The roof covering from a flexible tile differs in a practicality, ease, durability and universality. Installation of bituminous tiles is not difficult, so you can do it yourself. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the technology of performing work and some secrets of experienced craftsmen, as well as stock up on the necessary tools and materials.

What is shingles

The material is a flexible plate having curly cutouts along the lower edge. Their length is one meter, and their width is just over 300mm. Plates, called shingles, consist of several layers.

As a basis for bituminous tiles, non-woven fiberglass is used, consisting of glass strands “felled” together. This method allows to obtain a high-strength and dense fabric, characterized by elasticity and light weight.

On both sides, the fiberglass is protected by waterproofing layers of modified bitumen. The following are used as modifiers:

• SBS elastomers for extra elasticity and durability;
• APP plastomers providing high resistance to high temperatures.

Oxidized (oxygen enriched) bitumen can also be used to apply waterproof layers. In this case, the wear resistance of the tile increases.

The outer layer consists of stone granulate, which is a dressing of slate or basalt, which has various fractions. It is she who is responsible for the color of the tiled roof.

More reliable and less crumbling is considered to be basalt chips, which have rounded shapes, tightly adhering to the bitumen layer.

Powder, in addition to aesthetic appeal, performs a protective function. It does not allow:

• melt under the scorching rays of the sun;
• collapse under the influence of precipitation;
• get mechanical damage;
• lose color when exposed to ultraviolet light.

On the back of the flexible tile, a layer of self-adhesive bitumen is applied pointwise or in stripes. To prevent shingles from sticking to each other during transportation or storage, the bottom layer is protected with a special film. It is removed immediately before installation.

The main advantages of soft tiled roofing

Bituminous tiles can cover pitched roofs that have almost any geometry and a slope of 12 degrees or more. This material is quite light. A square meter of coverage weighs about eight kilograms. It is more than six times lighter than natural tiles.

The action of sunlight leads to some softening of the bitumen and soldering shingles into a continuous coating. A roof made of bituminous tiles acquires tightness, high moisture resistance and resistance to deformation.

A variety of lower edge shapes, colors, protective powders and coatings allow you to create an individual look for buildings. Roofs are neat, aesthetic and acquire nobility.

The bituminous tile belongs to economic materials. In addition to the fact that its price and the cost of installation work are relatively inexpensive, it is not required to purchase additional elements for skates and junctions. They are made from tiled sheets cut along.

The laying of bituminous tiles is characterized by a minimum amount of waste remaining after installation.

In addition to the above advantages of soft tiles, it has a number of positive qualities, such as:

• immunity to the processes of decay and corrosion;
• resistance to the spread of mold and fungi;
• the impossibility of destruction of the coating by insects or rodents;
• dielectric abilities;
• high level of noise absorption (raindrops and grains of hail do not drum on the surface);
• lack of mandatory installation of snow-retaining elements, due to the roughness of the upper layer of the tile;
• ease of transportation due to the small dimensions of the roofing material.

The disadvantages of bituminous shingles include the need for careful adjustment of the base. It should not have any deviations.

Installation of bituminous tiles

In order for the roofing to look spectacular, not leak and serve for a long time, its installation must be approached responsibly. The technology of work includes several stages, each of which is an important component of the whole process.

Base device

For shingles, a properly executed base plays an important role and affects the quality of the finished roofing. The main condition is that the flooring is continuous, with a perfectly flat surface.

Roof made of shingleswill look ugly even with minimal differences or curvature of the base.

As a flooring, you can choose:

• solid crate, mounted from tongue-and-groove boards;
• moisture resistant plywood;
• OSB-3 boards.

Materials are laid on the truss structure. It should be noted that they must necessarily be treated with antiseptics and refractory impregnations - flame retardants.

Many craftsmen recommend leveling the base with a solid crate, but OSB boards can provide durability, rigidity and smoothness. In addition, they are able not only to withstand difficult operating conditions, but also significantly reduce time and labor costs when installing flooring. Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself - it would be more expedient to use moisture-resistant oriented strand boards for the construction of the base.

Materials should not be stacked tightly together. Between sheets or boards, it is necessary to leave a three-millimeter expansion gap so that in the event of thermal expansion of the products, they do not start to rear up.

The thickness of boards, slabs or plywood directly depends on the pitch of the rafter legs. The size of the board, in this case, can be 2.0 ... 3.7 cm, and plywood or OSB boards - 1.2 ... 2.7 cm. As fasteners for flooring, wood screws or ruffed nails are used.

Of great importance for the long-term operation of flexible tiles is the provision of proper ventilation of the roof, especially when there are heated rooms under it. Ventilation guarantees:

• no accumulation of excess moisture;
• the impossibility of mold formation.

For the device of natural ventilation of the roof, the following are provided:

• channels for the circulation of air masses, or ventilation products;
• air inlets located under the lower edge of the roof;
• air outlets located at the top of the roof. Aerators, ridge or side hoods help to provide outflow.

The supply openings are closed with special gratings or soffit strips to avoid nesting birds inside the channels or possible contamination from entering them. The dimensions of the circulation channels are designed in accordance with the angle of the roof. If it is less than 20 degrees, that channel height can be equal to eight centimeters. With a larger slope, the size is taken at least five centimeters.

Lining layer for shingles

To ensure 100% protection of the roofing pie from possible leaks, an additional waterproofing layer of roofing felt or glass isol is installed between the base and bituminous tiles. On slopes with a slope of 12-18 degrees, a solid carpet is laid, rolling rolls along the overhangs. Cloths are laid from the bottom up with an overlap of at least ten centimeters.

With a roof slope of more than 18 degrees, the standards allow additional waterproofing to be laid only along the eaves, ends, valleys, ridges and other places where precipitation or melt water is likely to penetrate.

The width of the strips, at the same time, should be at least 40 cm, in the case of their flooring along the overhangs and ends, and at least 25 cm - on both sides of the ridge or other protruding part. The material is attached to the base of the roof with galvanized roofing nails with wide heads. Their step should be 20cm.

The edges of the sheets and joints must be additionally coated with liquid bitumen.

Pitched roof elements

Before starting the installation of soft tiles, the ends and cornices of the roof are reinforced with special metal strips. They are installed on top of the underlayment with a slight overlap and fastened to the base with roofing nails in increments of 12 cm.

The purpose of the pediment strips is to protect the lathing from atmospheric precipitation and to complete the entire roof structure.

In the valleys, a valley carpet is laid with its fixation with galvanized nails with wide hats. It is important that the color of the carpet and flexible tiles do not differ from each other, and that the materials belong to the same model range.

Tiling installation rules

To begin with, the bottom row of cornice tiles, which have a rectangular outline, is laid. The protective film is removed from it immediately before installation and the sheets are laid end-to-end, retreating from the overhang by a couple of centimeters. Eaves shingles are additionally fixed with roofing nails. It is allowed to fix the sheets with brackets using a construction stapler.

