Soft roof competent choice of the type of material. The choice of soft roofing. Here are the main ones

Excellent performance, beautiful appearance, affordable price - all this is modern roofing material soft roof. Consider the most popular types of coatings on the market and find out how to choose a good and reliable coating.

The main advantage of a soft roof is its ability to “cover” pitched roofs of any complexity, even structures with decorative domes and onions, with minimal waste. In addition, the coating has proven itself in various climatic conditions and can be used in the northern regions. But how to choose a soft roof? Let's try to understand the issue.

A bit of history

Soft roofing is a consequence of the modification of materials such as glassine and roofing material. It was these well-known bituminous coatings that became the "progenitors" of a new innovative material.

Manufacturers improved the bituminous binder, namely, the cardboard was replaced with a new, durable and completely non-rotting base. To improve performance, the surface was coated with armoring powders. In the 60s, European soft roofing became a separate high-strength roofing material. In Russia, it appeared much later in the 90s. The coating immediately gained popularity and is widely used both in the northwestern regions and in the south.

The structure of the soft roof

Before you start choosing a soft roof, let's figure out what the material is. Externally, the coating is a small flat sheet with cutouts of a certain shape along one edge. At the heart of this material is a canvas of the finest glass threads, tightly pressed with an astringent composition into a single whole.

Important: the best soft roof is made exclusively from high-quality glass sheet.

The glass base is impregnated on both sides with bitumen, which is necessary to prevent moisture and water from entering under the roofing material. In this case, only modified bitumen, which is made with the addition of special polymer-type additives.

The front part of the roof is covered with stone granulate, most often manufacturers use basalt. The granulate is needed for two purposes. The first is the protection of a soft roof from ultraviolet radiation. The second is to give the coating a certain color. The bottom layer is a self-adhesive base that is mounted to the roof sheathing.

Important: when transporting soft roofing, this self-adhesive layer must be covered with a film to avoid damage during transportation of the coating or unloading.

Comparative characteristics of soft roofs from leading manufacturers

What is the best soft roof? A question of concern to all potential buyers. Today, manufacturers offer coatings of different shapes and colors. The leaders of the construction industry are three companies - the American brand CertainTeed, the Italian company TEGOLA and the Russian manufacturer Shinglas.

The manufacturer has been on the market of soft roofs for many years and over the past 10 years it has unconditionally held the palm in this area. The reasons are easily explained - the highest quality and rich variety of products.

Key Benefits of CertainTeed Soft Roofing

The coating has the highest strength - it is the best soft roof for a house located in an area with frequent hurricanes or strong winds.

Security. The coating is classified as a moderately flammable material that does not spread fire.

Highest thermal stability. The soft roof will withstand both severe frosts and heat up to +110 degrees.

Best sound absorbing performance.

Important: American shingles are named the "quietest" roofing on the market. It is worth choosing for those who do not want to listen to the sound of rain or hail.

The minimum size tolerance is 1.6 mm. For example, for other manufacturers, this figure can reach 6.4 mm.

Unique design. The shape of the petals is patented and belongs exclusively to the brand. Each flower is painted in a certain shade, which creates a unique color rendition.

Flexible tile Tegola

Tegola roofing is the finest honey coated soft tile on the market. The concern's products are economical in price, safe to use and reliable. The fiberglass used in the production of tiles is environmentally friendly and heavy-duty. The full production technology is kept secret and unknown to the public. It is thanks to this approach that the manufacturer managed to achieve higher strength indicators higher than those of competitors.

Advantages of soft roof Tegola

Resistant to sudden temperature changes.

Durability. The bituminous layer is reliably protected by a copper coating applied not only on top, but also on the sides.

The tile does not lose color even after 10 years of use.

Ease of installation. The adhesive layer is securely mounted to the base of the crate and does not require the use of additional equipment.

The beauty. The material outwardly looks like a full-fledged natural copper roof and can confuse even an experienced professional. It only weighs much less than a metal tile and is much easier to install.

Important: since 2004, the Tegola concern has been operating in Russia. The opening of a factory for the production of flexible copper tiles had a positive impact on the pricing policy, and the coating became much more affordable for the Russian buyer.

Shinglas soft roof (Shinglas)

Shinglas is a good soft roof of reliable quality and diverse design.

The main advantages of coverage

Temperature resistant.

Color fastness due to the use of high-quality pigments.

The highest elasticity and strength, thanks to which the coating can be used on roofs of complex geometric shapes.

High thermal insulation characteristics.

Environmental friendliness. All materials used in production are safe for humans and environment.

Important: when laying Shinglas on a roof with a slope of up to 30 degrees, a waterproofing layer is required over the entire roof area.

Traditionally, slate and its derivatives made of galvanized metal were used to cover the roofs of private houses. Despite a lot of advantages, these materials are obsolete. They are being replaced modern analogues roofing material and flexible tiles, which are characterized by increased reliability and low cost, which is especially important in the realities of our country.

The device and features of a soft roof

Before proceeding to a detailed consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of a soft roof, you should understand its structure, as well as the features of the materials used. This will allow you to clearly imagine how and by what technology they are laid.

What is a soft roof

A soft roof is a collective concept of a roof structure, consisting of modern insulating materials and roofing coverings of various composition.

For the installation of a soft roof, various types of coatings can be used, differing both in composition and scope, and in laying technology. The choice of a specific material is determined by the area of the roof, its angle of inclination and the need to create a full-fledged heat-insulating cake.

