, the materials wear out quickly enough, some can rot. All organic coatings are flammable. Slightly smaller is the range of mineral (they are also called "stone") materials. Until recently, slate tiles and ceramic tiles were common from this category. Today, more modern coatings have appeared. In particular, these are asbestos-cement sheets (slate) and cement-sand tiles. These materials are more durable than organic. Mineral coatings are resistant to UV rays and less prone to decay. However, at the same time they tolerate temperature differences rather poorly. Metal coatings include sheet materials. As the raw material used copper, zinc, steel. Galvanization, in comparison with other coatings in this category, is not so durable. Its service life is not more than 50 years. But copper and zinc coatings can last up to 100 years.
Other classification
Sheet material for roofing can be:
- Metal flat or profiled.
- Bitumen-fibrous (synthetic fiber impregnated with bitumen).
- Asbestos-cement (metal, ondulin and others).
- Colored polymer (slate).
Material for a soft roof can be:
- Rolled (glassine, ruberoid and its modifications).
- Film (rubber and polymer membranes).
- Piece (natural slate, tile, including soft).
- Mastics (bitumen and polymer).
However, the presented division can be completely considered conditional, since, for example, some sheet and piece materials differ only in size.
Slate
This material for roofing has always been in demand. One of the advantages of the coating is its relatively low cost. As part of the slate, Portland cement and short-fiber asbestos are used. The first component contains 85%, the second - 15%. After solidification, a reinforcing mesh of asbestos fiber is formed. It gives tensile strength and impact strength. Slate coating is durable and fireproof. European analogues of the material are more durable because they contain metal profile gaskets. Builders note the ease of installation and dismantling of slate. For fixing, special screws or nails are used. To prevent leakage of the coating at the attachment points, rubber soft pads are used. One of the significant drawbacks of slate is the ability to use it only on pitched structures. In addition, microcracks appear on the surface under the influence of precipitation. When water penetrates into them, damage becomes greater, which leads to the destruction of the coating. In order to increase the operational life and improve the decorative properties, slate sheets are coated with pigment compositions during production. As a result, a protective layer is formed on the surface. Thanks to it, slate lasts one and a half times longer, and the release of asbestos into the atmosphere is less intense.
Bitumen fiber sheet
This material for the roof of the roof of the house also has another name - "euro slate". It is an analogue of the coating described above. Euroslate belongs to the category of modern materials. In Russia, the common name for this coating is ondulin (by a popular brand). The shape of the sheets is similar to slate. A distinctive feature of ondulin is the ease of processing and higher strength. The coating is lightweight. This allows you to lay it on the roof without removing the old material and without strengthening the rafter system. Euro slate sheets are able to withstand gusts of wind and snow loads. Another analogue is a coating, in the manufacture of which a homogeneous polymer is used. By production, the extrusion method is used. Also, during the manufacturing process, the sheets are corrugated. The advantages of this coating are strength, low weight, fire resistance, resistance to acid and alkaline environments, environmental friendliness, a variety of colors and durability. However, such material can be laid on the roof with a slope of at least 15%.
New coatings
Today, material for a soft roof is very popular. In the manufacture of cardboard or other non-rotting raw materials are used. In particular, fiberglass, polyester or fiberglass is used in the production. They are coated with either pure bitumen or mixed with polymer. These coatings are divided into:
- SBS-modified. They contain at least 10-12% of the polymer component. Such coatings are highly elastic even at low temperatures.
- APP-modified. They contain from 25% of the polymer component. Such coatings are characterized by high heat resistance.
Materials from the second category are mainly used in areas with a hot climate, from the first - in the weather in Russia.
Simple bitumen roll coatings
They include various types of roofing material, the basis of which is cardboard, metalloizol, foilizol and others. Such coatings are used for waterproofing and vapor barrier. Roofing and lining roofing materials cover pitched and flat roofs. One of the significant drawbacks of such coatings should be considered their short service life - no more than five years. Roll materials have a high sensitivity to atmospheric phenomena. They do not tolerate temperature extremes, UV rays and precipitation. Many seek to save and acquire such coatings. However, subsequently such initial low cost will result in significant financial costs. Better quality are those materials in which there is a foil layer: metalisol and foilizol.
Advanced Coatings
When arranging the upper and lower roofing layers, as well as when installing waterproofing, roll materials based on fiberglass, polyester or fiberglass are used. Among them, for example, it is worth noting rubestek, bikrost, linocrom, rubemast, glass bit. As a rule, they are used on flat and pitched structures (with a slope of up to 25%). If the slope is greater, then at high temperature the material can slide off the roof. To fix the coatings, mastic is used. Another disadvantage is the need for multi-layer installation using gravel and stone chips. In general, the service life of the coating is about 15 years.
Piece Coatings
This category includes tiles, translucent and metallic materials for roofing (photos of some examples can be seen in the article). Such coatings are mainly laid on the attic and hip structures with a large slope. Common materials in this category include ceramic tiles, shingles and slate slate. The latter is distinguished by durability and high decorative qualities. Shingles are wooden planks with grooves and a wedge-shaped cross section. They are laid in several layers. Ceramic tiles are considered quite an "ancient" coating. This material is environmentally friendly, durable (life of more than one hundred years), as well as high quality characteristics. Today, three types of tiles are used in construction:
- Grooved. In this case, the laying of the upper and lower rows is carried out by opposite sides. The result is a groove effect.
- Grooving. Such a coating is laid in the form of a "shell". To fix the elements to each other, a lock connection is used.
- Flat. It is also called the "beaver tail." During installation, the upper element covers the joint between the two lower ones.
There is also cement and sand tiles. In its manufacture, quartz sand, iron oxide pigments and Portland cement are used. This coating does not fade in direct sunlight, has high strength and long service life. In addition, the material is fireproof, has good sound insulation and low thermal conductivity. It is better to lay the coating on the pitched roof. Installation can be done with your own hands without the involvement of a team of specialists.
Metal
Today this material is the most common. The advantages of a metal coating include hygiene, high strength, fire resistance and low weight. Among the minuses it is worth noting the susceptibility to corrosion, good heat and sound conductivity. In the manufacture of the material, both sheet and piece raw materials are used: steel, duralumin, copper and gilded plates, stamped metal tiles. For the installation of the coating, it is necessary to involve specialists. The most popular are galvanized and iron sheets today. They are coated with a special protective layer of an alloy of copper, titanium and zinc, which prevents the appearance of corrosion.