Ordinary tiles begin to be mounted from the bottom up, from the middle of the slope - towards the ends, so that as a result the pattern of the roofing is symmetrical. The first row of shingles is laid in such a way that the lower edge of their edge is located at a distance of up to 10 mm from the lower edge of the cornice tile. Bituminous tiles are attached to the base with 4-6 nails.

The elements of each subsequent row are laid with a shift in relation to the previously mounted tiles so that the higher petals cover the joints of the lower shingles.

At the ends, bituminous tiles are cut to size and additionally fixed with adhesive. In the area where the valley is located, trimming is done in such a way that the valley carpet is visible (approximately 150 mm wide). The edges of the shingles are also additionally glued.

Installation of ridge cover and adjoining

The ridge is made of cornice tiles, cut lengthwise at the perforation site. After removing the film, the elements are laid at the installation site and fastened with nails, first from two sides, and after installing the next part, from two more. The last tile is firmly glued onto the underlayment layer over the previous tile.

Rubber seals are applied to structures of small diameter that extend beyond the surface of the roof, such as an antenna. At the junctions with chimneys and ventilation pipes, as well as dormer windows and walls, longitudinal triangular slats are installed on top of the lining layer, on which sheets of flexible tiles are placed.

Next, a valley carpet is glued onto the pipes and walls in the color of the main coating. At the same time, it should go 20 cm onto the slope, and 30 cm onto a vertical surface. The seams are treated with silicone sealant, and the upper connection is closed with a metal profile tape (adjacency bar).

Do-it-yourself installation of flexible tiles

Soft tiled roofing is easy to lay on your own. To do this, you need to study the manufacturer's instructions, designed specifically for manufactured products. The general rules remain the same, but slight discrepancies in technology may occur.

The popularity of flexible tiles confidently relies on the traditional "three pillars" of low-rise construction. This is an attractive price, long-term operation of the coating and extremely simple laying technology.

An important advantage is the ability to cope with the roof of the roof with your own hands. Only for an impeccable result of work, you need to know how bituminous tiles should be laid on the structure to be equipped, which should be taken into account during installation to form the perfect coating.

A flexible tile is one of the varieties of soft roofing, made according to the principle of rolled materials. In terms of technical and technological essence, this is a modified roofing material, improved in terms of strength, aesthetics, and wear resistance.

For ease of installation and the formation of a spectacular look, it is cut into elements with a figured outer edge. They are called shingles, shingles or tiles, they are laid by analogy with wooden roofs according to the “fish scales” principle.

In the manufacture of flexible tiles, the same technologies are used as in the production of rolled bitumen-polymer roofing options. Several important layers take part in its structure, these are:

• Fiberglass. Serves as the basis of the specified roofing. It is fiberglass that provides high strength, resistance to chemical, atmospheric, mechanical, biological aggression.
• Bitumen-polymer shell. It is welded from above and below onto fiberglass, directly forming the structure of the material and impeccable waterproofing protection. Oxidized and supplemented with polymeric components, bitumen has almost zero moisture absorption.
• External mineral dressing. Processing with granulate from the front side of the roof gives the impression of an expensive natural stone or copper coating. The second role is to protect the outer surface of the material from the external negative that occurs during operation.

The back side of the shingle tiles is sprinkled with sand or covered with a polymer film so that during transportation and storage they do not deteriorate, sintering with each other. Before laying, the film or sand is removed in order to be glued to the base prepared for the roofing device.

Many companies are now engaged in the production of various brands of flexible tiles, including both foreign and domestic representatives. Each of the manufacturers strives to make their own contribution to the process, to create a product with unique properties and technological advantages.

In some, the back side is completely covered with a self-adhesive bituminous composition that adheres the tiles to the base and to each other, in others this substance is applied only in stripes. There are differences, but they are minor.

As a result of laying, the technology of which is not much different from all manufacturers, all types of material under the attack of UV rays are sintered together into a continuous carpet and reliably glued to the base.

Benefits of using bituminous shingles

Piece flexible roofing is produced in the most extensive color, texture, and decorative variety. In the abundant assortment it is difficult not to find the material necessary for the design.

In addition to the above priorities, justified by manufacturing features, the pros and cons of shingles cut into tiles include:

• Unlimited technological possibilities. Using this type of material, you can equip a roof of any architectural complexity, regardless of the chosen configuration and the size of the slopes. Tiles are easily mounted on bulbous domes, multifaceted tent structures.
• Compatibility. The result of laying perfectly harmonizes with the exteriors of low-rise and high-rise buildings, made in any of the architectural styles that are in demand today. Suitable for classics, and for antique styling, and for newfangled design trends.
• Easy installation. Having familiarized yourself with the laying rules, the arrangement of the roof using bituminous tiles can be carried out independently. When contacting builders, it is not necessary to hire a large team; a couple of people can easily cope with the work.

It is impossible not to note the remarkable insulating qualities. Bituminous tiles, after sintering under the sun's rays, form a waterproof carpet that prevents all attempts of atmospheric water in any form to penetrate into the thickness of the roofing system. A flexible roof ideally dampens external noise interference, without letting external sounds into the equipped housing.

Maintainability is rightfully considered a valuable advantage. If one or more adjacent shingles are damaged, it is not necessary to completely remove the roof and lay a new one, it is enough to replace the damaged part of the roof.

It is advisable to replace the damaged area with a material with a similar color and quality, for which it is recommended to stock up on a pack of material from the same series from which the entire roof is composed. However, the appearance of a piece roof allows some deviations in color, so it is acceptable to use a slightly different color.

Disadvantages of bituminous piece coating

No matter how hard roofing developers and manufacturers try, there is still no ideal option for roofing. Flexible shingles similarly have a number of disadvantages, including:

• slope restrictions. The smallest angle of inclination of the slopes for possible laying is considered to be 12º. For flat structures, piece roofing is not suitable, because. before sintering, the tiles have many holes that can let water through. They can cause seepage and interfere with tile bonding.
• The complexity of installation. Despite the simplicity of the technology, laying will still require much more time than when arranging a roof with large-sheet material, for example, profiled roofing sheet or metal tiles.
• Incompatibility with conventional roofing material. It is unacceptable to use traditional roofing material as a waterproofing lining carpet, which is capable of “pulling” bituminous components from the roofing, which ultimately leads to destruction, and in some places to swelling of the roof.

In addition, the working life of a conventional roofing material is significantly less than its improved counterpart, from which flexible tiles are made. It is unreasonable to arrange a base for laying the coating, which will serve less.

Step by step laying technology

The stages of work on the construction of a roofing system with a flexible tile coating are carried out in a standard sequence for all types of roofing. First, the base is prepared, then the markup is carried out, the material selected for the arrangement is laid, additional elements are installed.

The same actions are performed during the installation of shingles, however, there are some technological subtleties that we will now analyze.

