The number of fans of soft roofing is growing like a snowball. And this is not surprising - just remember the visual appeal and operational advantages of one of the most modern coatings. But there could be even more supporters of flexible roofing materials if they knew that installation can be completed without the involvement of a team of roofers. Today we will try to fill this gap and share not only construction technology, but also the secrets of experienced craftsmen.

Soft roof structure

Before talking about the design of a roof with a soft roof covering, I would like to briefly mention the features of this unique material. In essence, it is a modified roofing felt. But the basis of flexible tiles (in the future we will call them shingles) is not banal cardboard, but stronger and more durable fiberglass or polyester fabric. Improvements also affected impregnation. Waterproofing of soft tiles is provided by a modified polymer-bitumen composition, thanks to which the critical temperature points have been shifted to higher values.

The multilayer structure makes the soft roof durable and absolutely waterproof

Basalt or slate chips are applied on top of the flexible tiles - it not only determines the design of the coating, but also makes it more resistant to mechanical stress, ultraviolet radiation and others external factors. The bottom of the tiles are covered adhesive layer, which is covered with a protective film. In some cases, a fine mineral coating is applied to the lower surface - then the adhesive part is a wide strip in the upper part of the shingles.

Roofing pie design

The multilayer structure makes flexible tiles not only strong, but also durable - some manufacturers provide a guarantee for their products for up to 25 years. As a rule, soft roofing materials easily overcome this threshold. Of course, we are talking about those cases where the base of the soft roof corresponds accepted standards, and the material is laid strictly according to the prescribed technology.

Studying the structure of roofs covered with bitumen shingles, we will immediately divide them into two types:

• cold,
• warm.

The first ones are built for cold attics. Many websites and print publications sin by pointing out the inappropriateness of installing simplified roofing pies for residential buildings. Like, if a house is intended for year-round use, then its roof must be warm. This statement is fundamentally incorrect - most of the private houses of the old housing stock were cold. Moreover, a cold roof has its advantages. And the most significant of them is durability. In winter, ice practically does not form on such a roof, which, as is known, is one of the worst enemies flexible tiles. In addition, the simplest roofing pie is perfectly ventilated, which means that the wooden frame will always be dry. As for energy efficiency, for thermal insulation you will only need to insulate attic floor. As you yourself understand, its area will in any case be smaller than that of the roof.

Using cold roof on a residential building it is necessary to insulate the attic floor, the area of ​​which is noticeably smaller than that of roofing structure

So the structure roofing pie for cold roofs includes:

• step (sparse) lathing made of wooden beams or steel profile pipes;
• solid flooring (made of plywood, OSB or shag boards);
• insulating lining;
• bitumen coating.

Roofers working as part of professional teams often recommend installing a super-diffusion membrane under the underlayment, arguing for higher security. wooden base from moisture. This is a rather controversial statement, which I personally cannot call anything other than wastefulness. A regular waterproof lining leaves virtually no chance of the wooden frame getting wet due to snow or rain. Such actions on the part of specialists can only be explained by the desire to earn a certain amount for an operation that requires minimal labor costs. As for a warm roof, in this case the installation of moisture-resistant coatings is mandatory due to the use of thermal insulation.

A warm roofing pie allows you to use any type of roofing for year-round use. attic space

To insulate the attic, fibrous materials are most often used, which, when wet, can lose most of their unique abilities - this is what needs to be protected. From below - from moist air, and from above - from leaks. In this case, the roofing pie should have the following structure:

• slats for mounting cladding panels;
• vapor barrier waterproof film;
• thermal insulation layer;
• waterproofing windproof vapor-proof membrane;
• counterbeam;
• sparse sheathing;
• continuous flooring;
• underlay base;
• flexible bitumen coating.

You may argue that the slats installed from the attic side have nothing to do with the roofing pie, and you will be absolutely right. However, we still indicated them due to the fact that in our case they also act as fasteners for the lower layer of vapor barrier.

Video: correct installation of a roofing pie is easy

Technology of laying roofs from soft tiles

A roof covering made of soft bitumen tiles is similar to tile only visually. Not only the installation technology differs, but also performance characteristics, service life, maintenance and repair procedures. And although the work on constructing a roof made of flexible tiles cannot be called too complicated, you will have to carefully follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. It is best to divide the construction process into several stages:

1. Purchase of materials and preparation of tools.
2. Preparatory work.
3. Laying insulating materials.
4. Arrangement of counter-lattice and sheathing.
5. Construction of a solid foundation.
6. Laying the top layers of the roof.
7. Installation of additional elements and arrangement of passages.

By organizing your working time in this way, you will not only minimize the number possible errors, but you will also be able to make the most informed decisions about attracting outside help.

How to calculate how much and what materials you will need

The first thing you need to do when starting mathematical calculations is to compose detailed drawing roofing or create at least a basic sketch indicating the exact dimensions and features of each slope. The calculation itself includes determining the geometric dimensions and number of main parts of the structure:

• additional elements;
• valley carpet;
• lining layer;
• ventilated ridge or roof aerators;
• timber for step lathing and counter lathing;
• boardwalk;
• soft covering.