When creating a soft roof, the following roofing coatings are used:

In private construction, when creating a soft roof, as a rule, bitumen-roll and bitumen-polymer coatings, as well as bituminous mastics, are used. Polymer membranes are used only in special cases. For example, when installing or repairing a flat roof of a garage or utility room, when it is necessary to insulate the roof, while creating minimal pressure on the roof structure.

Typical device diagram

The most popular material for soft roofing in individual construction is shingles. It is produced in the form of rectangular modules, which are called shingles. According to its structure, flexible tiles are similar to rolled materials, because the main component that provides its waterproofing properties is bitumen. Standard shingle consists of several layers.

Advantages and disadvantages of soft roofing

Soft roofing and materials used for its installation, like other types roofing, have several advantages and disadvantages that affect their performance. In addition, the shortcomings narrow the scope of their application.

Before laying bituminous tiles, the sheathing is covered with plywood or OSB sheets - this ensures a tighter fit of the roofing material

The advantages of a soft roof include:

service life - the average service life of soft roofs exceeds 20 years. Often the manufacturers themselves give a guarantee on the materials and the quality of the work performed. For example, the TechnoNIKOL Corporation provides a guarantee for polymer membranes for 7 years, and for bituminous tiles - from 20 to 50 years, depending on the series;
maintainability - damage and other flaws that occur during operation on a flat roof carpet are easily repaired by replacing the defective area. In case of shingles it is enough to replace only a few damaged shingles;
reliability - bitumen-roll coatings and soft tiles are highly resistant to precipitation, moisture, sudden temperature changes, the effects of fungi and microorganisms. Over the course of many years, soft roofing only gradually loses its original appearance;
ease of installation - unlike metal or composite roofing materials, bituminous roll coatings and soft tiles can be laid independently, without the involvement of specialists. Moreover, most branded manufacturers complete the material with detailed step-by-step installation instructions;
good sound insulation - soft roofing absorbs extraneous sounds and noises. Due to this, the sound of heavy rain or blows from falling hail practically does not penetrate inside the building. This is especially felt in houses where, when installing a soft roof, a full-fledged layer of thermal insulation was laid.

Among the significant disadvantages of a soft roof, one can note its low resistance to fire (class GP4 - highly combustible), due to the use of bitumen. Polymeric membranes are slightly less flammable and have a flammability class G3 - normally combustible. According to the spread of an open flame, both types of materials belong to the group RP1 - non-propagating flame.

The second significant drawback is the low degree of thermal insulation without the use of modern heaters. Therefore, the use of bitumen-roll coatings and PVC membranes without creating a full-fledged roofing pie is unjustified, especially if some kind of heating method is planned or already implemented in the house.

Soft roof structure

The most common variant found in private and suburban construction This is a gable roof. A roofing cake of this design, when laying flexible tiles, will have the following structure:

ventilation rail and lathing - the ventilation rail provides a gap between the lathing and the vapor barrier layer, which is necessary for free ventilation of the under-roofing space and the roofing pie. Due to this, excess moisture evaporates freely, without being absorbed into the heat-insulating material. The crate provides rigidity and strength of the base from the side of the attic;
roof truss system wooden beams coming from the roof ridge at a certain angle (>15 o). Rafters play the role of supports, evenly distributing the load exerted by the weight of roofing materials and thermal insulation;
vapor barrier - an insulating membrane that absorbs moisture. Necessary for the protection of hygroscopic thermal insulation materials. When moisture gets in, the membrane retains its excess. Due to ventilation, excess moisture evaporates, thereby keeping the insulation dry. The vapor barrier membrane is usually laid from the side of the attic;
When constructing a pitched soft roof, the vapor barrier is mounted from the side of the attic, and the waterproofing material is mounted on top of the thermal insulation layer.
thermal insulation - the most popular materials for warming soft roofs are modern heaters based on extruded polystyrene foam and mineral wool. The former are produced only in slabs with a thickness of 3 cm or more, the latter in slabs and rolls with a thickness of 5 and 10 cm. There is also a thinner mineral wool, but it is better not to use it because of its low efficiency. Both types of insulation can have different densities, which affect both the rigidity of the material and its thermal insulation qualities;
When constructing a soft roof on pitched roofs, a ventilation rail must be installed to ensure air flow into the under-roof space.
leveling material - moisture resistant plywood or OSB. Leveling material is needed to create a completely flat surface. This condition is mandatory when laying soft tiles. Otherwise, a sufficient level of insulation will not be achieved, which can lead to moisture ingress into the under-roof space;
lining carpet - lightweight and durable multi-layer material based on polyester. It is applied at laying of any soft tile. In some cases, it is even used as a temporary roof covering. Necessary for additional insulation of the roofing cake;
roofing - modern bitumen and bitumen-polymer materials. The cheapest and most affordable are roofing material, bikrost, rubemast, etc. The most expensive are various variations bituminous tiles and polymer membranes. The choice of material depends entirely on the capabilities of the owners of the house and the exterior of the building.

Types of soft roof

There are various approaches to classifying soft roofs, but we recommend using a conditional division into types depending on the roofing material. This is convenient and does not create additional confusion, as is the case with the consideration of the front surface of coatings or classification according to installation technology.

PVC membranes

Polyvinyl chloride soft roofing or PVC membrane is laid both on the prepared concrete floor slab and on top of the roofing cake. The membrane consists of polyvinylchloride homogeneous mass, special plasticizers, fillers and additives. The use of additional components provides the final material with increased strength and insulating qualities.