Step #1: Foundation Preparation Process

Flexible tiles are laid on a continuous crate constructed from edged or tongue-and-groove boards, moisture-resistant plywood marked FSF or OSB-3 boards. The material for the base device must be consistent in thickness, which is especially important if a board is used.

In the device of the crate, it is necessary to observe the technological gaps required to ensure the linear expansion of the material in case of moisture. Between the boards and plates leave "gaps" of 3-5 mm. The board is laid along the cornice outline, starting from the lower edge of the roof.

The slabs are mounted in such a way that the result resembles brickwork, i.e. there should be no cross joints. It is permissible not to leave gaps or reduce their size if the crate is installed in the summer. The thickness of the base for the flexible coating is selected depending on the pitch of the rafters.

A waterproofing carpet is laid along the crate, for the device of which it is necessary to take the material recommended by the manufacturer of the grade of bituminous tiles selected for laying. It has already been noted that the traditional roofing material is not suitable for these purposes. In addition, if it is used, the roof warranty will be voided.

To decorate and strengthen the roof perimeter, metal protection is installed in front of the waterproofing device, these are:

• Cornice planks. Mounted in front of the waterproofing carpet. They are fixed to the crate, staggered every 10-15 cm. Galvanized fasteners with wide caps are used.
• End planks. They are installed above the lining waterproofing along the edge of the gable overhangs. Attach them in the same way.

The standard length of the strips, as a rule, is not enough to install along the entire length. They are lengthened by simply applying the next similar element with an overlap on the previous 3-5 cm. Fasteners in this area are placed after 2 cm.

Stage #2: implementation of waterproofing works

Usually, manufacturers produce all the components for the roof device themselves, including waterproofing lining carpets. They are made from a mixture of bitumen with a polymer, but they are made thinner than the coating itself, and do not use granulate for sprinkling.

The specifics of the waterproofing lining device depends on the steepness of the structure, if:

• Slope within 12-18º. They arrange continuous waterproofing protection with preliminary fastening of duplicate waterproofing in areas where the probability of leakage is greatest, which include all convex and concave corners of the structure, cornices, penetrations, gable overhangs.
• Slope over 18º. Waterproofing protection is placed only on areas of possible leaks - those very curved and convex corners, i.e. in the valleys, along the hip and ridge ribs, along the cornices, along the gable overhangs and around the passages of communication pipes through the roof.

In the first case, a continuous waterproofing carpet is laid in horizontal stripes, starting from the cornice line. Before laying it, waterproofing of problem areas is reinforced with self-adhesive water-repellent material.

The waterproofing itself is laid horizontally, in longitudinal panels, so that each overlying sheet overlaps the previous one by 10 cm. As a result of this arrangement, moisture ingress into the roofing system is completely excluded. In the longitudinal direction, the overlaps are 15 cm.

In the second case, the insulation is glued fragmentarily. Self-adhesive roll material is laid along the cornices and the line of valleys, it is permissible to use protection with lower waterproofing properties at convex corners and along the gable overhangs, stick a water-repellent lining on bituminous mastic.

At the intersection of sewer, ventilation, chimney pipes and other communications, a lining carpet measuring 1 × 1 meter is glued.

Stage # 3: marking the roof before laying

Marking is necessary to speed up the laying process, facilitate and systematize the work of the roofer. At this stage, it is most convenient to think over and adjust the roof, because. most often, there are still some deviations in the geometry of the equipped slopes both vertically and horizontally.

The markings are made with coated construction cord. The lines drawn with it are not a strict guideline for roofers, they only outline the general direction and do not allow them to stray from it when performing laying work.

Lines are "drawn" along and across the ridge ribs. The pitch of the longitudinal marking is equal to the width of the bituminous shingle. Horizontal guides beat off 5 standard rows, this is approximately 80 cm.

During marking, you should decide from what point the fastening of flexible tiles will begin. It all depends on the length of the slope, on the shape and size of the curly teeth of the outer edge of the bituminous tiles.

On slopes of impressive length, shingles are laid from the center. This makes it easier to align the row if there is a possibility of horizontal displacement of the piece roof. For the correct laying of bituminous tiles on short slopes, it is necessary to calculate in advance how many uncut elements will lie on the surface in order to reduce cutting.

Step #4: Installation of shingles

Consider the procedure for laying bituminous tiles using the example of working with Shinglas material, a product supplied to the market by TechnoNikol. In her assortment, materials varied in tone with symmetrical and asymmetrical external teeth.

Depending on the coating series, the tiles in their upper part are either glued to the mastic or attached with an adhesive back. In the second option, it is not necessary to use mastic for fixing ordinary tiles; it is enough to detach the protective polymer film and attach the shingle to the required place.

Each tile must be nailed. Ordinary tiles are fixed to the prepared base with roofing nails with wide caps that ensure reliable fastening of the flexible material. The number of fixation points depends on the steepness of the structure.

Nails are hammered clearly perpendicular to the base, deviations are unacceptable. They are placed at a distance of 2-3 cm from the edge. The serrations of the row laid over cover and mask the attachment points of the underlying tiles, thanks to which they are hidden from view and protected from rust.

Before proceeding with fixing the flexible tiles, the starting strip is laid. It is used in finished form, specially produced for finishing cornices with skates, or they are made independently by cutting off the curly protrusions-petals from ordinary bituminous tiles.

The flexible shingle is laid with an offset in each subsequent row so that the overlying petal is just above the joints of the two underlying ones. It is necessary to shift, but there are no clear requirements for the selection of a pattern, the main thing is to close the fixation points.

Regardless of the features of the series, it is customary to lubricate the extreme tiles with bituminous mastic by a minimum of 10 cm. This is necessary to protect the roof from heavy rains.

Flexible tiles cover the entire surface of the slopes, not reaching the edge of the hip ribs and the ridge ridge by 0.5 cm.

Stage # 5: arrangement of valleys, junctions, ridge

Like any other type of coating, shingles require decorative and protective design. It will give aesthetic completeness to the roof, as well as protect its edges from the penetration of atmospheric phenomena dangerous for the roof.

The valleys are equipped in an open and closed way. According to the first, the tiles are simply laid on top of the waterproofing carpet laid in the groove as usual. However, the edge of the tiles falling into the valley is not fixed or nailed, not reaching the axis of the valley by about 30 cm.

After laying the flexible tiles completely on adjacent slopes, two parallel lines are beaten off with a coated cord, in accordance with which the excess coating is cut. The distance between the lines is from 5 to 15 cm, depending on the slope of the slopes. Narrow grooves are arranged on steep roofs, wide - on gently sloping structures.

According to the second method, the tiles are first placed on a gentle slope, while they go onto an adjacent steep surface by about 30 cm. The upper corner of each laid tile is additionally fixed with nails.

After arranging the entire slope, the line of the upcoming undercut is beaten off with a coated cord. It is carried out at a distance of 7 cm from the axis of the groove. Flexible shingles on a steep slope are placed taking into account this line, cutting them in the process of fastening. To improve the fastening of cut tiles in places that do not have an adhesive back, they are smeared with mastic.