It must be said that the accuracy of the calculations affects not only the cost of the roof, but also the timing of the work. For this reason, we will understand the features of calculating all components of the roof in as much detail as possible.

Additional moldings

To finish and protect various parts of a soft roof, several types of extensions are used:

The presented additional moldings are produced in the form of planks standard length 2 m. However, in order to determine the number of certain slats, the length of the area in need of protection should be divided by 1.9 or 1.85. This is due to the fact that aprons and strips are not mounted end-to-end, but with an overlap of 10–15 cm wide.

If the roof structure includes grooves and junctions with vertical surfaces, then their waterproofing is ensured by a special valley carpet. Manufacturers produce it in the form of 1×10 m rolls, presenting several to choose from color solutions to match the tiled covering.

Picking up valley carpet in terms of color, it is not at all necessary to get the exact color - a slight desynchronization of tones will be a plus, making an ordinary roof extremely stylish and expressive

When calculating the total length of the carpet, you should make a 20-centimeter reserve for each valley - it will be needed for correct installation the bottom of the joints.

The lining layer is installed both over the entire area of ​​each slope, and partially - it all depends on the steepness of the surface. If the roof slope is more than 1:3 (18 degrees), then only areas susceptible to leaks are protected with a roofing carpet:

• internal corners of junctions of adjacent slopes;
• ridge part;
• ribs;
• areas with clivus fractures;
• edges at gables and cornices;
• ventilation outlets.

When laying the insulating carpet, it is necessary to make an overlap of 10–15 cm. For this reason, its calculated quadrature should be 1.1 - 1.15 times greater than the total area of ​​the slopes. If the lining is partially installed, then the length of the strips of the roofing carpet corresponds to the length of the parts of the roof that are prone to leaks.

The underlayment can be laid both along and across the slope

The width of the lining for partial waterproofing should be 40–50 cm. An exception can be made only for ridges and external corners, reducing this value to 25 cm.

Ridge aeroelements

When calculating the number of ridge aerators, it is assumed that one element 1.2 m long is capable of providing ventilation for about 25 m 2 of the under-roof space. If point aeroelements are used, then the total area of ​​adjacent slopes should be divided by 5 - that is how many square meters of roofing pie are “served” by one such element.

The design of the ridge aerator allows for ventilation of the roofing pie on roofs of any configuration

Please note that point aero elements vary in height. Short ones are used on steep roof slopes, and long ones on flat surfaces.

Lumber for sheathing

For arranging the sheathing it is used wooden beam with a cross section of at least 40x40 mm, as well as a board with a thickness of 25 mm. The length of the counter beam is easiest to determine - it is equal to the length of the rafter legs. As for the sparse sheathing, the total length wooden elements determined based on standard width pitch for bitumen shingles - 37 cm for rafters located at a distance of 0.9 m from each other. Therefore, the length of the rafter leg in centimeters should be divided by 37 and multiplied by the width of the roof - this will be the required length of the beam that will be needed to sheath one slope.

Solid base

Sheets of plywood or OSB used to construct a solid base must be installed staggered, that is, with overlapping seams. For this reason, when determining the area of ​​the material, it is necessary to make an amendment:

When determining the amount of plywood or OSB in sheets, it is recommended to sketch their location on paper with the most dense laying - in this way it will be possible to avoid waste of material during installation.

Covering and roll materials

During the installation process, two types of tile shingles are used - ridge-eaves and ordinary. The first ones are produced in the form of packages designed for 12 linear meters. m of ridge and 20 linear. m cornice. When calculating the second, the same correction factors, as for a solid base (simple roofs 3–5%, combined roofs - up to 10%). To determine the number of sheets of flexible shingles, the total square footage of ordinary shingles is divided by the area of ​​one bitumen strip. One pack of soft tiles is usually designed for 3.5 m 2 of roofing - knowing this number, it will not be difficult to calculate how many packages you will need to buy.

Before installation, tile shingles from different packs must be mixed - this will eliminate the appearance of areas of the roof that are not uniform in color.

The amount of materials that will be needed for a warm roofing cake is calculated with the following tolerances:

• waterproofing and vapor barrier - at least 4%;
• roll thermal insulation - according to the area of ​​the slope;
• slab insulation - up to 4%.

It is easy to notice that the amount of roll and slab insulation practically does not depend on the complexity of the roof. This is due to the fact that such materials are easily joined together and do not affect the appearance of the structure.

What tools and supplies will be needed

In addition to roofing and wood materials During the work you will need the following equipment and tools:

• saw;
• hammer;
• scissors for cutting metal accessories;
• metal spatula for mastic;
• roofer's knife (differs from the usual one with a hook-shaped cutting part).

In addition, you should purchase regular nails, which will be needed for the construction of a wooden base, and special ones for attaching a soft roof. The latter are distinguished by a wider cap (diameter 8–10 mm) and have a length of 25–30 mm. Fasteners that are used in automatic pistols are also suitable - such hardware has a length of 40 mm. The number of nails is calculated based on the consumption of 4 pieces. per shingle or 500 grams per 10 m 2 of roofing.