The PVC membrane consists of several layers, although it is almost impossible to determine this visually

In most cases, the membrane has a multilayer structure, consisting of at least three technological layers.

Flexible, textured PVC that guarantees high protection against moisture, UV rays, temperature extremes, etc.
Textile fabric made of polyester threads, acting as a reinforcing layer. Provides strength properties of the membrane.
Surface in dark gray PVC. Provides increased stability of the membrane on the rough base.

Membrane PVC coating is supplied in rolls with a length of 10 to 25 m. The width of the roll varies depending on the manufacturer, but products with a width of 2.05–2.10 m are most common. The thickness of the coating depends on the type of membrane, but not less than 1.2 mm.

The average service life of a PVC membrane is at least 30 years. At the same time, the first scheduled repair of the roof is carried out no earlier than in 15–20 years, provided that the roof is an unexploited object. Otherwise, the first repair may be required much earlier.

When laying the PVC membrane, special welding equipment is used.

The undeniable advantages of PVC membranes include:

strength and elasticity;
vapor permeability;
fire safety;
light weight;
high strength of the weld;
ease of installation.

Among the disadvantages, it is necessary to note the high cost compared to analogues from bitumen, as well as a limited scope. As mentioned earlier, the membrane can be laid on a pitched roof, but for this, the technology must be strictly observed, which requires work experience and the availability of special equipment.

As a matter of fact, PVC membrane is a highly specialized roof covering intended for creation of soft roofs on objects with a flat roof structure.

Soft rubber crumb roof

Rubber crumb is a recycling product of old tires and is used as a coating for footpaths, children's and sports grounds, as well as flat roofs. Average fraction size crumb rubber does not exceed 2–3 mm.

To create a soft roof from tire processing products, a bituminous base is used, to which polyurethane and thiokol mixed with crumb are added. The resulting bitumen-rubber mass is poured onto a pre-prepared base. The result is a homogeneous and seamless roofing carpet that fits snugly to the rough base.

Rubber crumb for soft roofing is obtained by recycling old car tires

Some manufacturers produce roofing with the addition of crumb rubber in the form of tiles 500 × 500 mm in size and 10 mm thick. Most often, they are a universal material and can be used both as a roofing material for exploited roofs, and for the construction of sidewalks and paths.

The advantages of a soft roof made of rubber crumb include:

high wear resistance;
anti-slip effect;
resistance to aggressive environment;
vapor permeability;
safety and environmental friendliness.

Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the laying technology and scope. The laying technology is specific, so it takes time to study and retrain when it comes to professional workers. In addition, without experience, laying the coating yourself is almost impossible.

The scope of soft rubber crumb roofing is also limited to flat roofs. When distributing a liquid composition, even on a surface with a slight slope, problems can already arise.

Flexible shingles

Bituminous shingles are a modern roofing material that overlaps during installation and is fixed on galvanized nails. The size of the shingle depends on the manufacturer and its shape. For example, flexible tiles "Jazz" from the corporation "TechnoNIKOL" have a total shingle size of 100 × 33.5 cm. Tiles under the trademark "Sonata" are somewhat smaller - 100 × 31.7 cm. It should be borne in mind that this is the full size. The visible size of the tiled petals is 12–15 cm smaller.

For the first time flexible shingles appeared in the USA more than 100 years ago. Currently, this type of roofing is the most popular in the construction of private houses. In Russia, bituminous tiles are not so popular due to a different economic situation, but its demand is growing every year.

Flexible shingles are one of the most popular roofing materials in Europe and the USA.

The advantages of flexible tiles include:

strength and reliability;
wear resistance;
relatively small weight;
good sound insulation;
high anti-corrosion properties;
quick and easy installation;
service life of at least 20 years.

Among the shortcomings, low frost resistance should be highlighted, which, with a sharp temperature drop and long negative temperatures, can lead to the formation of cracks, ruptures, delaminations and other deformations.

Unlike other bituminous roofing materials, shingles need periodic cleaning from debris, leaves, tree branches, etc. Like bituminous roll coatings, shingles have 3 and 4 combustibility groups, which corresponds to normal and highly combustible materials.

The high cost compared to rolled roofing and metal tiles is also a significant disadvantage. Therefore, if the task of installing a soft roof is to save as much as possible, then this roofing material will definitely not work. In this case, it is better to consider more traditional types of soft roofs.

Video: how to choose a flexible tile

Bituminous roll roofing

A soft roll roof is a flat or pitched roof, for which roll and waterproofing materials were used. The first group includes glassine, roofing material, rubemast, bikrost, linocrom, etc. The second group includes materials under the trademarks Technoelast, Westoplast, Uniflex, Ecoflex and others. The standard width of any of the listed coatings is 1 m with a roll length of 10 m or more.

Unlike other roofing materials, bituminous roll coatings are universal. In urban construction, they are most often used on roofs. multi-storey buildings and public institutions, and in private and suburban - for the installation of roofs for summer cottages and outbuildings, as well as garages with a flat and pitched roof.

Bituminous roll coatings - universal material for both flat and pitched roofs

The advantages of roll roofing materials include:

reliability and durability;
maintainability;
high soundproof qualities;
simple installation technology.

In fact, roll roofs have only two significant drawbacks. The first is a relatively low service life when using cheap coatings (roofing material, rubemast, glass isol), which does not exceed 10 years, and the second is an unattractive appearance. Some manufacturers produce materials with stone chips in red, green, blue and other bright colors to improve the aesthetic qualities of roll roofing.