The junctions are equipped with the use of a wooden lath, loosened along the length along the diagonal. The size of its wall is 5 cm. The triangular rail is nailed along the junction line of the roof with the walls, with a ventilation shaft, with a brick pipe, etc.

Before arranging, brick surfaces are plastered and coated with a primer. After laying the slats, the waterproofing carpet is glued so that one edge of it extends at least 10 cm onto the vertical surface. The second edge is glued to the horizontal surface.

Metal strips are placed on top of the roof at the junctions, the upper shelf of which is deepened into the brick wall by about 1.5 cm.

To equip the exit points of the antenna and ventilation pipes, specialized elements are produced that seal the passage. Their use greatly simplifies the work of the roofer and speeds up the procedure.

Arrangement of hip and ridge ridges is carried out using ridge-cornice elements, divided into three tiles along the perforation line. You can use ordinary tiles by cutting off the petals from it, and then also cutting it into three parts.

Before attaching the spinal trim, the outline of it is traditionally beaten off with coated cord. Tiles bent in half are laid on the side opposite to the prevailing winds in a particular area. Each previous one is superimposed on the next one. The overlap must be at least 5 cm.

As a result of fixing the back plates, their open part must be turned along the direction of the wind. So that the gusts do not “shaggy” the flexible tiles and, as it were, flow in his direction.

On hip roofs, convex corners are first equipped, the tops of which are closed with a ridge assembled from the shingle. On roofs arranged in the manner described, ventilation is provided by the installation of aerators.

If it is planned to build ventilation through a ridge rib, then it is closed with a ridge aerator. Instead, two boards connected at an angle can be used, on top of which spinal tiles are attached.

A visual guide to the installation of flexible bituminous shingles will help you thoroughly understand the technology:

Bituminous coating deserves close attention of the owners of suburban property. It looks great, serves for a long time, reliably protects the roof structure. The information we offer will help you to carry out roofing work on your own and to control a team of hired builders.

Answers to the main questions that arise from customers of bituminous tiles

1. How fast is bituminous shingles installed?

• On average, one person can mount 7 m² of roofing from soft tiles per hour.
• It is considered normal if a team of three people lays 150 square meters per day.
• A lot of envy depends on the qualifications of the performers, weather conditions and the complexity of the geometry of each particular roof.

2. Are there any restrictions on roof slopes on which shingles are used?

• Bituminous tiles can be used on slopes (from 0 to 90 degrees) and on roofs of any complexity and configuration.
• However, it should be remembered that there is such a thing as a critical angle. For most types of shingles, a slope of about 20 degrees is considered a critical angle.
• On small slopes, it is recommended to lay bituminous tiles without nails on continuous rolled bituminous underlying carpets using the fusing method. The underlying bituminous carpets in such cases are usually fixed to the base mechanically.
• On slopes greater than 60 degrees, additional nails are recommended (usually + 2 per shingle).

3. What is the guarantee for bituminous tiles?

• Laminated shingles come with a 30-year warranty on the material. For other types of bituminous tiles, a guarantee of 10 years is given.
• You should also demand a guarantee for the installation of shingles from the organization that performs the work for you. Works performed in violation of the technology of laying bituminous tiles will not be able to ensure the long-term operation of this wonderful roofing.

4. Can bituminous tiles have differences in shades?

• In the production of bituminous tiles, deviations in shades between different batches of material are allowed.
• The powder comes to the production already painted. For example, in a batch of material produced earlier, the topping may be darker due to the absorption of the bitumen into the granules.
• When laying the material, it is recommended to take shingles from five packages at the same time to avoid stains with different shades. On models with a sheen, such shades only improve the appearance, giving the object a unique individual color.

5. Can moss grow on shingle roofing?

• Sometimes it happens that moss grows on the roof (and not only on shingles).
• This phenomenon is usually observed on the north side of the roof, which is in the shade, especially if the house is located under dense canopy of trees. A slight slope of the roof and the presence of dirt contribute to the development of vegetation on such roofs.
• The easiest and most effective way to deal with moss is preventive roof cleaning in the fall using a soft broom. If the moss is not easily removed, then special moss removal products should be used. Before using such products, be sure to check with the supplier if this reagent is compatible with bitumen.
• It should be remembered that at Owens Corning, basalt chips are protected against fungi and moss with special reagents, which ensures a high degree of resistance of American tiles to this phenomenon.

6. Are special metal bars required?

• It is recommended to use three main types of slats:

1. Cornice strips (so-called drips).
2. Gable strips for water drainage on roof eaves and gables, to prevent rotting of wood materials.
3. Adjoining strips for arranging the adjoining of roofing material to vertical surfaces.

• The slats must be made of corrosion-resistant material. These elements are installed on the lining carpet.
• Without a junction bar, it is almost impossible to qualitatively waterproof the most vulnerable spot on the roof - the connection of the roof slope with a wall, chimney or other vertical surfaces.
• If slats are not used, then leakage or moisture ingress under the roofing material is likely, which, in turn, will lead to rotting of the wooden structure.

7. Is it possible to lay bituminous tiles in the cold season?

• IT IS POSSIBLE, subject to the following recommendations for laying bituminous tiles in the cold season.

1. Before laying, the material must be placed in a warm room with an air temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius, for at least 24 hours. It is enough to place only the amount of material that is planned to be laid the next day (50-100 sq. m.).
2. The material should be taken out from a warm room to the roof one pack at a time (previously mixed with 4 others) and bring a new pack as the previous one is used.
3. When laying flexible tiles in the cold season, it is necessary to use an industrial hair dryer: to activate the adhesive areas of the flexible tiles, to warm up the flexible tiles, if it is necessary to bend the material

• A more expensive way to get out of the situation is the device of a “green house”. In other words, temporary buildings covered, as a rule, with plastic wrap, over the future roof. With a heat gun, hot air is driven into such a “room” - and you can work. Only you still need to be able to make such a structure, and such “works” cannot be compared with summer work.

8. I saw “waves” and irregularities on the roof of bituminous tiles. What are the reasons for such disgrace?

• Poorly executed continuous crate. Most likely, the base "lives", i.e. the crate is made of raw materials, and the grooved board has risen up under the influence of moisture.
• The dry tongue-and-groove board is nailed too tightly together and there is no room left for the tree to "walk". You should have left a gap of approx. 1-3 mm.
• Penetrations, valleys or installation were poorly made, which caused water to enter the roof structure and caused the crate to swell.
• The ventilation of the roof structure is missing or not done correctly.
• The vapor barrier allows moisture to pass through, which collects in the lower structures.

9. Is it necessary to ventilate the under-roof space? These are extra costs.

• When using any roofing material, roof ventilation provides only advantages:
• Comfort in the attic room, because freezing and heating of the roof is prevented (depending on the season).
• Provides dryness of thermal insulation and wooden elements of the roof, which means that it maximizes the extension of their service life.