For one-time use, it is not necessary to buy a special tool - you can get by with replaceable hook-shaped blades for a regular construction knife

During the installation of flexible tiles, you will need bitumen mastic intended for waterproofing building structures. Its volume can be determined by the area of ​​the roof - for every 10 m2 of coverage, up to 1 liter of liquid mixture will be required.

The price of bitumen mastic is affected by both the type of material (cold or hot application) and composition. The cheapest is bitumen-polymer waterproofing, while the most expensive is bitumen-polymer-aluminum coating. The latter is highly resistant to thermal aging and UV radiation. In our conditions, bitumen-rubber mastic will be sufficient - it has an average cost and has good installation and operational characteristics.

Preparatory work

The preparatory stage includes several steps:

• dismantling the old roof (if necessary);
• installation lathing frame;
• installation of thermal insulation and accompanying layers;
• construction of a solid foundation.

The installation of a warm roofing pie is carried out in the following sequence:

Table: determining the thickness of a solid base for a soft roof

Previously, we have already talked about the need to lay the slab material staggered. In addition, thermal gaps of about 5 mm should be left, otherwise in the summer heat sections of the roof will arch. Gaps of 70–80 mm are left on each side of the ridge to create effective ventilation roofing pie.

It should be noted that for a cold roof it is enough to build a sheathing and a boardwalk - the need for other elements disappears due to the maximum simplification of the design.

Video: how to build a solid base for bitumen shingles

Step-by-step instruction

The manufacturer provides for laying bitumen shingles at outdoor temperatures down to -15 °C. Since installation in cold period requires additional thermal equipment and the cost of heating materials, it is best to start work in the warm season, choosing days when the temperature rises above 20 °C. In this case, the bitumen component will be heated due to solar heat, which will allow for a strong connection of all layers of the roof.

Laying soft roofing can be carried out in winter period- the main thing is that the temperature does not drop below -15 degrees

In order to properly distribute time and energy, we suggest using step by step instructions on laying a soft roof on your own.

Formation of the lining carpet

Rolled materials made of fiberglass impregnated with a bitumen-polymer mixture are used as a substrate. Deny soft base not worth it - the lining is needed for additional leveling of the surface, waterproofing, insulation and sound absorption.
Strips of rolled waterproofing can be laid parallel or perpendicular to the horizon line - the main thing is to ensure an overlap of 10 cm along long side insulation and 15 cm at the joints.

From my own experience I can say that steep slopes It is best to lay the roof lining in a vertical direction. And not at all because in this case the likelihood of leaks during heavy rainfalls is reduced. The fact is that under the influence of gravity, the waterproofing panels sag, and folds form on the surface. In order to level them well and secure them correctly, additional time and effort is required - you cannot do this without assistants. As for flat slopes, here, of course, the horizontal method of fixation wins, as it is simpler and more reliable. It is only important to start working from the overhang and move towards the ridge. In this case, each subsequent strip of waterproofing will cover the edge of the previous one and water will not have a single chance to get under the upper layers of the roofing pie.

Partial laying of the underlayment is only possible on roofs with steep slopes

When deciding to partially lay the underlayment on steep slopes, you should ensure that the most important areas are protected. So, on both sides of the valley and at the edge of the slope (eaves line) the width bitumen waterproofing should be at least 50 cm, while for skates a strip of this size is divided in half.
To fix the lining layer, nails or fastening with construction staples are used in increments of 25 cm. In areas prone to leakage (valleys, abutments, etc.), the lining should be glued with a bituminous compound.

The manufacturer indicates a list of materials that are suitable for use as a bitumen base in the installation instructions for flexible tiles. Replacing them with available coatings such as roofing felt or polyethylene film is irrational due to their short service life, rapid thermal aging and other factors.

Installation of valley carpets and additional strips

When choosing a bitumen-polymer carpet for arranging valleys, they are guided by the color of the main coating. For decorative purposes, you can choose a material that differs in tone - this will emphasize the line of each valley and make the roof more expressive. Experts recommend covering the valley with a continuous panel 1 m wide, always gluing it with mastic to the board base. If you need to join two pieces, then the joint is located as close as possible to the peak of the roof. The overlap of the top sheet on the bottom sheet must be at least 20 cm with mandatory fixation using liquid bitumen waterproofing.

The valley carpet material is laid over the entire surface of the valley and glued to the base with mastic

To protect the edge of the sheathing from draining condensation and sedimentary moisture, a cornice and gable trim should be installed on top of the insulating carpet. To fix the planks, roofing nails are used, which are driven in in a zigzag pattern at intervals of 10–15 cm (at joints - up to 5 cm). It is necessary to maintain an overlap of adjacent additional elements of 3–5 cm, placing the edges of the planks along the contour of the cornice or end protrusion. It is advisable to attach the drip edges first - in this case, at the corners of the slopes they will be covered by gable strips.

The joints of the eaves and gable strips are overlapped and reinforced with roofing nails.

Before installing the cornice and end protection, it is recommended to frame the perimeter of the solid flooring with a batten with a cross-section of 20x40 mm. If there is an edge along the edges of the slope, then the waterproofing is installed on top of it and cut off behind the perimeter line. After this, additional elements are attached.

Laying cornice tiles

Applied to the lining horizontal lines The markings simplify installation and allow you to lay the tiles in even rows. It is best to form them using linen twine rubbed with chalk. The cord is pulled in the right place and released like a bowstring to leave a mark on the dark surface of the substrate.

