Between heaven and earth

Natural Slate Slate (on him. Sshiefer) - a kind of slate, mineral rock that lies at a depth of several tens to hundreds of meters. In the Middle Ages from the lumps of slate chips thin plates, and covered their roofs. True, it could afford only the aristocracy: too time-consuming and expensive processes were mining, sorting and assembling slate. Meanwhile, Slate - one of the most durable roofing materials, its life - at least 100-150 years (in Germany can be seen locks with a slate roof, whose age - 250 years). Color plates - mostly dark gray, although there are also dark red and green. Today slate handle all the same "old" methods, and using mostly manual labor - is in many respects determines the high value of the material. Other pricing factors - installation of slate, which requires the roofer this skill. Developed fixed types of masonry, among them - starogermanskaya, scaly, "wild", "honeycomb", rectangular tiles, etc. Generally, the tiles are attached to the overlap on the solid crates, each nailed two to four nails (roof pitch - 22 degrees) . Shingles Externally, it is similar to the natural tile, but unlike the latter does not consist of individual cherepichek, and from flat sheets (shingles) with 3.4 lobe (cherepichki). Basis of shingles and its components (valley lining and carpet Konkovo-Cornice strip shingles) - non-woven fiberglass or polyester impregnated with oxidised or modified bitumen. Tile top is usually covered by basalt or mineral granules, and bottom - in part a layer of silica sand, partly - self-adhesive layer rezinobituma. What is the difference between the glass-and polyester? And he and other material are reinforced bitumen. And since it is based on lies the greatest mechanical stress during installation and operation of the roof, it must be strong to break. So, from polyester, this figure is higher, so it is usually used for the reinforcement of those elements of the flexible roof to fit into the "problem" sites (valley, sites of contiguity). However, glass fiber, compared with the polyester is cheaper and practically does not change the linear dimensions of the temperature fluctuations, and thus suitable for the reinforcement of an ordinary roof tiles, which does not undergo significant break load. Bitumen is used for the cover layer has almost zero water absorption, therefore, provides reliable protection of the house from precipitation. What is the difference between oxidized and modified bitumen? In oxidized above resistance to ultraviolet light, but slightly lower heat resistance and flexibility, have modified - all with exactly the opposite. The first parameter affects the durability of the second and third determine, in warm or cold regions, better install and use the shingles. Moreover, much depends on the type modifier: more heat-resistant APP, SBS is more flexible (that is suitable for cold climates). Typically in the manufacture of roof tiles combine different types of bitumen, so it is very easy to install, resistant to temperature extremes, long-lasting in comparison with some other roofing materials (written warranty on it - up to 25 years). Flexibility allows the tiles to use it for roofing the most complex geometry (recommended pitch - from 11.3 degrees). Shingles are mounted on a solid foundation of waterproof plywood grade PSF, OSB-3, planed or cut boards. Among the advantages of shingles - a good sound absorption, "inability" to condense the charge of atmospheric electricity. Although this material is classified as flammable, it has the ability to inhibit inflammation. In other words, when a nearby building fire burning embers that had fallen onto the roof of your house, do not set fire to it. One of the main advantages of shingles - that it can realize any stylistic solutions: from the traditional to the cutting edge (eg, high-tech) and exotic (such as imitations of Gothic or Oriental roofs). All the matter in a variety of shapes and colors shingle. Hexagons, rectangles (including those with rounded corners), a combination of polygons, semi-circles of different sizes, elongated ovals (a la «beaver tail") - these are just some form of shingles. Primary colors of shingles - about 20, and their combinations - several hundred. Color is spreading to the upper surface of the tile - grains of basalt or shale that are both durable and differ only in form: the slate - oblong, with basalt - multifaceted. Often, shale and basalt granules combine to increase the percentage of covered surface and at the same time to individualize the "appearance" of tile. Colored granules or pigments, or by special substances which in contact with the stone change its color - in any case, this inorganic compounds having a high color stability. Special attention is given shingles with the top layer of a thin sheet of copper. Over time, its appearance is becoming more and more noble: copper plates covered with a patina that is, first get a light-and dark-brown hue, and then turn green. If you wait for the patina does not want to, you can immediately get artificially aged tile. In addition, copper protects against external influences subsequent layers of shingles, which increases its service life. Ductility of copper is well combined with the flexibility