10. What are the minimum ventilation space clearances?

• In 95% of cases - 5 cm. With small slopes and slopes longer than 10 meters, it can reach up to 8-10 cm.

11. What problems can arise without under-roof space ventilation?

Insufficient ventilation leads to the following negative phenomena:

• formation of icicles and ice on the roof,
• to the accumulation of moisture in the insulation and the weakening of its functions,
• internal leaks on the roof caused by condensation,
• high temperature in rooms and especially in attic and attic rooms during the hot season,
• damage to building structures of the roof caused by mold,
• blisters may appear on the bituminous tile itself from overheating of the coating.

12. Compared to metal tiles, bituminous tiles seem fragile, so it is worse?

• The laid bituminous tile is stronger, because. you can walk and move along it without special ladders, knock with a hammer, etc. without the risk of damaging the material itself or the top layer.
• The strength of the finished bituminous tile roofing is determined primarily by the strength of the solid flooring on which the shingles are laid. The direct roofing tile itself performs primarily the function of waterproofing, as well as an aesthetic function.

13. Shingles can be torn apart by hand. Why?

• The strip of shingles that you took from the pack and hold in your hands (shingles) is a semi-finished product.
• If you have a desire to test roofing materials using the "knee-on-the-knee" method, we suggest you try to break the laid shingles.
• To test the strength of the laid bituminous tiles, you will have to tear: 6-15 mm of the laid bituminous coating (overlapping 2-3 and even 4-5 layers for laminated bituminous tiles), and also, you will have to break at least 10 mm of OSB slab with your bare hands or 25 mm board, on which bituminous tiles are laid. Will it work?

14. Does shingle retain dirt, leaves, needles?

• With certain slopes, any roofing material is some more, some less holds needles and dirt.
• Sooner or later, depending on the weather, rain and snow are able to wash it all away. Important in this case is the fact that bituminous tiles do not react and "do not come into contact" with these objects, so they leave no traces in the end, which cannot be said about many other roofing materials.
• Preventive cleaning of the roof with a soft broom in the autumn contributes to the durability of your roof.

15. It is easy to pierce shingles with a sharp object.

• Almost any roofing material cannot withstand a massive point impact (large icicle, spear). However, remember that under the flexible tiles, which lie on the roof in 2-3 layers (which is 7-11 mm of coverage), there is a solid crate made of wood (at least 10 mm OSB), which in itself is a very reliable shield against falling objects.
• Any section of bituminous tiles can be easily repaired at minimal cost, and there is no need to change sheets of a large area, as, for example, with metal tiles.
• The metal tile sheet may be able to withstand the fall of the icicle, however, the top sheeting will be damaged.

16. Are shingles on fire?

• The bituminous tile belongs to the materials that do not spread the flame.
• If there is a problem, in any case, it will be necessary to change the roof.
• In the event of a fire, bituminous tiles, in fact, burn out in the centers of flame, indicating these places, and do not spread the flame further.
• Falling on shingles of burning leaves, rocket launchers or firecrackers will not cause the roof to ignite. Protective stone dressing will prevent the occurrence of a fire.

17. Is it possible to use shingles in seaside areas?

• It is certainly possible, it is very resistant to environmental factors, including sea air and hurricane gusts of wind.
• The components of bituminous tiles (basalt, bitumen, fiberglass) are neutral to the effects of sea air and air polluted by production waste.

18. What should be the basis for shingles?

Bituminous tiles can be laid on a solid, dry, even base, cleaned of debris and greasy contaminants. The following options are possible:

• plywood or OSB board 10 mm or more (9 mm is acceptable with a lathing step of boards not more than 300 mm)
• edged board at least 25mm (permissible difference up to 2mm)
• tongue-and-groove board at least 20 mm (permissible difference 2 mm)
• - concrete or cement screed (laying without nails in a hot way using rolled bituminous materials)
• - metal (most often gluing with special bituminous adhesives, or hot method using rolled bituminous materials)
• - other shingles (renovation of the old coating with a still reliable base)

19. What are the ways to fasten bituminous tiles to the base?

• Nailing is the most common way of fastening bituminous shingles to a wooden base. The best solution is specially designed galvanized nails 25-30 mm thick about 3.1 mm with a head of at least 9 mm in diameter and preferably twisted (scalloped) or ring - improved fit.
• Fusion method on the underlying bituminous rolled layer. As an underlying layer, euroroofing material is used without sprinkling SBS, APP, with polyester reinforcement. It is more often used when fastening bituminous tiles to a concrete base, when fastening with nails is impossible, as well as on roof slopes below critical (less than 20 degrees).
• Bonding method using special bituminous adhesives. It is more often used when gluing shingles to metal sheets. Attention! Excessive use of adhesives leads to the destruction of shingles (solvents in adhesives).

20. What should be the treatment of wooden roof structures?

• Fire treatment is a mandatory operation in the construction of municipal facilities, but not mandatory for private customers. Provides sufficient stability of structures during a fire, allowing timely evacuation of people before the collapse of the supporting structures of the roof.
• Antiseptic treatment (against bugs, fungi, etc.) is desirable for any customers. Provides resistance of wooden structures to the biological effects of microorganisms and insects. Provides long-term operation of a roof.

21. Coefficients for converting ordinary tiles into special elements?

• 1 row, or cornice, or start K \u003d 0.15. In other words, for 10 m.p. 1 row requires 1.5 m2 of ordinary tiles
• Skate K = 0.35. In other words, for 10 m.p. ridge requires 3.5 m2 of ordinary tiles
• Endova K = 0.55. In other words, for 10 m.p. valleys need 5.5 m2 of ordinary tiles (cutting method)
• 2-3% should be laid on the undercut, if the roof is simple, but if the roof has a complex configuration, then 5-6% of ordinary tiles may additionally be used for undercut.

22. What is the difference between soft, flexible, shingles, shingles, shingles and roofing tiles?

• Nothing, since all these terms mean the same thing: a roofing based on, as a rule, fiberglass, impregnated with bitumen on top and bottom, covered with colored mineral dressing (basalt, slate, etc.) on the front side, usually with adhesive areas. In other words, the manufacturer of roofing materials himself chooses the term he likes.
• Another thing is that there are various ways to stabilize bitumen: oxidation, SBS modification, APP modification. But the name of the roofing does not depend on the method of bitumen stabilization.

23. The color of the stone powder?

• The bituminous tile has extremely wide variety of color schemes which allows to satisfy inquiries, practically of any client.
• Mineral granules are dyed with inorganic dyes and then baked in an oven at a high temperature (600-800 degrees Celsius). In fact, ceramics with very high color fastness are obtained. In addition, the topping is treated with special reagents that provide protection against mosses.
• American manufacturers on their specialized lines for the production of bitumen shingles make products with various combinations of sprinkle colors, which provide the depth of colors, shades and volume of finished roofs. Designer models of laminated shingles deserve special attention.