For even laying of eaves tiles, it is necessary to apply chalk markings to the lining layer

Starter shingles are laid at a distance of 1 cm from the eaves line and secured with roofing nails. To prevent the tiles from coming off under strong wind loads, the fasteners are driven in at a distance of 25 mm from the edge. Each subsequent strip is laid end-to-end, and the joints are protected with bitumen mastic.

Installation of ordinary tiles

The main covering is installed in the direction from the center of the slope, placing the first row of shingles at a distance of 2–3 cm from the edge cornice strip. To fix soft tiles, it is enough to remove the protective film from the adhesive layer and press the shingles tightly to the substrate.

When laying the bottom tiles of ordinary tiles, make a small indentation from the edge of the eaves sheets

The final fastening is carried out with nails at four points - along the edges of the strip, as well as above the depressions between the inner petals. The top sheets are offset by 1 petal. Thanks to this, the same “tiled” texture appears, and in addition, the joints and places where the soft roof is fixed are closed.

The soft roof installation diagram provided by the manufacturer makes it easy to understand the nuances of the technology.

The tiles protruding beyond the edges of the slopes are cut off, after which the cut is treated with bitumen mastic.

Video: soft roof installation technology from the material manufacturer

Arrangement of the ridge and sealing of penetrations and junctions

Ventilation of the under-roof space is provided by aeroelements installed on top of the ridge. TO wooden frame they are secured with self-tapping screws or nails. After this, the ridge part is covered with flexible tiles. There are no special strips of soft bitumen coating for external corners - they can be made by cutting the eaves tiles. The petals cut along the perforation are placed across the ridge and secured with a nail at each edge. The next element is placed with a 5-centimeter overlap, and for additional sealing, the contact area is treated with bitumen mastic.

The ridge aero element must be covered with a layer of bitumen tiles, otherwise precipitation will quickly render it unusable

Places where pipes, cables and other communication elements pass through the roof slope must be closed with special passage units. They are attached directly to the base even before installing the underlayment.

Junctions to walls and chimneys require special attention, otherwise moisture flowing down the vertical surface will penetrate inside the roofing pie

During the installation process, the upper layers of the roof are placed over the penetration, impregnated with mastic and trimmed in place. In the same place where the slope comes into contact with the brick chimney or a wall, roofing materials are laid on the surface of a vertical structure. For additional protection a piece of valley carpet and a shaped metal apron (adjacent strip) are used.

Video: arrangement of a passage unit for a soft roof

Cost of asphalt shingle roofing

By doing all the work yourself, you can save a lot of money, because the total cost of the roof will consist only of the costs of necessary materials. Depending on the manufacturer, the price per square meter of budget and mid-level soft roofing varies between 800–1,500 rubles. If we talk about the premium segment, then certain types of flexible tiles are sold at prices up to 4,000 rubles. Of course, in this case there is no talk self-installation There is no question - anyone who can fork out for such expensive material will also find money for a professional team. The services of the latter, by the way, are not cheap - from 600 rubles per square meter finished coating.

As you can see, building a soft roof with your own hands is not at all difficult, which, however, does not exclude due care and following the technology developed by the manufacturer. If you do everything efficiently, the roof will delight you appearance and trouble-free operation for many years. Otherwise, it is better not to take on the work at all, otherwise the roof will constantly remind you of its existence with leaks and other unpleasant moments.

The Technonikol company has been producing soft roofing since the early 90s. The coating can be divided into several types: roll, polymer, tile.

It is a roofing material, thick paper is its basis. In production, it is impregnated with a bitumen composition with the addition of polymers, and sometimes fiberglass is used. You can find three types on the market:

1. RPP is used only as a lining under the base material. It is sprinkled with talcum powder on both sides and is light in weight.

2. RKK is also used as an additional layer of a full roof. To create greater strength, you should add a sand mixture. This is necessary due to its soft consistency and sensitivity to heat. Selected as waterproofing for walls, foundations or ceilings.

3. RKP coating is the strongest; it weighs more than other types, but it provides a good barrier to rain and snow. To protect against adverse factors, the upper part is treated with screenings or mineral chips. The bottom is sprinkled with talc so that the roll unwinds easily when laying. Advantages:

• simple installation;
• light weight;
• resistance to wet environments;
• long service life.

The pie made from RKP roofing felt is quite light and does not put pressure on the roof. If you have some skills, you can easily make such a roof with your own hands, especially on a flat surface. To lay the covering on a sloped surface, you cannot do without a partner.

The polymers and bitumen that make up roofing felt repel moisture well and protect against rain and snow. Underlay varieties can be used to waterproof foundations. This type does not decompose and is resistant to bacteria. If the work is carried out according to technology, then such flooring can last more than 10 years.

Polymer membranes

Bikrost is more perfect type, which is marked with letter combinations: HPP, EKP and others. The first letter stands for the following:

• If the base is fiberglass, then look for the designation with the letter X.
• Marking E means polymer - suitable as a lining.
• T is placed on a material with fiberglass. It may have perforation or be solid.