of the basis, allowing to cover a tile roof of any figure. But, of course, copper shingles, "is more expensive. Layer of silicon sand and bitumen self-adhesive on the inner surface of the shingles needed to ensure reliable fastening of the latter to the ground. In principle, shingles nailed to a continuous deck with galvanized nails - four or six, depending on the slope of the roof. Sand does not give the tiles stick to the wood in order to avoid internal stresses in the coating when the temperature "slip" base. A self-adhesive layer links the neighboring shingle shingle, and, over time, sunlight all Shingles are sintered with each other so that the roof is completely sealed. Metal Name "metal" is rather arbitrary: on the one hand, on top of this stuff is really reminiscent of natural tile, on the other - it is usually not small-pieces tiles, and solid shaped sheets of steel covered with a decorative and protective polymer layer. The service life of metal is due primarily to three factors: the quality of steel, the type of polymer coating and the quality of profiling (written guarantee of 5-15 years). Thickness of sheet metal manufacturers have asked, it usually makes 0,45-0,5 mm. More than a thin sheet (0.4 mm), according to experts, it is difficult to mount, it's too easy to bend, so is only suitable for small buildings. A thicker (from 0,55 mm and above) is more complicated profile without disturbing the geometry of the sheet. Steel must be covered first layer of zinc, which protects it from corrosion, and then passivating (binder) layer, and only then - protective and decorative polymer layer. The latter is of several types. The most popular in our coverage - Polyester (PE), polyester-based. Consumers are attracted to it, above all, low cost. Although it has other advantages: high color-and heat-resistance (withstands up to 120 C), good corrosion resistance. However, due to the small thickness (25-30 microns) polyester is not too strong, easily scratched. Its kind - mat polyester (REMA). He also made based on polyester, but not shiny, and most importantly - has a thickness of 35 microns. Therefore, it is stronger, though still not as much as pural (PU), whose thickness is 50 microns. Basis Purana - polyurethane additives polyamide. This coating is characterized by high resistance not only to mechanical wear, but also to corrosion, high temperature (+120 C), harmful urban "chemistry" and - most importantly - to the ultraviolet. The ability to quickly fade and deteriorate when heated to temperatures above +60 C makes another cover - plastisol (PVC) - not the best, especially for use in southern regions. > At the same time, the strength of the polymer layer on the basis of PVC and plasticizers highest - 200 microns, hence the highest resistance to damage and rust. Finally, another coating - PVF2 (PVDF), 80% consisting of polyvinyl fluoride and 20% acrylic. The contrary, it preserves the color better than any other material which, combined with good heat resistance (up to +110 C) can be used in hot climates. In addition, it shines beautifully and has a very wide range of colors - about 30 items, including fashionable metallic colors. For comparison: the Puranas, usually about 15 colors in polyester - about 12, the matte polyester - 6-7. But at the same PVF2 - the most expensive treatment, although its thickness - 25-27 mm, so it's not too durable. Externally, metal of various grades differ primarily the geometry of the page (profile). The most common image - tiled, but the wave height is different, and besides, there are sections with symmetrical and asymmetrical wave relative to the longitudinal axis. Profile not only determines the design of the material, but also gives the stiffening plate to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction. Qualitative profiling - a pledge longevity of the roof, its main signs are: precise observance of the geometry of the sheet, the thickness of steel at the bends is the same as on the flat sections, no damage of the polymer layer, the presence of a capillary groove, etc. Metal is suitable for roofs with a slope of 12 - 14 degrees and simple geometry. Can I hide it difficult roof? Of course, because it is easy to cut, and the towers or cones can be made of the same material (steel plus polymer), only unprofiled. However, in the case of a complex roof will be a lot of waste so that its cost will increase substantially. The apparent advantage of metal roofing is lightweight. Weight per square meter steel sheet is usually - 4-4,5 kg. Therefore, the solid crate is not needed, enough strips with a pitch corresponding to the profile of metal. Crate itself is usually made of wood, but not so long ago, came into use perforated metal plates, the holes which provide ventilation of the roof. Attached sheets with special self-tapping screws with EPDM gaskets. Quality screw - another long-lasting condition of the roof. It must be galvanized, and its seal - weather-resistant. Argued that the metal is very noisy in the rain, thunder in the wind. Specialists, however, insisted that the "fault" for this lies not in the material itself, but on the wrong hosted "roofing cake": when the thickness of the insulation, which is required on SNIP, no audible noise will not.