Leading manufacturers of soft roofs

To review the leading manufacturers of roofing and insulation materials, we used the Yandex.Market platform, where, based on the user rating, we chose the best brands and positions. At the end of some sections below, 2-3 reviews will be given for the products of the companies in question. If necessary, you can always study other reviews on specialized portals on the Internet.

Materials for soft roofing from TechnoNIKOL Corporation

TechnoNIKOL Corporation is the largest among Russian manufacturers of roofing, sound, hydro and thermal insulation, as well as materials used in transport and road construction.

For soft roofing, TechnoNIKOL Corporation offers more than 7 types of roofing roll coatings and waterproofing materials, more than 10 positions among polymer membranes, as well as 5 brands of flexible bituminous tiles.

In addition, the company's line includes mastic compounds based on bitumen and polyurethane, which are among the best on the market in terms of price to quality ratio.

Flexible tiles from TechnoNIKOL have an excellent appearance and low cost, especially compared to European counterparts

In fact, the TechnoNIKOL company has proven itself only from the best side, although negative reviews can also be found on the Internet. I will not undertake to justify all the bad things said about the materials from TechnoNIKOL, but in personal practice I also encountered poor quality bitumen roll coatings. In 2015, I had to build a new country house on a personal plot. Wherein old dacha I did not demolish, but left it as a temporary warehouse for tools. In addition, there was a kitchen and a bedroom on the second floor. Unfortunately, over the long years of operation, the old roofing fell into disrepair, so it was decided to replace it with roofing material of the RKK-350 brand from TechnoNIKOL. The material is intended specifically for the top layer of the roofing cake and has shown itself only from the best side. The construction of a new country house was postponed until the next season, since it was not possible to build in the winter. In early spring, the roof was completely completed. As a temporary roofing (for 2-3 years), I chose the same RKK-350. Moreover, for six months its price has not changed much. 3 months after laying the coating inside the building, leaks were found on the ceiling, which is absolutely impossible, because the material was laid strictly according to the technology on a flat surface in compliance with the overlap. After inspection, several delaminations were found along the joint in different places. In addition, the dressing flew off the bituminous canvas even when touched. Two conclusions can be drawn from this. Firstly, due to their popularity, TechnoNIKOL products are faked, but I was just unlucky. I took material from local entrepreneurs. Secondly, the material from different batches can be very different - the company has many points of production, and it is not clear from which one the material will come across. The assumption that the quality of TechnoNIKOL products has become worse, I immediately cut off, since even the ratio of bad and good reviews on the Internet is incommensurable. If things were that bad, then people would have switched to using materials from other manufacturers a long time ago. There are enough of them now.

Fusion coated roll coatings from TechnoNIKOL are distinguished by their reliability and optimal price-to-quality ratio

To get acquainted with the materials of the TechnoNIKOL company used for the installation of soft roofs, below is a table that also indicates the price of products at the end of the first quarter of 2018.

Table: the cost of materials for soft roofing from the company "TechnoNIKOL"

Trademark	Size	Average cost (rub.)
PVC membranes
Ecoplast V-RP	per m 2	437
Logicroof V-SR		519
Logicroof NG		849
Bituminous roll coatings
Bikrost TKP	10×1 m	910
Bipol HKP	15×1 m	950
Linokrom Chamber of Commerce and Industry	15×1 m	1400
Uniflex EPP	10×1 m	1490
Technoelast EPP	10×1 m	2000
Flexible shingles
Finnish tile Accord	per m 2	260
Shinglas Ranch		295
Shinglas Quadrille		401
Shinglas Rumba		401
Shinglas Country		472
Shinglas Foxtrot		565

Reviews about the products of the company "TechnoNIKOL"

Today's review is about Shinglas shingles, and specifically about the Country collection. Pros: quiet, easy to install, long lasting. Virtually no waste. Cons: None found. What are tile sheets? This is a high-quality ruberoid sheet, on the front side covered with mineral chips of a certain color, and on the back with a sticky bituminous base. Color can be: brown, red, green, blue and gray. The different collection has and different shape tile petals. When installing, you should: 1. Take sheets from different packages to get a uniform pattern. 2. Use galvanized nails. 3. Do not drive nails too deep into the sheets. Installation is very simple, especially for gable roofs like mine.

Karp Zalivnoy
http://otzovik.com/review_3578574.html

Bikrost and similar materials are used quite often. Most of all, the material is applicable on new garages or when repairing old ones. We built a fast budget garage from reinforced concrete, sheathed everything with foam plastic, poured a screed over the floor slab and laid Bikrost. Fairly good coverage and most importantly, comfortable to use. We take 4 mm with obligatory topping, so it peels less. The roofs are mostly unused, so I can say for sure that 20-30 years are leaving. I don’t know how it is with 50 years, which they promise, but on many of our objects it has been more than 10 years since Bikrost was laid, and there are no leaks, no twisting of the material, no cracks anywhere. Probably, it also depends on what we try to do qualitatively. It is better to immediately spend half a day more on the same garage than to go who knows where later to glue or re-lay the strip. My plus material!