The second letter indicates the layer with which the top is covered. K is a granular or slate coating. Fine sand coating is marked with the letter M, polymer film - P.

The third letter will tell you what the lower layer of Bikrost consists of. M means fine-grained surface, which is sand; P – polymer. Some types of soft roofing require a self-adhesive base - C.

The main advantages are:

• great strength;
• long service life;
• excellent waterproofing;
• weather resistance;
• good flexibility;
• light weight.

Soft tiles

Produced under the Shinglas brand. It is presented in the form of fiberglass, which is covered with bitumen on both sides and sprinkled with basalt chips. They are painted using the ceramization method - heating up to 700 °C with the addition of pigments of inorganic origin. The color turns out to be very durable, it does not fade and does not change shade either under the influence of sunlight or frost. The color changes over time only due to the settling of dust or soot.

For production, modified bitumen is used, the characteristics of which differ from its conventional counterpart. Stone chips are applied to hot viscous bitumen, so it adheres to it better, and the material is also more flexible. Part of the fiberglass base is located vertically, this also improves quality. TechnoNIKOL provides a guarantee for its soft tiles from 10 to 60 years.

Advantages:

• high anti-corrosion properties;
• excellent sound insulation: while in the house, you will never hear the sound of rain;
• resistance to wind loads, since there is no windage at all;
• waterproof - does not require additional waterproofing.

Such tiles have proven themselves well in the harsh climate of Siberia, where there are frequent temperature changes and roofs are heavily loaded with snow.

How to properly install roll roofing

Installation is usually carried out using the fusing method. This process can be broken down into stages:

1. The surface must be thoroughly cleaned of old coating, debris and dirt. If there is moss and other vegetation, it must also be removed. If the flooring is planned to be laid on concrete plates, the sagging should be removed and the cracks covered. The plane is carefully protected from broken elements. After cleaning, the base is dried.

2. Apply bitumen or mastic to a dry and clean surface. These materials provide an additional waterproofing layer.

3. If the roof does not have insulation, then put insulation - mineral wool or polystyrene foam. The latter is installed in two layers with an overlap at the joints.

4. Make a cement screed or lay another row of roofing felt. Then the plane is covered with bitumen again.

5. Now lay it down finishing layer. The roll is rolled out in the direction of the installation line. The material is trimmed with a margin; its size will depend on the presence of elements that need to be skipped. The roofing material is rolled into the middle of the roof. Take the following tools: a knife, a burner, a special roller and a holder. Further work is carried out with a gas burner. The gasoline analogue is not suitable in this case, as the likelihood of damage will increase. Construction knife cut roofing material in problem areas. As a holder, you can take a small metal rod, which will be convenient for unwinding the roll. The roller is necessary to ensure compaction.

6. Use a burner to heat the lower part of the soft roof. It will be necessary to warm up the substrate to achieve better adhesion to the base. Simultaneously with the heating process, the roll is gradually unrolled and compacted with a roller.

7. Each subsequent layer is laid with an overlap. One of the sides is made without bedding - it is always placed inside.

After installing the first layer, you should wait until it cools down and then proceed to laying the next layer.

Installation of Shinglas soft tiles

The technology involves the use of:

• special roofing nails;
• mastic;
• metal roof elements: cornices, various strips;
• polyester-based valley layer;
• linings;
• ventilation parts.

Tiles are consumed depending on the type of cutting, the amount of waste reaches 6-17%. Typically it takes about 85g of nails.

1. Preparatory work.

The Shinglas installation technology requires lathing. To make it, plank or plywood flooring is installed on the rafters. The latter is placed in a run-up to avoid connecting all the vertices in one place. The boards are mounted with a gap of 5 mm. The material must be thoroughly dried. Before the beginning next stage all wooden parts are treated with compounds that will prevent them from rotting and provide protection from fire.

2. Roof ventilation.

Air should circulate normally in the gap between the waterproofing and the sheathing. This is ensured by the gaps under the eaves, which are later covered with soffits. The size of the channel depends on the inclination - the smaller the angle, the larger the holes.

3. Preparing the roof deck.

The tiles are laid only after the junctions are made and the strips are installed, and the drip edge is mounted on the cornice. The instructions say that to install Shinglas it is necessary to prepare waterproofing. It is used as a lining layer, adhesive fabric, bitumen and nails. If the roof has a slope at an angle of 11°-18°, self-adhesive material is placed on the eaves and valleys. If this is not possible, then cut pieces of flexible tiles are laid with an overlap of at least 30 cm.

With a slope of more than 18°, install only in areas with a high risk of leaks. These include:

• valleys;
• cornices;
• ventilation outlets.

The cornice strips are installed on top of the lining and nailed with nails at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. End products are placed similarly.

4. Installation of Shinglas.

Each element is attached to the base with four to six nails. It is necessary to drive them at right angles. According to the technology, laying begins with filling the starting line. For its installation, products with cut petals or ridge-eaves material are used. Then install the bottom strip of tiles, starting from the middle. If the slope is short, you can start from the corner. It is important that the junction of the bottom strip does not fall on the junction of the starting line components.