24. What type of bitumen and modifiers are used in the production of bituminous tiles?

• Bitumen is a product of oil refining containing hydrocarbons. At normal temperatures, it is solid. To give it certain characteristics necessary for roofing materials, it is oxidized or modifiers are added.
• The choice of bitumen stabilization method largely depends on the volume of production of bituminous tiles. If the volumes are small, then manufacturers use chemical methods to stabilize bitumen, using equipment something like an industrial “mixer”. So, for example, the Finns do. If the volumes are large, then it is more profitable to use oxidized bitumen for the production of bituminous tiles, as a cheaper and more reliable option.
• Of the chemical additives, SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) or APP (atactic polypropylene) are more often used.

25. What wind loads can bituminous tiles carry?

• Bituminous tiles can easily endure hurricane gusts of wind.
• The most wind-resistant laminated bituminous tile Owens Corning model is called Duration. The special technology SureNail™ allows you to withstand very strong gusts of wind up to 208 km per hour.

26. Frost resistance of shingles?

• Any climatic zone is suitable for bituminous tiles, which are equally successfully used in areas from the Equator to the Arctic Circle.
• If someone claims that only Finnish tiles are suitable for our climate, then this is not true. For reference: the population of Finland is just over 5 million people. The US population is almost 309 million + Canada 34 million. Total 1: 68 in terms of population. In terms of territory 1: 57A, the features of the Canadian climate, which practically coincides with the northern territories of the United States, are described on the Internet: “The climate in Canada is mostly temperate and subarctic. Average January temperatures range from -35°C in the north of the country to 4°C in the south of the Pacific coast. Average temperatures in July are 21°C in the south of the country and 4°C on the islands of the Canadian and Arctic archipelago.”
• American shingles are both Crimea and Alaska.

27. Can shingles be left unglued?

• At ambient temperatures below +15 degrees Celsius, the adhesive strips or adhesive areas on the bituminous tiles should be activated with an industrial hair dryer (an electrical device that provides a hot jet of air at a controlled temperature).
• At the optimum ambient temperature for laying bituminous tiles (from +15 to +30 degrees Celsius), adhesive strips usually stick together themselves under the weight of the tiles themselves and under the rays of the sun. However, in the cold season, "independent" gluing is difficult.
• If bituminous tiles are not glued together during the cold season with an industrial hair dryer, there is a big risk of the tiles being blown up by the wind. Your roof simply can not wait for the spring heat and become unusable.
• We strongly recommend gluing the bituminous tiles during installation with an industrial hair dryer.

28. Should the roof be cleared of snow in winter?

• Under normal circumstances, it is not necessary to throw snow off the roof unless an uncontrolled fall is a hazard. In especially snowy and wet winters, it is recommended to check the amount of accumulated snow on the roof. If the snow load increases and approaches the norms of the roof bearing capacity, it is necessary to reduce the amount of snow on the roof. Snow is removed in layers and about 10 cm of a protective layer of snow is left on the roof.
• As a working tool, only a plastic shovel or scraper is used (in no case a metal shovel). Snow is never thrown from the upper platform to the lower one, and also never raked against the wall. Ice is removed, for example, by melting with hot water, but not by chipping.

29. Why is a vapor barrier needed?

• The vapor barrier serves as an obstacle to the movement of steam formed inside the room into the roof structure, namely into the insulation.
• Warm and moisture-saturated air, moving from living quarters to colder ones due to higher partial pressure, when cooled, gives up part of its moisture in the form of condensate. Those. the amount of moisture generated is higher, the greater the temperature difference outside and in the interior, so most of the moisture gets into the under-roof space in winter.
• The problem of improperly executed vapor barrier is common. Insufficient vapor barrier leads to excessive amounts of condensate and the risk of rotting of the roof structure. An obstacle to the penetration of steam into the under-roof space is a special film with low vapor permeability, which is placed under the thermal insulation. The smaller the ventilation gap in the design of the upper base, the denser the vapor barrier should be. High-quality vapor barrier and the presence of a sufficient lower ventilation gap are the prerequisites for a durable roof and the entire structure.

30. What are anti-condensation and diffusion films?

• With a well-executed vapor barrier, a certain amount of steam can penetrate into the insulation, and moisture can also get under the crate during rain, snowfall, etc. The accumulation of moisture in the structure reduces its heat-shielding properties and leads to corrosion of the load-bearing elements. The service life of such a roof is significantly reduced, and after a short period of time from the start of operation, the roof requires expensive repairs. Anti-condensation and diffusion films help to preserve the properties of the insulation. Depending on the type, the materials pass or absorb steam.
• Anti-condensation films are practically vapor-tight and are used for metal and traditional tiles, because under them, condensation forms in large quantities.
• Superdiffusion membranes are waterproof but vapor permeable. The throughput of superdiffusion membranes is tens of times greater than conventional hydrobarriers. In addition, it is allowed to lay the superdiffusion membrane directly on the insulation. Also, such special membranes help to better retain heat, preventing the effect of the so-called blowing. Sort of like a pillow case.

31. What is the consumption of bituminous glue and features of its application?

• Consumption of bituminous adhesive: approx. 1 l/m² of the bonded surface. Surfaces dry after about 5 hours at +20 ˚C. Complete drying time 1 - 14 days depending on the thickness of the layer. Temperature during gluing from +5 to +50 ˚C. Excessive consumption of glue is not allowed, because. this can lead to bitumen smudges on the roof.
• If tubes of glue are used, which usually have a volume of about 300 milliliters, then such packages make it possible to use glue more economically. According to experience, 1 tube is enough on average for 10 square meters of roofing or for 5-6 linear meters of continuous use (strip).
• In principle, bituminous adhesive can be stored at sub-zero temperatures, but if it is possible to transfer it to a heated room, then it is better to do so. In any case, in cold weather, the bituminous adhesive should be kept at room temperature for 24 hours before use.

32. Is it necessary to use snow guards?

• The use of snow retainers on a roof made of bituminous tiles is not a mandatory measure, since the rough surface of the tiles prevents snow falls from the roof.
• And holes, in the places where snow retainers are attached, can weaken the waterproofing function of the roof.

33. What are the tapes on the back of your shingles?

• Some bituminous shingles have a special area with protective tape on the back of the shingles. This is the so-called shipping tape, which protects the adhesive area of ​​the underlying shingle in the pack (so that the shingles in the pack do not stick together). This tape does not need to be removed before installation.
• There is a protective strip at the bottom of the tile, which must be removed before installation. This protective tape from the back of the tile protects the adhesive area that is applied to the same roof tile.

34. Storing shingles?

• Store shingles in a cool, ventilated area.
• It is not recommended to store shingles outdoors without protection from direct sunlight and without protection from atmospheric precipitation.
• Shingles can be left on site for a short time in factory pallets, but they should be covered with tarpaulin or plywood sheets.
• Do not use a roof slope to store shingles (for example, for fear of theft). Bituminous tiles are compact and relatively heavy material (pallet 1.05 x1.05 meters), so a point accumulation of a large amount of bituminous tiles on a slope at one point can damage the crate. Recall that a factory pallet with shingles weighs about 1.5 tons.

