How to install soft tiles
A reliable roof is one of the basic requirements for a house. Installation of soft tiles in compliance with all technological rules will solve this problem in the best way.
Advantages of using soft tiles
This choice is based on the following factors:
- democratic cost;
- attractive appearance;
- low material weight;
- resistance to low temperatures;
- the color does not change (does not fade) over time;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- resistance to gusts of wind;
- heat resistance.
Preparatory work
Coating the roof with bitumen shingles should begin with preparatory work. They include the following items:
- vapor barrier;
- thermal insulation;
- waterproofing;
- preparation of the basis.
Vapor barrier
The vapor barrier film is installed from the inside of the roof - from the attic side. The presence of an insulating material prevents moisture from entering the roof structural elements from inside the house.
Fasteners are performed with a stapler, nails, and at the ends - with wooden strips. There must be a good overlap between individual panels - at least 0.1 m.
When straightening the film, you must not make any efforts and pull it, the fit should be free.
Thermal insulation and waterproofing
When installing the roof, insulation must be included. For this, the roof rafters are supplemented with transverse strips. And the thermal insulation material is laid.
The roof waterproofing carpet is placed in the next layer. It is necessary to prevent moisture, wind and cold outside from entering. Special waterproofing is needed, giving sufficient tightness.
Ventilation of shingle roofing is done by organizing a gap for moisture removal.
Installation of the base
A reliable base must go under the shingles:
- OSB boards;
- boards;
- plywood (moisture resistant).
Plywood sheets should be positioned in such a way as to provide an emphasis on the rafters. It is recommended to use grooved or simply planed boards. They are placed with a small gap of ½ cm, covering 2 spans. The distance between adjacent boards is a prerequisite, since the tree tends to expand slightly with temperature changes and increased humidity.
Basic requirements for the installation of the base:
- reliability;
- rigidity;
- Smooth surface.
The roof structure for soft shingles must include a base that meets all of the listed requirements, based on the softness of the bitumen, which will eventually take the form of a sheathing.
Underlay and installation of eaves
After completing work with the base, proceed to laying the lining carpet. The best time for installation work involving soft tiles is summer. This is due to the characteristics of the material.
The installation of a roof made of bituminous tiles requires the installation of a lining carpet around the entire perimeter of structural elements:
- skate;
- valleys;
- cornice part;
- places of kinks.
When working, the angle of inclination of the slopes plays a role. The carpet can only be fixed around the perimeter, or it can occupy the entire area. The lining can run in vertical (rolling from top to bottom) or horizontal (towards the ridge) stripes.
The estimated material consumption should take into account an overlap of 0.15 m and a fairly frequent fixation - every 0.2 m. The next stage is the processing of the joints.
To do this, you can use one of two options:
- bituminous mastic;
- sealant.
When the work with the carpet is finished, the eaves planks of soft tiles are installed. Its role is to prevent moisture from entering the sheathing surface. Metal curtain strips should be fitted with an overlap over the backing layer.
In cases where the use of the eaves plank is not possible, a strip of carpet material is folded under the edge of the sheathing and densely fixed with nails. A dripper for a bituminous roof is an important attribute, the careful installation of which cannot be neglected.
The end strips are used to fix the material along the ridge to drain water. Edges can be trimmed for best fit.
Ventilation, chimney, valleys
The outlet to the roof of the chimney and ventilation require separate processing, as well as the presence of a valley. There are several methods for processing the junction of the slope with pipes and dormers.
It can be one of the following materials:
- metal apron in the color of the tiles;
- valley carpet.
In this case, the pipe or walls of the dormer are pre-treated with a bituminous primer. In the process of installing soft tiles for the ventilation outlet, bitumen is cut and coated with mastic.
The chimney at the outlet to the outside can be covered with slats. A bituminous underlay is mounted, and all joints are treated with bituminous mastic. The roofing material should fit snugly against the base. Sizing is done using mastic.
The technology of laying soft tiles involves the installation of a valley carpet with a second layer overlying the main one. It is necessary in those places where water can collect - at the joints and in niches. Fixation is done with nails.
The valley is covered with an valley carpet. Its color must match the shade of the shingles. Mastic is also used for fixing. For the reliability of the fastener, the mastic should go in a layer of 0.1 m or slightly more. After that, special roofing nails are used.
Installation of soft tiles: the main stage
Laying shingles should be done after the markings have been completed. Vertical lines are drawn along the edges, from top to bottom. For this, chalk and a level are used. After that, strips are drawn at right angles 0.25 m from each other.
After marking, the installation of soft tiles begins. Laying direction - from bottom to top. The distance from the bottom of the slope should be a couple of centimeters. Laying the first row sets the direction.
Directly the very first row can be performed in one of the following ways:
- cornice tiles;
- using ordinary shingles with cut petals.
Fastening of bitumen shingles of the first row is carried out with nails. If the installation is carried out in the cold season, the use of a building hair dryer at this stage should be mandatory. The next row is laid in accordance with the preliminary marking.
Self-adhesive shingles have a protective film that is removed right before application. If the bitumen does not have a self-adhesive surface, bitumen mastic should be used for gluing. Additional fixation is provided with wide-headed nails. The nails should be driven in at an angle of 90º in relation to the surface of the roof slope up to the head itself. In this case, the nodes of the soft roof will receive a reliable fixation.
Each subsequent row should lie on the slope with a shift so that the petals of the upper row overlap the gap between the petals of the lower one.
Laying skates
The device of the ridge of the soft roof is performed with special elements, after the shingles are laid to the very top edge of the roof. Ridge tiles are cornice elements that are divided into 3 parts. They are laid at an angle of 90º to the ridge itself.Each element overlaps the previous one by about 5 cm and is fastened with nails.
For additional ventilation an aerator can be mounted on the ridge. Its fastening takes place with long nails. Top - tiled covering.
Useful Tips
In order to avoid common mistakes in the process of installing bitumen tiles, it is recommended to use the recommendations of specialists:
- All wooden elements of the roof must be treated with a special agent to prevent deterioration and the spread of mold.
- It is recommended to choose galvanized nails for outdoor use.
- Slats for shingles with rafters form cells that are filled with thermal insulation materials.
- It is better to use shingles alternately from different packages, since their shade may differ. And with this approach to editing, some difference in tone will not be conspicuous.
- Along the gables, bitumen should be cut and coated with bitumen mastic.
Elements of a soft roof tile are easy to install, subject to technology and the use of quality material. In addition to high-quality installation, such a roof requires antiseptic treatment every 5 years, and a preventive inspection of the ventilation system.