Shinglas is mounted according to the following schemes - a vertical strip or diagonal lines in the form of a pyramid. The next row is laid, moving the products by half the petal of the previous row. The bottom edge of the top shingle tab should rest on the top edge of the bottom line tile. Each subsequent row is shifted to the same side by half the element. For strong fixation, the outer tiles are coated with bitumen mastic on the back.

The price of installing a soft roof from the Technonikol company

The cost depends on many factors, the main ones being:

1. type of material;
2. laying technology;
3. Availability additional work: installation of screed, waterproofing layer, dismantling of the old coating.

The appearance of soft tile roofing materials on the market has significantly simplified the process of covering roofs complex configuration. This is the only high-quality material that has flexibility and plasticity; it can be used to quickly and hermetically cover all types of roofs, including domed ones. At the same time, the amount of unproductive waste is minimal, which cannot be said about other roofing materials. The service life of some types of flexible tiles reaches fifty years, however, such material in cost is not much different from piece coverings in the elite segment.

The reliability and durability of a roof equally depend on several factors.

1. Technical characteristics of soft tiles. You should pay attention not only to the appearance; this parameter only affects the appearance of the building and has nothing to do with the durability of operation. Buyers should find out what base was used by the manufacturers, what type chemical composition bitumen and what is its thickness. Bitumen must be modified to increase protection from ultraviolet rays, increase ductility at sub-zero temperatures and resistance to mechanical loads. The base must be chosen the strongest of the polymer fibers.

   

2. The quality of the rafter system. If the structure is wobbly, has uneven surfaces, the load-bearing units do not respond maximum loads, then the roof will not be airtight. Over time, due to numerous vibrations, mechanical damage or peeling will appear. This applies to all roofing materials, not just soft tiles.

   

3. Professionalism of roofers. No matter how high-quality the roofing material is, the inept actions of the builders neutralize all its advantages. Builders must not only have an excellent knowledge of theory, but also have a great practical experience work. Inexperienced roofers can make their own decisions depending on the situation; it is impossible to foresee all problems in advance. In addition, responsible craftsmen will never deviate from the recommended technology in order to save time.

   

All roofing work on laying soft tiles consists of several stages, the high-quality implementation of each of them affects the reliability and durability of the roof.

Depending on the complexity of the rafter system and the purpose of the building, some steps can be skipped. The table provides the most complete list of construction measures for the most complex roofs.

Stage name	Composition and short description features
	Soft tiles require a solid base; it can be made of waterproof plywood, OSB boards or edged boards. In each case, an individual option is selected taking into account the complexity of the roofing system, the category of the building and the financial capabilities of the developers. You need to know that in some cases the cost of preparing the base and the price of the materials used for this may exceed the cost of soft tiles.
	The lining layer performs two functions: it serves as an additional waterproofing for the roof and increases the reliability of fixing the shingles of soft tiles. For the lining layer you need to buy special modern materials, installation is carried out from bottom to top or vertically with an overlap of about ten centimeters. If the angle of inclination of the slopes is small, then it is recommended to seal the joints with bitumen mastics.
	Valleys require increased attention; this is where the largest volume of water is concentrated and leaks most often occur. For arranging valleys, manufacturers produce special materials, which are fixed at the junction of two slopes. The same technology is also used when sealing junctions of chimneys, vertical brick architectural elements or various utilities. The materials used must have relatively high plasticity characteristics to compensate for linear vibrations of architectural structures made of various building materials.
	Installing soft tiles does not require much physical effort, but the work must be treated very carefully. Any violations of technology will certainly have Negative consequences, the elimination of which requires time and material losses. There are cases when repairing the roof of a house is more expensive than installing tiles: you have to restore the rafter system, eliminate the consequences of leaks in internal living spaces, etc.

Before starting installation work, you should prepare tools and draw up a preliminary action plan.

Recently, roofing made from bitumen shingles has gained great popularity among developers. This roof covering has an attractive appearance, not inferior in beauty to traditional tiles, long service life and high moisture resistance. Thanks to the self-adhesive layer on the back of the shingles, laying a soft roof with your own hands can be done even without professional experience. In this article we will tell you how to properly prepare the base, assemble the sheathing and lay flexible tiles.

Flexible tiles are tiles with a curved edge, made of fiberglass impregnated with modified petroleum bitumen. Laid overlapping, such a roof imitates a rarely used but aesthetically pleasing shingle covering made from wooden blocks. The fiberglass that is part of the bitumen shingles can be simple or reinforced polyester. The production technology of this material includes sprinkling front side armoring coating made of stone or basalt chips, giving color and rough texture to the roof. The advantages of flexible tiles are:

1. Durability. The service life of a soft roof based on fiberglass reinforced with polyester is more than 70 years, which fully pays for the cost of installing the roof.
2. Weather resistant. Soft tiles withstand exposure to atmospheric moisture, ultraviolet rays and other adverse environmental factors, maintaining performance.
3. Aesthetics. The variety of shapes and colors of the material opens up enormous opportunities for creating a harmonious, integral image of the house.
4. Flexibility. Flexible, elastic bitumen shingles are suitable for roofing complex shape with a large number of slopes, valleys and other decorative elements.

Important! The technology for laying bitumen shingles is distinguished by its simplicity, so it can be easily done even by a non-professional. Do-it-yourself soft roofing is an excellent solution for the roof of a private house, country cottage, gazebo or townhouse.