In order for the roof covering to last as long as possible, the laying of soft tiles must be carried out in accordance with the installation rules developed for this material. Each manufacturer has their own installation instructions, but in general, the basic installation rules are the same.

Installation conditions

Installation instructions for bitumen tiles regulate the temperature regime for working with the material. Laying is recommended to be carried out at an air temperature above +5 °C. Shingles - elements that make up a flexible tiled roof, are connected to the surface of the base not only with metal fasteners, but also thanks to a special self-adhesive layer on the underside. High adhesion and tightness of the mounted coating is ensured by heating from sunlight - the shingles are reliably soldered to the base and to each other.

If the installation of shingles is carried out in cool weather, the adhesion of the sheets may not be strong enough. To heat the adhesive layer of the shingle, you can use a hot-air burner (building hair dryer). It is also practiced laying material on bituminous mastic. But there may be difficulties with the installation of the ridge coating, since the material needs to be bent. In cold weather, bituminous shingles become more rigid and brittle, and in the process of giving the shingle the desired shape, microcracks may appear in the material.

If roofing work has to be carried out in cool weather, the packages with tiles should be kept in a warm closed room for about a day.

If it is necessary to lay roofing from bituminous piece material in frost, a small enclosed space is arranged on the roof of the structure - a rack frame covered with polyethylene film is mounted. Heat guns are used to create the required temperature inside a limited volume.

Base for roofing

Under the base for the installation of bituminous piece roofing is meant a truss system with a continuous crate. To ensure the proper functioning of the roofing cake, a vapor barrier membrane is mounted on the inside of the rafter legs. From the outside, a heater is laid and a diffusion membrane is attached, which removes moisture from the heat-insulating layer and does not let it inside. Along the rafter legs, the slats of the counter-lattice are stuffed over the membrane.

Laying soft tiles requires an even solid base made of edged or tongue-and-groove boards or sheet materials - OSB boards, moisture-resistant plywood. Humidity of the material for the crate should not exceed 20%.

Sheet material is laid with the long side parallel to the eaves. Boards must span at least two runs and be attached to each rafter leg. The joining of the crate elements is carried out on a support, while the joints of adjacent rows of the crate should be located on different supports.

It is important to leave a deformation seam between the elements of the crate - wood materials change their linear dimensions under the influence of temperature and moisture.

Roofing cake, which includes shingles, should be well ventilated. This will significantly reduce the formation of ice on the surface in winter, as the transfer of heat from the premises of the house to the roofing will decrease. In summer, the ventilation gap, the height of which should be at least 5 cm, reduces the temperature inside the roofing pie, as a result of which the attic room overheats less. In order for air circulation to be sufficient to remove moisture from the inside of the roof, special holes are left in the lower part of the roof (in the filing of overhangs), and an exhaust duct is equipped in the ridge.

Lining layer

Installation of flexible tiles requires the use of a special lining material. Piece bituminous coating is used on pitched roofs with a slope angle of at least 12 °. If the slope of the slopes is 12-30 °, a waterproofing lining is attached to the entire surface of the continuous crate. A slope angle of more than 30° requires the installation of waterproofing material in the valleys, along the eaves, above the chimney pipes and ventilation ramps, at the junction of the roof to the walls, around the attic windows. This allows you to reliably protect places where there is a high probability of accumulation of snow and ice.

The principle of installation of the lining layer depends on its features. The composite material of polymer film and bituminous filler is self-adhesive: it is carefully laid on the crate and rolled to ensure tight adhesion and remove possible bubbles. Polyester waterproofing material is laid using bituminous mastic and additionally fastened in the upper and side parts with a 20 cm spacing with nails with wide flat heads, which are then treated with mastic. The lining layer is formed from strips of rolled material laid parallel to the eaves. Longitudinal overlap should be 100 mm, transverse - 200 mm.

The technology of laying soft tiles provides for certain principles for installing the lining in places of probable leaks. The width of the waterproofing layer is:

• for valleys - 500 mm from its axis in each direction;
• for the ridge - 250 mm each;
• for end and cornice overhangs - 400 mm.

To ensure the tightness of the overlap places, they are coated with bituminous mastic.

Mounting planks

To protect the crate from rain moisture, gable and cornice strips are mounted. Installation of cornice strips (droppers) is performed on top of the lining layer. The instruction requires the installation of elements with an overlap of at least 200 mm. Fasteners should be arranged in a zigzag (staggered pattern) with a step of 10 cm. Gable strips are designed for the ends of roof slopes. Fastening is also carried out using roofing nails installed in 10 cm increments.

The waterproofing carpet of the valley is laid after the installation of the planks on the slopes. The color of the carpet is selected taking into account the color of the shingles. The material is fixed with nails in 10 cm increments. If there are vertical structures on the roof slopes, a waterproofing coating is also laid around them.

If the arrangement of the chimney passage through the roof is planned to be carried out after the installation of the finishing coating, when planning the roof, the place where it will be located should be noted.

How to properly prepare the roofing system for the installation of soft tiles can be found in the thematic video.

Installation of roofing material

First of all, eaves tiles are laid - a special element of a soft piece roof. Not all manufacturers offer special tiles for the cornice overhang. In this case, it is required to use a strip of material that is cut out from an ordinary shingle - the petals are cut from it. Stepping back from the cornice overhang 2 cm, the resulting elements are glued.

Before starting installation on the roof, markings must be applied. The chalk lines indicating the arrangement of the rows of material make it possible to lay the shingles strictly parallel to the eaves. The vertical line indicates the middle of the slope. To make the roof look aesthetically pleasing, the coating is mounted from bituminous tiles, taken at random from several packs. This allows you to level the differences in the shades of the material.

Laying of shingles starts from the middle of the overhang of the eaves - the shingles are mounted to the right and left of the first one. The protective film from the elements of the roofing is removed immediately before installation. The shingles are pressed tightly against the base, and then additionally secured with roofing nails driven in above the groove: 4 pieces for each shingle.

If the angle of the roof slope exceeds 45°, it is recommended to use 6 nails each for fastening curly bituminous tiles.

The first row of shingles is located in such a way that their lower edge is 10-15 mm higher than the lower edge of the cornice shingles. Laying is carried out with the expectation that the petals of the bituminous elements cover the joints of the eaves shingles. The petals of subsequent rows with their tip should be above the cutouts of the previous layer or at their level. In the places where the shingles adjoin the gable strips, the material is cut off along the edge of the roof, the edges are glued using bituminous mastic, and they must be smeared by 10 cm.

In order not to damage the bottom layer of the tile, when cutting off excess material, place a small plank or piece of plywood under its edge.

