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 my 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 for the 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 front side roofing 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 attacks 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 change the damaged area to 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 the developers and manufacturers of roofing, ideal option no roof yet. 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, installation 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 when installing shingles, but there are some technological subtleties which we will now examine.

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.

Plates are mounted so that the result resembles brickwork, i.e. there should be no cross connections. It is permissible not to leave gaps or reduce their size if the lathing is carried out in summer period. 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 likelihood 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, at convex corners and along the gable overhangs it is permissible to use protection with less waterproofing properties, to 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 ready-made, specially produced for finishing cornices with skates, or they do it themselves by cutting off 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 bituminous mastic at least 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 arranged open and in a 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, 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.

Connections are equipped using wooden lath, unraveled 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 the hip roofs first, convex corners are 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 provide will help you to roofing works and in supervising a team of hired builders.

Reading time ≈ 4 minutes

The use of a soft roof allows you to carefully and beautifully protect the roof, attic and attic from precipitation. It is possible to carry out the installation of bituminous tiles without the involvement of specialists. For the correct performance of the work, you only need to study the instructions for the selection, use of materials and their fixation.

Preparing for the installation of a roof made of bituminous tiles

The main condition for obtaining high-quality roofing from flexible tiles is the preparation of a perfectly even base. Therefore, after removing the old material, you need to go to the usual truss system nail plywood or OSB. Otherwise, the soft sheets of the roof will simply sag and you will have to re-cover the house.

Getting started and laying the first rows

For maximum attic protection or attic floor from precipitation, it is recommended to use a special substrate. If the roof slope is insignificant (does not exceed 20 degrees), then it is allowed to fix the lining carpet only in the places of subsequent installation of additional elements. You should also immediately carry out the installation of metal protective strips for the cornice and facade. After the installation of shingles with your own hands is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. The cornice layers framing the roof are laid (they can be replaced with the tiles themselves, you just need to carefully cut it off). They are fixed over the planks with nails with large flat heads. For additional fixation of the roof, the place where it will be laid is coated with bituminous mastic.
2. The first row of tiles is being fixed. It is recommended to take sheets from different sets for this. If they differ slightly, there will be no problems with color differences. It is necessary to lay the first row on top of the cornice layers with a slight rise (there should be a distance of about 1 cm from the edge of the end to the tile itself).
3. When fixing the tiles, the conditions for laying them out according to the pattern are observed. Excess parts are simply cut off. Sheets are fastened with flat-head nails. They provide a reliable clamping of the tile to the base and exclude its damage.

The specified instructions for the installation of a roof made of flexible bituminous tiles will allow you to quickly and correctly carry out the work, eliminate the main mistakes when laying materials. Additionally, you should view training photos and videos that will help you see the process of preparing for installation and the laying of the roofing material itself.

Finishing work with shingles

After laying all layers of tiles, care must be taken to comply with good ventilation roofs. Therefore, it is recommended to install a ridge aerator in its upper part. It is a long bar with internal dividers and foam inserts. Such a roofing device made of bituminous tiles eliminates the penetration of moisture under the roof, the danger of settling wasps and other insects in the attic.

On top of the ridge aerator, it is necessary to fix the ridge tiles. It will additionally protect the aerator and achieve an aesthetic appearance of the roof. After fixing the ridge tiles, you can proceed with the installation of the gutter system.

Special requirements for the installation of a roof made of bituminous tiles

A prerequisite when working with a flexible roof is to take into account the rules for laying materials near pipes and with a multi-level transition between individual parts of the roof. Modern technology installation of bituminous tiles, the use of metal junction strips, passage elements. For example, at the transition between different levels of the roof, it is necessary to fix the cushioning carpet with the help of a plank, another layer of carpet must be laid on top of the overlap. Then the installation of the tile itself is carried out.

When framing a pipe on roofs, you must first select a passage element for it (used for round pipes). It will protect the roofing material from exposure to high temperatures and rapid destruction. The laying and installation of tiles is carried out after cutting them to the shape of a pipe. Similar conditions for laying bituminous materials will eliminate problems with maintaining their original appearance, quality and condition.

Do-it-yourself shingle installation video

bituminous tiles or as it is also called, flexible tiles can be used even on the steepest roofs, even on vertical ones, moreover, its cost is quite affordable for many, which gives it additional advantages when.

After laying, bituminous tiles create a continuous hermetic carpet on the roof. Many colors and shapes of bituminous tiles allow you to choose the desired option, but in general, the final texture of the roof from afar will resemble snake scales or a spotted camouflage robe :)

Soft tile is a beautiful and rather elastic material, besides, it is not afraid of frost, heat, or other atmospheric influences. It does not absorb moisture and does not “noise” during rain, is not subject to decay, corrosion and does not accumulate static electricity. However, like all roofing materials, shingles have their drawbacks.

The main advantages of shingles:

• high rates of sound insulation and tightness;
• slight surface roughness, prevents avalanche-like snow from the roof;
• light weight and flexibility;
• the ability to install on roofs of any geometric complexity and slopes, up to vertical ones;
• high impact resistance;
• lack of windage;
• minimum waste during installation.