Features of working with the material

Before covering the roof soft roof, you need to make sure that a reliable foundation is prepared for the work. Also, the technology for installing a soft roof involves performing the work under certain weather conditions. If you do not follow the manufacturer's recommendations, you may encounter the following problems:

• If you lay shingles at temperatures environment less than 5-10 degrees, then the self-adhesive layer on the back of the tiles does not melt on its own. To melt bitumen you have to use gas burner or a hair dryer. However, this makes laying the tiles difficult and slow.
• If you lay flexible tiles at temperatures above 25 degrees, the self-adhesive bitumen layer will melt too much and flow down the slope. In addition, high temperatures lead to deformation of the roof.
• If you install the roof in damp weather or during rain, the rafter frame and sheathing acquire excess moisture, which negatively affects the service life of the tiles, leading to rotting.

Important! The material installation technology recommended by the manufacturers requires installation at a temperature of 5-15 degrees in dry weather. Most often, such conditions develop only in the summer. However, in winter, you can assemble the rafter frame for the roof and prepare the base for laying the roof covering.

Installation of sheathing

Before making a soft roof, you need to assemble a high-quality, durable sheathing. The technology for laying bitumen shingles involves the use of a continuous base, which imparts rigidity and mechanical strength to the soft roofing covering. The sheathing must ensure uniform distribution of the weight of the roof between the rafters, so it is created from 3 layers:

1. Counter-lattice. The counter-lattice for soft tiles is made of wooden blocks 3-4 cm thick. It is attached along the rafters of the frame on top of the waterproofing material. The task of the counter-lattice is to create ventilation gap between the rafters with roofing.
2. Sparse lathing. This base element for soft tiles is made from edged boards size 20x150 mm. The boards are nailed perpendicular to the counter-lattice at a distance of 30-50 cm.
3. Continuous sheathing. It is made of moisture-resistant plywood, OSB sheets or edged boards, laid solid with a gap of 1-3 mm, compensating for the thermal expansion of the material. To prevent damage to soft tiles, it is necessary to sand or sharpen the sheathing elements so that they are smooth.

Please note that to make sheathing for a soft roof, it is correct to use coniferous wood that has dried up to 20 percent. To prevent premature decay of wooden elements, they are treated with antiseptic drugs. If the structure has a high risk of fire, then the sheathing is impregnated with fire-retarding compounds.

Underlay carpet

Do-it-yourself soft roofing is laid on continuous sheathing made from particle board or moisture-resistant plywood. Placed on top of the base underlay carpet– lining made of moisture-resistant, resistant to mechanical damage bitumen material. The underlayment protects the roof from leaks, as well as from damage to the bitumen shingles due to irregularities in the sheathing. The coating installation technology recommends:

• If the roof slope is less than 15-18 degrees, lay a lining carpet on the entire surface of the slopes with an overlap of 15-20 cm, since water can be retained on it during the melting of large snow masses.
• If the angle of inclination of the slopes is more than 20 degrees, the lining carpet can be laid only in places that are particularly vulnerable to leaks, where water can accumulate or stagnate. Additional waterproofing protects valleys and slope joints with vertical surfaces, skate
• Do not use ordinary roofing felt as a lining. The low price does not compensate poor quality, fragility and short service life of this material.

Experienced craftsmen advise using the material recommended by the manufacturer as an underlayment, since it is guaranteed to be compatible with the selected bituminous shingles.

Laying

Installation of a soft roof with your own hands is carried out in dry, windless weather at a temperature of 5-15 degrees. If the material is laid on an old rafter frame, then it is necessary to check the condition of the wood and then replace rotten or deformed elements. Installation is carried out in the following order:

1. First the ramp is marked horizontal stripes, marking the location of the rows of soft roofing using white chalk.
2. It is correct to start laying the material from the bottom of the slope, using the starting strip. Fix the roofing with nails or a self-adhesive layer. If the tiles are self-adhesive, then to glue them it is enough to remove the protective film and then press it tightly to the base of the roof.
3. If nails are used to fix the coating, they must be placed no closer than 2.5 cm from the edge, and must be driven flush with the surface of the material.
4. The second row begins to be laid on the left side of the slope using tiles, from which 143 mm are cut off from the left edge, thus shifting the pattern of the bitumen shingles diagonally.
5. To start, cut off a fragment 286 mm long from the left edge of the third row of tiles in order to also shift the coating pattern in the diagonal direction.
6. After completion, decorate the skate using ridge element, joints with vertical surfaces and valleys.

Note! In order for a roof made of soft tiles to function correctly, it is necessary to equip a ventilation system to avoid the “greenhouse effect” and rotting rafter frame designs.

Video instruction

The services of professional roofers are quite expensive, so if the budget for building a private house or garage is limited, it is worth saving by doing the roof installation yourself. Of course, this work is not easy and very responsible, but if you prepare well, read the instructions, and carefully watch the video lessons, then any craftsman who knows how to hold a hammer in his hand can handle the installation.

Private construction today is quite widely developed. Many take on self-construction extensions, drywall and even cottages. To cover the roofs of private buildings, most people choose soft roofing. After all, this material is very convenient to work with.