Nikolaev111
https://forum.derev-grad.ru/krovlya-v-derevyannom-dome-f7/bikrost-t1974.html

"Technomast" No. 21 - the coolest mastic. What I want to say is that for me this is the most reliable and excellent mastic. When it dries, it is very elastic, if you have movements in the structure being processed, it does not crack, but simply stretches, it is elastic in work, it can be a little thick, that is, you need to adapt to application, since the thinner the layer, the better it works. Russian rule the thicker the better doesn't work here. It is necessary to make a thin layer of waterproofing, wait for drying and repeat the procedure. You can not make a new layer on top of the wet one. Waterproofing will work only after drying. The surface must also be cleaned and dried. It should be borne in mind that it is this mastic that has a wide range of actions, that is, it can be used both for underground waterproofing and for roofing, since it has high heat resistance.

kristina-tn2017
https://otzovik.com/review_4339012.html

Video: master class on laying TechnoNIKOL shingles

Flexible shingles Katepal

Katepal- Finnish company, engaged in the production of soft bituminous tiles for more than 65 years. All Katepal materials are made from rubber-modified bitumen, which improves the flexibility of the coating and its service life by 2 times compared to tiles made from oxidized bitumen and other modifications.

The Finnish company uses stone granulate as the front layer of the tile, which protects the roofing from natural influences. At the same time, the granulate practically does not affect the stability and saturation of the applied dye. For coloring, a special proprietary pigment and technology are used, thanks to which stone chips are deeply pressed into the bitumen layer.

The Finnish company Katepal has been producing shingles for over 65 years - this ensures that their quality is time-tested.

Flexible tiles from Katepal are represented by the following trade series:

Ambient - stylization for the medieval era;
Foxy - tiles with diamond-shaped petals;
Rocky - a coating that resembles a shingle roof;
Katrili - stylization for volumetric and embossed pattern;
Jazzy - tiles with a smooth gradient on the petals;
3T - minimalism and restraint of Scandinavia;
KL is a classic version of hexagonal shingles.

Warranty period of roof tiles from any line presented above is at least 15 years. When using branded SuperBase underlayment on the area of the rough base, the warranty period increases to 25 years.

If we compare the most affordable flexible tile Katepal with the domestic counterpart from TechnoNIKOL, Finnish products are of better quality due to more refined production technology and a longer service life, but their cost is almost 2 times higher. TechnoNIKOL has a similarly priced line of the Classic series with the same warranty period, comparable performance and technical characteristics.

Katepal tile is a high quality roofing material produced according to European standards. You can safely recommend it for purchase if, for some reason, solutions from domestic manufacturers do not suit you.

Perfect waterproofing combined with simple installation distinguishes the class of soft roofing materials against the background of analogues made of ceramics and metal. Like the price. Fairly pleased with the weight, which facilitates the fate of independent carriers of the coating on the equipped roof. The flexibility that makes super-complex and sometimes fantastic projects come true is amazing.

Almost all types of soft roofs with varying degrees of activity are in demand in private construction. The scope depends on their structural specifics and composition. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the technical differences that determine the laying pattern and the prospect of use before purchasing the material.

The progenitor of the members of the family of soft roofing materials was rolled roofing felt, created by applying oxidized petroleum bitumen to a cardboard base. Both components did not suit builders with wear resistance. Under the onslaught of atmospheric precipitation, the cardboard swelled and collapsed, the bitumen cracked, unable to withstand frost. Weak resistance to the vagaries of the weather made me look for a path to perfection.

The outdated composition was modified with polymeric components. Polymers have improved strength, imparted elasticity, and given immunity to climatic adversities. The cardboard, which did not inspire confidence, was replaced with materials indifferent to decay: fiberglass, fiberglass, fiberglass, polyester cloth, corrugated copper or aluminum foil. Of course, the improvements have affected the cost, but along with it, they have significantly increased the service life of coatings that are constantly in contact with the harsh external environment. They repair and change a new soft roof 3-5 times less often than roofing material and roofing felt, due to which they save significantly.

As a result of hard work to improve specifications materials appeared that are structurally similar to the progenitor, but ahead of it in terms of aesthetic and operational indicators. If earlier rolled materials often served only as waterproofing, now they successfully combine the former function with finishing duties. They are still supplied in rolls. Produced by applying bitumen-polymer or improved bituminous compositions to a non-rotting base.

The surface is supplied with mineral dressing, and the back adhesive side is supplemented with a film that prevents the coils of the roll from sticking together during storage and transportation.

In addition to rolled products, the clan of modernized descendants of roofing material was replenished with new representatives:

Mastics and emulsions, produced in pasty and creamy consistency. This is not to say that these were completely unfamiliar options, but updates have been made. Previously, they played the role of coating waterproofing or a binder in a roofing cake. Now they can work as independent roofing. They are applied in 3 ways: spraying, spreading with a spatula or pouring. Lay in layers, alternating with reinforcing layers of fiberglass. As a result, a kind of rolled counterparts is obtained, which is constructed directly at the facility, and not on the production lines of the manufacturer. In fact, this is a bitumen, polymer or bitumen-polymer shell, which was obviously not applied to the base;
Polymer membranes supplied in traditional rolls. In the manufacture of membranes, the structural ruberoid principle is supported, but there are significant differences in composition. On both sides of the reinforcing mesh, a polymer component of PVC, TPO or EPDM is applied. The composition of the polymer shell determines the consumer qualities of the material and the layout of the coating;
Bitumen shingles, which is a roofing material cut into sheets. The same manufacturers that produce roofing materials in rolls are engaged in the production of flexible tiles. In addition to the tiles, shaped parts are produced that allow you to fully equip the roof of any size and shape. The piece material is characterized by less elasticity than the rolled tribesman, because. not designed to solve problems of similar scale. However, in private construction, it is he who enjoys quite reasonable popularity.