The main disadvantages of shingles:

• increased requirements for the quality of the base (the need to create a solid base from OSB or plywood increases the total cost of the roofing system, creates an additional load on the truss system);
• rather complicated and time-consuming installation;
• frost resistance - about 50 cycles (significantly inferior to many other roofing materials);
• price (1 m² of roofing, about 2 times more expensive than metal roofing).

Composition, shape and color of shingles

Bituminous tiles consist of several layers and are very similar in structure to modern rolled roofing materials, since one of its basic components is bitumen (in general, this is where the name comes from).

Fiberglass is covered on all sides with oxidized or modified bitumen, thus we get the basis of bituminous tiles. The thickness of the tiles reaches 3 mm. As a rule, special polymeric additives are introduced into the bituminous coating, giving it durability, elasticity, heat resistance and resistance to ultraviolet radiation. A self-adhesive bitumen-polymer mass is applied to the entire base of the tile or part of it, which, when installing bituminous tiles, ensures the connection of tiles (shingles, shingles) to each other.

The structure of bituminous tiles with granulate

The front surface is covered with a layer of mineral or stone chips (granulate). Both of these materials make the coating resistant to weathering. In addition, it is stone chips that create a color variety, and its rough surface prevents snow from the roof like an avalanche.

Recently, bituminous tiles have become increasingly popular, on the front side of which a coating of copper, zinc-titanium or aluminum is applied. Such options significantly increase the possibilities of designers, but also significantly increase the cost of coverage.

In terms of geometric shape, bituminous tiles are small sheets (shingles) with a figured bottom edge. On one such sheet, 1 m long and a little over 30 cm wide, there are three or four tiles.

The standard size of a shingle sheet is 1000 x 337 mm.

Bituminous shingles are produced in the form of fish scales, honeycombs, triangles, ovals, six- and rectangles of various sizes, which, as a rule, are symmetrically placed on the sheet. In addition, there is also a wave-like bituminous tile, but it is not suitable for finishing cornices and ridges. The color of the shingles can be either monophonic or combining several different shades of the main color (this is clearly visible in the figure below). Using such a coating, it is possible to achieve on the roof beautiful effect melange (an interconnected combination or interspersed various options one shade).

This color variety is additionally emphasized by the resistance of shingles to ultraviolet radiation, due to which it does not change its color over time, that is, it does not have to be repainted or tinted.

Secrets of the successful operation of shingles

Firstly, in order for the shingles to serve you for a long time, choose the right manufacturer, since this is exactly the case when the difference in the quality of the material from different manufacturers can be simply colossal.

Secondly, no less important correctly install, strictly following the recommended technology for laying bituminous tiles of a particular manufacturer and it is very desirable to use the recommended components.

When installing bituminous tiles, special attention should be paid to the ventilation of the under-roof space - the operating time of the roof largely depends on the durability of the rafters.

Quite often, problems when laying bituminous tiles occur in winter, when it is not applied. special technology installation (it is necessary to carefully warm up each petal of the tile), in this case it is difficult for the tiles to hermetically connect to each other, as a result of which they can be lifted or torn off by a strong gust of wind.

Properties and scope of shingles

The scope of bituminous tiles is very extensive, it is also used for ordinary shed roofs, and multi-pitched, and absolutely any, even very complex configuration with an angle of inclination of more than 15 °, and sometimes even as a covering for vertical walls.

Even at the stage of choosing a specific brand of shingles, specify its frost resistance and fire resistance. As a rule, not ordinary, but modified bitumen is used for its production. There are only two most common modifiers:

• APP (atactic polypropylene)
• SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene).

APP-modified bitumen is resistant to high temperatures, but its elasticity index is lower.

SBS-modified bitumen can be said to be the exact opposite of the previous one. The degree of elasticity at low temperatures is higher, which prevents cracking of the material in winter period, but its resistance to melting is lower.

Therefore, the conclusion is obvious - it is desirable to use shingles based on APP-modified bitumen in areas with a warm climate, and bituminous shingles based on SBS - with a cold one.

According to the fire classification, various brands of bituminous tiles can belong to both the high flammability group and the moderate one. But, since a roof made of flexible tiles with a continuous adhesive layer allows for a long time to block the access of oxygen to the combustion source, it is customary for experts to attribute flexible tiles to slow-burning materials. But still we must not forget that bituminous tiles burn.

In order to make it easier for the buyer to navigate the assortment, the sellers of shingles have identified four price categories:

• Economy class
• middle class
• elite class
• premium class.

As an example, it can be unequivocally stated that bituminous shingles coated with stone chips will be more expensive than bituminous shingles with mineral coatings, the cost of multi-color shingles will be higher than the price of single-color shingles, and imported shingles will cost more than domestic ones. Finnish-made bituminous tiles with a copper coating are considered one of the most expensive.

Set for shingles

The set of bituminous roof tiles includes: ridge and eaves tiles and valley, underlayment carpet, metal components (cornice strips, drips), end strips, junctions, fasteners (glue, nails) and ventilation elements.

Konkovo ​​- cornice tiles serves as a starting strip when installing roofing or is divided into three parts and used as a ridge tile.