The material is light enough to be used on roofs different forms, and the coating is reliable and durable. In addition, the soft roof is quite “quiet”; during rain and even hail, it does not create much noise.

What is a soft roof?

Modern soft roofing is a covering based on biologically inert non-woven materials, coated on both sides with modified bitumen. The basis of a soft roof can be fiberglass, polyester or fiberglass.

Modified bitumen is highly resistant to temperature influences and elastic. In addition, the material has a mineral coating on top, which gives it greater strength and eliminates the risk of the material gluing before installation.

This type of roofing can be used to cover roofs of any configuration. Due to its high elasticity, the coating can also be used on such complex roofs as domed or cross-shaped. In practice, two types of materials are classified as soft roofing:

• Roll materials. These materials include the well-known roofing material and its more modern analogues.
• Piece materials - soft or bitumen tiles.

Advice! Roll materials are used on flat roofs, piece materials are used on pitched roofs. The fact is that installing flexible tiles on a flat base will lead to its rapid destruction, that is, the created coating will not last long.

Tool preparation

The work of creating a soft roof can be carried out by one person, however, it will, of course, be more convenient to work with an assistant. To perform installation you will need to prepare:

• To mark, use a tape measure, coated cord for beating, and a pencil.
• To cut the material - a roofing knife and a thick board.
• For fastening - a hammer, roofing nails, a construction hair dryer (for bitumen shingles), a gas burner and a rolling roller (for rolled materials).
• For sealing - mastic, brush or roller, spatula.

Preparatory stage

In order for a soft roof to serve for a long time, it is necessary to properly prepare the base for its installation. It should be as smooth and dry as possible. As a rule, OSB sheets or moisture-resistant plywood are used to make roofing flooring. You can also use a tongue and groove board.

Advice! It is important that the boards used to create the flooring are well dried. The maximum permissible humidity level is 20%.

In progress preparatory work carry out the following operations:

• After installing the flooring, it is necessary to take measurements to check the geometry of the structure. It will be necessary to measure and compare the length, width, diagonal length, as well as the level of the plane of the completed flooring.
• Eaves overhangs are strengthened by installing metal strips. They are installed along the edge of the cornice and nailed. The distance between two adjacent hardware is 10 cm; they need to be placed in a checkerboard pattern.
• Similar strips must be installed along the gable parts of the canopy. In both cases, the planks are installed with an overlap, the minimum width of which is 3 cm.

• Next, additional waterproofing of the roof is carried out by laying an under-roof carpet. On flat roofs, a continuous covering is made by laying the material with an overlap and coating the joints with mastic. On pitched roofs the material is laid in the valleys (the width of the under-roof carpet in this place is 50 cm in each direction from the center of the corner), on the eaves and in places adjacent to any vertical elements located on the roof.

Laying the material

Upon completion of the preparatory stage, you can begin installing the roof.

Installation of bituminous shingles

Installation is carried out in three stages:

• Laying the first or cornice row;
• Laying row tiles to the top of the roof;
• Installation of ridge sheets.

To form the first row and design the roof ridge, ridge-eaves tile elements are used. They differ from ordinary shingles in the absence of “petals”.

Advice! The ridge-eaves elements of the tiles do not have to be purchased separately; they can be easily made from ordinary tiles by cutting off the petals.

• Before installing the shingles in place, you need to carefully peel off the protective film from the bottom of the element.
• The first row is laid out in parallel cornice strip, retreating 1.5 cm from the edge. Each shingle is secured at the corners with 4 nails.
• The next row is laid at a distance of 1.5 cm from the first laid strip.

Advice! When laying shingles on a roof with a pitch less than 45 degrees, each shingle is secured with 4 nails. On steeper slopes, use 6 nails per shingle.

• When the gable overhang of the roof is reached, the shingles are trimmed at a distance of 1 cm to the edge of the installed end strip. The edge of the tile is coated with mastic to a width of at least 10 cm.
• The last row of tiles is laid so that it extends slightly onto the ridge board. Then they begin to install the ridge shingles, installing the elements with an overlap and securing them with nails.

Laying of roll materials

Installation work in this case is carried out somewhat differently. The work is carried out like this:

• Before installation, the rolled material must be unrolled, cut into strips of the required length and left unrolled for 24 hours. If there is nowhere to store the unrolled material, then it is possible to rewind the roll of material on reverse side. The material should be rewound one day before installation.
• The material is laid in 2 or even 3 layers. The number of layers depends on the slope of the roof and the amount of rainfall in the region.
• Cheaper lining material is laid as the first layer, and material with coarse-grained topping is placed on top.
• When laying each subsequent layer roll material indent half the width of the sheet. This is necessary so that the joints between individual strips do not coincide in different rows.
• Fusing of the material is carried out by heating the lower part of the material rolled into a roll. A protective film on the material serves as an indicator of the degree of heating. If the film burns, you should stop heating and start rolling out the material and rolling it with a roller.

When planning to install a soft roof yourself, you should not only carefully study the test installation instructions, but also watch video tutorials in which experienced craftsmen share their experience and secrets of their craft. This approach will allow you to prepare well and complete the work without errors.