The listed types of soft roofing roofs allow you to cover with varying degrees of steepness. With the help of mastic and roll materials, predominantly flat and low-pitched structures are equipped. These can be the roofs of low-rise buildings in the style of techno or hi-tech, solid canopies over attached terraces, an extensive porch with powerful columns, a bay window, a veranda.

country houses in a classic, country or colonial style, they are more “friends” with bituminous tiles that imitate roofing ceramics, shingles and natural slate.

Overview of flexible roofing

The scope of soft roof varieties is closely related to technical features and laying method, information about which will ensure the competent selection of material.

View # 1 - rolled bituminous roofing

The new bitumen-polymer generation and materials with a modified bitumen composition can also be classified as bituminous roofing, because there are no significant differences in the field of their use. Yes, and they fit in the same way.

For fixing bitumen and bitumen-polymer rolled roofing to the base, 4 methods are used:

Gluing on hot mastic with a friendly bituminous or bitumen-rubber compound. A proven, but outdated method that requires expensive mechanization of the process for the preparation of a binder and the mandatory participation of a team of experienced performers. The roof is constructed in 4-5 mutually perpendicular layers;
Bonding on cold mastic type "Vishera", firmly adhering the coating to the primed base. The method is applicable only to materials up to 2.8 mm thick. The mastic is applied in an even layer not on the base, but on an attached piece of coating about 50 cm long or on the entire sheet. After fixing the strip in the intended place, its surface is carefully rubbed with a silicone roller to remove air and excess adhesive. At least two roofers are involved in the process: one applies the mastic and rolls out the roll, the other works with a roller from the middle of the attached sheet to the edges. And so on until the installation is completed;
Cold cladding. Produced by dissolving a thickened bituminous layer on the back of the material. The lower surface of the sheet intended for laying is treated with kerosene or white spirit. The solvent is also applied to a pre-prepared primed base. The strips are fastened as standard with an overlap on the sides of 10-12 cm and in the end joints of 15 cm. One performer can cope with laying this method, but he needs to act at a very frisky pace;
Fusion made by bonding a molten or heated back layer of material to a base pre-treated with bituminous mastic. The back side of the coating with a thickness of 2.2 to 5.0 mm is melted with gas burners, due to which part of the shell burns out and slightly loses in terms of wear resistance. In addition, the fire method is quite dangerous due to the threat of accidental fires. They heat up with more gentle infrared heating devices over the entire width of the sheet. Laying is carried out by at least two people. One gradually rolls and melts the surface of the sheet over the entire width, the second presses it with a silicone roller to the surface.

We deliberately did not indicate the method of fastening self-adhesive bitumen and bitumen-polymer rolls. It is applicable so far only to laying a thin insulating layer 1.2 mm thick, which is not a finishing coating.

Roll coatings are laid on flat roofs from the middle of the site, moving in both directions to the periphery. They are fused and glued onto pitched roofs, moving up from the underlying points along the slopes. If there are constructive depressions in the roof relief: valleys, internal drainage objects, etc., laying is carried out starting from them. Before work, barrier waterproofing is glued over the sections of the roof that experience the greatest load, these include grooves, the environment of communication passages, junctions, and edges of overhangs.

A day before fastening on a flat roof, the roll is unrolled and tried on. Before laying, fold to the middle with the back side up, if it will be covered flat design. If it settles down pitched roof, the roll of material should be at the bottom of the platform. The rolled material is laid in strips with an overlap along the longitudinal lines of at least 10 cm, in the area of the butt joint an overlap of 15 cm. Flexible strips are wound onto the mating vertical walls and the roof parapet. The result should be something like a pallet with sides of a minimum height of 30 cm.

The basis for laying rolls can be concrete screeds, poured with or without a slope, concrete slabs, corrugated board and leveling with plywood sheets or OSB boards. The rules for installing a soft roll roof dictate the number of layers of coating, depending on the steepness of the roof structure:

laying in 2 layers is performed if the slope of the slopes is more than 15º;
lay 3 layers if the slope of the slopes is from 5º to 15º;
arrange a coating in 4 layers on absolutely flat roofs and roofs with slopes up to 5º.

It is acceptable to install a soft roof on pitched roofs with an angle of inclination up to 25º. Laying on slopes of more than 15º is carried out with the arrangement of sheets along the direction of water flow along the slopes, i.e. parallel to the rafters. However, among those wishing to resort to the aforementioned method, there are rare units. Rolls are preferred to lay on flat surfaces where the use of other roofing materials is not possible.

View #2 - mastic or self-leveling roofs

Despite the relatively high cost of materials, the installation of a soft mastic roof made of polymer, bitumen-polymer and bituminous mastics will cost less than the construction of a roof with a roll coating of a similar composition. It's all about the partial mechanization of roofing. Mastic coatings, also called self-leveling, have one very significant plus - a monolithic roofing carpet does not have seams that are recognized as potential areas for leaks.

There were also some drawbacks: it is very difficult to form a uniform layer. The second disadvantage is the moisture requirements of the substrate. It should not be wet or damp, which imposes impressive restrictions on the choice of the climatic period for styling. If weather forecasters predict precipitation upon completion of installation, it is also better not to start work.

In the formation of a mastic roof, materials of the same type or a combination of materials may participate. For example, emulsion layers may alternate with roll coating layers. According to their design features, mastic roofing carpets are divided into 3 types:

Unreinforced, created by spraying a bitumen-latex emulsion, on top of which a layer of hot mastic is applied with gravel dressing embedded in the mass;
reinforced, formed by layers of bitumen or bitumen-polymer mastic. Each layer of the roofing carpet is reinforced with fiberglass, fiberglass or fiberglass;
Combined, representing the alternation of layers of mastic and rolled layers. As the top protection of the combined roof is used roll material.