Valley (lining) carpet seals internal corners roofs, as well as docking points with walls and a chimney. The basis of this material is polyester. The underlayment is sold in 1 x 10 m rolls and is 4 mm thick. With small slopes, it is used throughout the roof.

cornice plank laid on a lining carpet along the entire length of the eaves.

droppers protect cornices from moisture, prevent their swelling and delamination. The roofing carpet has no extension beyond the cornice overhang. Therefore, if there is no drip, water flowing down the surface of the roofing material falls on the wooden frontal board of the eaves.

End plate protects the material at the ends of the building from wind loads, prevents the wind from lifting and tearing the tiles.

Metal connection used for additional mechanical fastening of the valley carpet at the joints with walls and a chimney.

Ventilation elements are made of frost-resistant plastic and are intended for the installation of ventilation hoods on a slope and a ridge.

Glue – bitumen-polymer mastic in buckets of 3 and 10 liters, as well as in multifunctional cartridges weighing 310 g.

roofing nails - special stainless steel nails with a wide head.

Features of installation of shingles

The main feature of preparing for the installation of shingles is the need to create a continuous crate. But at the same time, the design of the roofing "pie" is the same as that of other types of roofing. It consists of wooden rafters, between which a heater is laid, from the side of the room it is closed with a vapor barrier film. Above the rafters wooden beam a counter-lattice is stuffed with a thickness of 30 - 40 mm. This allows you to ventilate the under-roof space. A continuous crate is laid on the counter-lattice, to which the tiles are subsequently attached. The crate is made of moisture resistant plywood, OSB boards or edged grooved board 15-20 mm thick. Sheets of plywood or OSB boards should be laid with a gap between the joints. The basis for the device of a roof from a bituminous tile has to be strong, smooth and dry.

Before laying the coating on a continuous crate, a lining carpet is laid and, in parallel, bituminous tiles are raised to the roof in small batches. Lay it from bottom to top and from right to left. To do this, a protective strip is removed from the underside of the shingle, under which there is an adhesive layer, and it is heated with a building hair dryer. They fasten the tiles to a continuous crate not only with glue, but also with nails, placing the tiles overlapping. In the future, the upper shingles under the influence solar heat are fused with the lower ones, forming a continuous waterproof coating. Having reached the line of the skate, upper part the shingle is bent over it, laid on the lining carpet and fixed on the opposite slope.

Then, rectangular ridge elements are overlapped. It is desirable to mount a bituminous roof at an outside temperature not lower than +5 °C. To cover the valleys, a lining carpet is used that seals the internal corners of the roof, as well as a metal junction for its fastening. The same device is used for laying tiles at the joints with walls and near the chimney. For the installation of such a roof, special tools are not needed. In addition, shingles are quite economical material - its waste is only 3-4%.

In the event that you decide to control your workers, then follow the following installation steps:

• side faces should be well glued;
• when installing the crate you need to use only dried boards, since over time the tree will begin to dry out and undergo “torsion”, and the roof may suffer from this;
• cardboard-based roofing material cannot be used as bedding materials , even if this significantly reduces the cost of the roof (the cardboard will swell during operation, and the roof will be covered with bubbles).

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. Due to the variety of colors you can choose suitable 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 the bituminous tile, a layer of powder from mineral material 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. On the preparatory stage underlayment needs to be installed. 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 laying of the waterproofing carpet proceed 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 ensure waterproofing from above, a waterproofing roll material is attached to a brick wall (pipe) using a metal strip (the space between the strip and brick wall 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.

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 simplest and effective method moss control is a preventive cleaning of the roof in the fall using a soft broom. If the moss is not easily removed, then apply special means to remove moss. 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. A heat "gun" is driven into such a "room" hot air- 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.
• Ventilation roof structure missing or incorrect.
• 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 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 shingles can be easily repaired with minimal cost, while it is not necessary 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 impact sea ​​air and air polluted by industrial waste.

18. What should be the basis for shingles?

Bituminous tiles can be laid on a continuous dry level ground free 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 way 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 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 stability wooden structures to biological influences 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 coating based on 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 roofing materials he chooses the term he likes.
• Another thing is that there are various ways bitumen stabilization: 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?

• Bituminous tiles have an extremely wide variety color solutions, which allows you to satisfy the needs of almost 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 bituminous 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 temperature it is solid in texture. 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.
• From chemical additives more often use SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) or APP (atactic polypropylene).

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 by population. By territory 1:57A 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 an ambient temperature below +15 degrees Celsius, the adhesive strips or adhesive areas on the bituminous tiles should be activated using an industrial hair dryer ( electrical appliance, which 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 just can't wait spring warmth and fall into disrepair.
• 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 plastic shovel or a scraper (never a metal shovel). The snow is never thrown off top platform on the bottom, and also never raked to the wall. Ice is removed, for example by melting hot water, but not by breaking off.

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 cold ones due to higher partial pressure, when cooled, gives up part of its moisture in the form of condensate. Those. the amount of moisture formed is higher, the greater the temperature difference outside and in indoor areas, therefore, most moisture enters 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 bituminous tile roof is not a mandatory measure, since the rough surface of the tile 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.