Arrangement of the valley

Installation of tiles requires a special approach to creating a reliable and durable design of the valley. Before laying ordinary tiles, a waterproofing lining is mounted under the valley, to which the flexible tiles are melted with a hot air gun or fixed using bitumen-polymer mastic.

Work on the arrangement of the valley should begin with a slope with a more gentle angle of inclination or a slope with a shorter length.

On the slope opposite the chosen one, parallel to the axis of the valley, at a distance of 30 cm from it, a line should be drawn. The shingles that reach this line from the first slope (with an overlap of the valley axis) are cut along the line and fixed with mastic or melted with a hot air gun. All shingles coming from a gentle (or short) slope are mounted in this way. Then a line is drawn on this slope, parallel to the axis of the valley and spaced from it by 10 cm. Shingles that reach the line from the side of the opposite slope are cut exactly along the line, and their upper corners should be cut at approximately 60 °.

Roofing nails can be used at a distance of at least 30 cm from the axis of the valley. Therefore, when arranging it, the material should be glued or welded.

Ridge coating

Laying of the ridge coating is carried out after the installation of ordinary tiles. For these purposes, cornice elements can be used. In other cases, the material is cut from ordinary shingles:

• if the shingle petals are rectangular, they are cut off, and the remaining wide strip is mounted on the ridge;
• the shingles that form a pattern of hexagons during laying are cut into hexagonal fragments, from which the ridge coating is made.

To simplify and secure work with the roof ridge, scaffolds should be mounted.

Straight strips are heated with a hot air gun, bent along the axis and laid on the ridge with an overlap of 50 mm. Fixation of each strip is carried out on 4 nails.

Bituminous tiles (it is also called flexible tiles) have recently become more and more popular. This is due to its high technical and operational qualities, bituminous tiles are quite light, durable, thanks to their flexibility, they can easily be used on a roof of any configuration. Its advantages should also include the fact that the minimum service life is at least 30-35 years, and some manufacturers guarantee up to half a century of operation of shingles.

From the point of view of operation, it is in no way inferior to metal tiles, due to its “softness” it has good soundproofing characteristics. The ease of installation also speaks in favor of choosing bituminous tiles; you can lay bituminous tiles with your own hands. Thanks to the variety of colors, you can choose the right option for any roof.

What is shingles made of?

As a rule, durable fiberglass is the basis of flexible tiles, on both sides of it there are layers of improved bitumen. On the front surface of bituminous tiles, a layer of mineral material powder is arranged (it performs rather an aesthetic role), and microscopic particles of mineral material also reduce rain noise.

On the underside of sheets of flexible tiles there is a self-adhesive layer and a protective film, which is removed immediately before laying the sheet.

What tools and materials will be needed for the installation of shingles

In order to lay bituminous tiles with your own hands you will need:

• sealant;
• special mastic on a bitumen basis;
• lining carpet;

Instead of a special lining waterproofing carpet, you can also use a regular roofing material.

• the tile itself in the required quantity;
• galvanized roofing nails with a wide head;
• ventilation elements (usually purchased with tiles);
• ridge-cornice tiles;

• shaped elements to strengthen the cornice and the end of the roof;

• passing elements;
• a hammer;
• metal scissors;
• a small trowel for applying bituminous mastic;
• tile cutting knife

When calculating the required number of tiles, it must be remembered that the consumption indicated on the pack corresponds to the area of ​​​​the roof slope at an angle of 45 °.

Technology of laying bituminous tiles

The main disadvantage of flexible tiles can be called an increased requirement for evenness of the base. Due to the fact that the bituminous tile material is quite soft and relatively thin, even a slight unevenness will stand out against the background of the roof, and leaks may also form in this place. Therefore, for the installation of a base for flexible tiles, it is recommended to use only dried edged boards, moisture-resistant plywood or OSB.

Builders most often prefer oriented strand boards.

After the installation of a flat base, you can proceed directly to laying bituminous tiles.

1. At the preparatory stage, it is necessary to lay the lining carpet. Depending on the steepness of the slope, it is arranged either on the entire roof, or only in the most critical places in terms of water resistance - on skates, overhangs and valleys. If the slope of the roof slope exceeds 18°, then a continuous underlayment can be dispensed with.

Laying shingles directly on concrete is prohibited.

It is desirable that the waterproofing carpet be laid in a horizontal direction, starting from the bottom of the slope, overlapping the strips of waterproofing material - 10 - 15 cm. It can also be installed in the longitudinal direction, but from the point of view of waterproofing, this option is worse. Particular attention should be paid to the valley carpet, it is desirable to make it from a single piece of waterproofing material, without joints.

1. The cornice and end part of the roof should be reinforced with special shaped elements (metal strips). They must be mounted overlapping with an overlap of up to 5 cm. The planks are attached to the base with nails, the distance between them is up to 12 cm.

Even before laying the shingles, you need to think about fixing the gutter. Sometimes a wooden plank is nailed for this, to which the gutter is attached.

1. After strengthening the cornice and the frontal part of the roof, they begin to install the tiles. It is better to mix sheets from several packs beforehand. The fact is that even the tiles of the same batch may differ in color, mixing the sheets will make this difference in shades imperceptible.

Do-it-yourself installation of bituminous tiles begins with the fact that the eaves and ridge tiles are laid on the cornice overhang. It can be purchased separately or you can use ordinary flexible tiles for this, having previously cut off the petals from it.

1. Then proceed to laying the main part of the tile. As a rule, hollows are completely lined with tiles before laying the main part. You can do this in parallel with laying the tiles on the slopes, but in this case, in the hollow, the tiles should be ahead of the tiles on the slope by 2-3 rows. Each subsequent sheet in the hollow is glued to the previous one (the overlap is 10 cm).

Along the edge of the roof, the tiles are carefully smeared with mastic (a strip 10 cm wide) and glued to the base. This helps to protect the roof from slanting rain. It is recommended to start laying shingles from the middle or lower corner of the roof slope. Starting from 3-4 rows, you need to pay attention to the preservation of the geometric pattern; to control the correct laying, the roof is pre-marked or a thread mooring is used.

1. For the installation of pipes, it is recommended to use special passage elements, they can be purchased together with the tiles. In this case, the passage element is nailed to the roof with galvanized nails, the area around it is smeared with mastic, an appropriate cut is made in the tile and it is glued around the pipe.

1. Separately, it is worth considering the adjoining of tiles to brick pipes or vertical walls. In this case, a wooden triangular plank is installed between the wall and the base, to which a flexible tile is attached). To provide waterproofing from above, a waterproofing roll material is attached to the brick wall (pipe) using a metal bar (the space between the bar and the brick wall is filled with sealant).

The overlap should normally be at least 30 cm, but in cold climates at least 70 cm.

1. The technology for laying bituminous tiles also provides for the installation of a ridge aerator. First, you need to cut the ridge, install the aerator itself on the resulting device, and glue bituminous tiles on top of it.