A typical algorithm for the device of a reinforced mastic roof:

Weakened sections of the pre-cleaned roof are reinforced with a 50 cm wide waterproofing barrier carpet, which is nailed or glued along the valleys, around the points and along the lines roof gutters, along the edges of the overhangs. If there is a ridge, it should also be protected with a 1.0 m wide waterproofing strip;
Around the chimneys and along the lines of interface of the roof with vertical walls arrange insulating protection according to the scheme of junctions with smooth corners from a triangular rail or cement rounded curb;
The vertical walls of parapets and junctions are pasted over with horizontal strips of glass mesh to a height of approximately 30 cm;
On the vertical sections covered with fiberglass, mastic is manually applied with a spatula with a layer of 0.8-1.0 cm;
A primer layer is applied to the roofing base by spraying. The emulsion mixed with chopped glass fibers is fed under pressure from a gun. In the absence of suitable equipment at home, the first layer can be applied by another method: pour the emulsion and reinforce with fine rounded gravel or mineral chips;
The second layer is laid after the full curing of the fill. The work area is covered with strips of reinforcing fiberglass with an overlap on the vertical walls of about 10 cm. Then the selected type of material is applied. The recommended layer thickness is 2mm;
The steps are repeated until the formation of the roof with the planned thickness. At the end, a layer of cold bitumen-latex emulsion or hot bitumen-rubber mastic is applied or painted.

Work on the installation of a mastic carpet begins with low sections of the roof, moving towards the upper points. A galvanized metal bar is installed on the sides along the vertical walls to protect the upper edge. Cornices are protected with a galvanized apron.

In order not to make a mistake in the choice, it is necessary to accurately calculate how much weight of the mastic coating the equipped roof structure can withstand. You need to take into account the mass of material per 1 m² and the steepness roofing system, because:

Flat roofs and roofs with a slope of up to 2.5º are required to be equipped with a 4-layer carpet with a final gravel dressing;
Low slopes with a slope of 2.5º - 10º are covered with a carpet in 3 layers;
Slopes slightly steeper from 10º to 15º are protected by 2 layers of mastic coating with reinforcing layers;
Roofs with slopes from 15º to 25º are covered with a carpet of 3 layers of mastic, 2 layers of reinforcing material and protective paint on top.

The basis for the mastic roof is concrete screeds and reinforced concrete slabs, the seams between which are filled with bituminous mastic. The base is not primed in advance, but scrupulously prepared: the bumps are removed, the shells are filled with a solution, and greasy spots are burned out. Deviations of 5-7 mm in the relief of the base surface are permissible, they will still be filled with mastic.

View #3 - rolled polymer membranes

Roofing membranes are represented by a numerous range of building materials with a rot-resistant reinforcing base and a double-sided polymer shell. These include:

PVC membranes, created on the basis of a polyester mesh coated with a plasticized polymer. Often they are attached to the base with an adhesive method on a cold mastic or adhesive composition. The strips are connected into a single web by hot air welding. Those who wish to install a soft membrane roof with their own hands can use the ballast method, according to which the sheets are laid freely and simply pressed with ballast made of rounded pebbles, gravel, concrete slabs or paving slabs. To facilitate the process of fastening PVC sheets, there is also a telescopic fastener with a wide area of \u200b\u200bplastic support and a self-tapping screw inside the fastening system;
EPDM membranes with a backing of their polyester mesh and a double-sided synthetic rubber sheath. Fastening to the base and connecting the canvases is carried out only by adhesive method. This fact is recognized as a disadvantage of rubber roll coatings, because. adhesive bonding is inferior in reliability to welding;
TPO membranes with a fiberglass or mesh backing and thermoplastic olefin sheaths. Like PVC, they are assembled to the base by gluing to mastic or glue, and connected to the canvas by welding.

In low-rise construction, PVC membrane coatings are most often used, which simultaneously play the role of waterproofing and decorative material. They are produced in a fairly extensive color palette, which is important for the owner of a private house. TPO-labeled analogues are inferior in terms of design criteria, therefore they often serve as banal insulation in a roofing pie.

View # 4 - piece shingles

Flexible tiles are the undisputed leader in the family of soft roofing materials, especially in the field of private construction. It covers almost all pitched roof structures, regardless of the steepness. The piece material combines the aesthetics of a ceramic prototype, the insulating superiority of the rolls and the solidity of the self-leveling roof, because under the influence of sunlight, the individual components are sintered into a single cover.

Lay it on a solid board, plywood or OSB flooring, starting from the bottom and moving up to the ridge. The base is not treated with mastic or glue, because the reverse side of the tile shingles is equipped with an adhesive. But the flooring is equipped with a lining waterproofing carpet. Areas subject to intense load: grooves, cornices, ridges, ridges, junctions are reinforced with strips of additional waterproofing protection.

The nuances of the construction of such a soft roof and the installation process, see the video:

This review does not list all flexible roofing materials and the subtleties of their installation. This is only information for the first acquaintance with information about technical differences and technological capabilities. However, we tried to set the direction in the search and in the choice of roofing.

When building a house, cottage or dacha, the question is often asked: which tile to choose for the roof? Progress does not stand still, and new and good building materials appear. A striking example of the introduction of innovative materials in the construction industry is the roof. This novelty is currently in the top ten of the most better ways roofs in the world.

