Roofing at home: some tips for choosing ...
What kind of roofing is right for your roof?
When starting to build a house, not many people immediately think about the roof. Even when laying the foundation, it is necessary to take into account not only the weight of the walls, but also the weight of the roof. Although the main purpose of the roof is practical (protection from the weather, keeping warm), one should not forget about the aesthetic side.
Roof coverings are presented in a wide range. These are natural tiles, soft roofs, metal tiles, profiled sheets, and asbestos-cement (slate). The roof must be strong, durable, fireproof, with high hydro and thermal insulation qualities.
How long is the service life?
Often, manufacturers claim a long service life for their goods. Can the roof last 50-60 years? It directly depends on the climate. The Russian climate is extreme because windy winter frost and summer heat destroy the top layer. This means that natural tiles will not work without glaze. Euroslate without protection from ultraviolet rays will not last long either.
What to look for?
When choosing a material, attention should be paid to the following points:
- The type of building, because different roofing materials are needed for the country house and the cottage.
- Roof configuration (different materials are available for flat, pitched or complex roofs).
- Life time.
- Price (this is not only a coating, but also insulation, and drainage, and other costs).
- Exterior and its combination with home design.
- The complexity of the installation of roofing.
Roof types
Roofing materials are clay, iron, cement-sand, soft and asbestos-cement.
Slate is made of asbestos-cement rectangular sheets, does not rot, traps radiation, does not pass electric current.
The advantages include frost resistance, fire safety, durability, thermal insulation, ease of installation. Service life 35-40 years.
The disadvantages include a small range of colors, fragility, fade in the sun, and collects moisture.
Euroslate (bitumen-impregnated cardboard) is inexpensive. A wide variety of colors, lighter than slate, easy to install. Manufacturers' warranty for 10 years. But after a few years it can crack and burn out. Suitable for sloping roofs.
Shingles made in the form of a square tile, most often 30x30 cm. It can be clay (weight from 2 kg), bitumen, metal, cement-sand. Roof slope for shingles is not more than 60 ° C. The roof covered with tiles "breathes", resistant to corrosion and low temperatures. The shingles are simple and convenient for installation. It is easy to replace damaged tiles with new ones. Natural tiles, due to their weight, drown out noises and sounds. Heated in the sun, it gives off heat to the house for a long time.
Metal tile and corrugated board used for sloping roofs. The material is high quality and lightweight. The advantages include durability (about 50 years), lightness, environmental safety, great colors, visual appeal, ease of installation, convenient transportation, affordable price. But there are also disadvantages. Does not protect the roof from condensation, it must be varnished every 7 years, the noisiest of roofing materials, a lot of waste during installation.
Shingles cement-sand is flat and profile. Mounted in rows on a sloping roof. Resistant to temperature changes, frost-resistant. Disadvantages include heavy weight, high price and a high percentage of scrap during transportation.
Seam roof - a metal roof made of smooth sheet steel, it can be galvanized and non-galvanized, made of copper, aluminum or non-ferrous metal. When the sheets are installed, joints are formed that stiffen the roof and direct the convergence of water and snow. For this coating, the roof slope must be at least 20 ° C. The advantages include fire resistance, flexibility, light weight, decorative effect, installation at low temperatures. The disadvantages include low resistance to damage and the need for insulation.
Liquid roof looks like rubber, but consists of bitumen. It is designed for flat roofs, but is also suitable for slightly sloping roofs. Spray applied so there are no seams. When cured, the surface resembles rubber and can withstand a temperature drop of 20 ° C. Advantages of a liquid roof:
- high strength and elasticity;
- stored in liquid form;
- does not harm human health;
- easily fits on wood, metal, concrete, slate;
- long service life (at least 20 years);
- can be painted with any water-based paint.
No roof is complete without a drain. They can be round and rectangular, iron or plastic. The service life of the structure depends on the type of material. Steel and tin gutters are attractive for their price. True, they do not last long due to metal corrosion. Galvanized structures can last from 7 to 12 years. A polymer-coated device can last 45-50 years. It easily withstands temperature extremes. Plastic gutters are easy to install, they are resistant to mechanical damage.