Often, a waterproofing membrane, which consists of polymeric materials, is added to the composition of the soft roof.

Soft roofing is used as a covering for different types roofs It creates the appearance of the roof and, at the same time, affects its properties. In construction, the most common types of soft roofs are:

Roll soft roof.
Flat roof membrane.
Flexible tiles.

Almost everywhere to the composition of the soft roof is added waterproofing membrane which is made up of polymeric materials. Such a roof is almost insensitive to the bright sun, temperature extremes, precipitation mixed with dust.
For flat surfaces, in most cases, a rolled soft roof is used.

A high percentage of insulation is established due to the fact that it creates a continuous coating. On the inside of the rolled soft roof there is a layer of bituminous mastic, and on the outside - a bituminous polymer coating in one layer. The layer of bituminous mastic is built up, so this type of roofing is also called built-up. In its composition, the guided roof has layers of roll coating, which, thanks to the bituminous mastic, are firmly connected to each other and to the roof surface.

It goes without saying that when choosing a soft, house or cottage, you will be wondering: what type of such a roof should you prefer? To do right choice, you need to find out all the pros and cons of the chosen type of coverage. This is necessary to find such a composition of this material that will be most suitable for this type of building.

Components of a soft roof

Depending on the constituent elements, two types of such a coating are distinguished: roofing material and bituminous. Ruberoid soft roof can be used for quite a long time. In this version of the coating, the roofing material is glued together in layers (from 3 to 5), after which they are fixed with bituminous mastics:

Protective top layer.
A mixture of bitumen with polymers.
The foundation.
A mixture of bitumen with polymers.
Protective top layer.

The usual roofing material coating quickly deteriorates due to environmental factors, so today a reasonable replacement for it is a rolled soft roof, which is based on rubber-bitumen materials (brizol, isol, GMP).

The bituminous soft roof of the latest sample consists of a large number of polymers. Hence its great resistance to decay, oxidation, exposure to solar radiation, moisture. Over many years of operation, this type of roofing has proven itself in the construction of technical buildings, residential buildings, it is often used as a covering for garages. In the configuration, in addition to the coating itself, the elements of the soft roof contain the lathing and mounting accessories, which are the basis for laying the roofing material on the roof.

Soft cover options

Two types of production of soft polymer-bitumen roofing have been debugged at the production site: (tiles) and roofing in rolls. Let's consider the differences between them.

Soft roof (tile) is brand new building material. It better provides an uncomplicated and aesthetically pleasing roof on an area with a slope angle of more than 13%.

It is worth noting that flexible shingles should be chosen, even though it will cost you more than other types of roofing, but this difference in money pays off with the undoubted advantages of this type of roofing.

It is characterized by a long service life and a high level of elasticity when working with it.

The shelf life of a soft roof depends on the quality of the selected materials, as well as the correct installation of the structure.

On the inside, soft tiles are covered with a self-adhesive bitumen composition, which is applied during manufacture, and the outside is covered with basalt and slate granules, which give it different shades, additional resistance to environmental influences and strength. Painting of multi-colored sprinkles is carried out using a thermochemical process, which slows down the process of fading of the material. However, nothing lasts forever, and over time, the applied topping may fall off the roof surface, as a result of which “pulled-out” areas appear. This can be corrected by applying a sprinkle of glue to the empty areas.

Preparatory work for the installation of a soft roof

After choosing a coating, the next step should be to calculate the required amount of material for. If desired, the calculation of the coverage can be carried out by yourself, since this procedure is very simple. To calculate everything correctly, you need to know exactly such values as:

cornice length;
tilt angle;
roof area;
length of valleys and junctions, end parts and ridge;
the required number and dimensions of penetrations along the perimeter of the roof.

True, not everyone will be able to independently produce exactly everything. necessary calculations. In such situations, it is better to use special computer programs who are able to calculate everything down to the millimeter. Such programs can be found on many sites, the theme of which is construction.

In addition to the actual roofing material, you will need the following details:

Self-adhesive valley carpet.
Skate tiles.
Cornice strip.
Carpet for lining.
Glue.
Nails.
Elements for ventilation.

Auxiliary parts for the installation of a soft roof are necessary for attaching the calculated coating to the prepared surface. If flexible tiles are already being cut, then for roll coating you also need a cutter for soft roofing, which can also be found in hardware stores.

Nails for this type of roofing are produced in factories using special technology and applying specific notches on the sides of each product. It is not recommended to save on such nails, preferring the usual ones, because in the second case, after a while, the fasteners will loosen and the roof will gradually begin to move away from the base.

During the installation of a soft roof, it is better to remember the appropriate length of the nails, so that they, together with the top layer of the roofing material, can also enter beyond the crate; otherwise, they will just “pop out” of the coverage and the whole job will be a waste of time.

Today, soft roofing is available in the most different options colors, sizes and textures. Compared to other types of coatings, it has many advantages:

High level of sound insulation.
Relatively high rates of heat and frost resistance.
Resistance to corrosion, decay.
Almost 100% tightness.

The components of the soft roof are mostly made from natural materials, which do not accumulate atmospheric pressure charges, which has a positive effect on the duration of their operation. A soft roof can serve for more than 50 years, which cannot but be a plus.

If there are drawbacks to this coating, then this is only a hassle during installation. But even this looks insignificant against the background of its obvious advantages. However, before making a purchase, it is better to familiarize yourself with all the qualities of the selected material.

What you need to know to avoid coating defects during installation

During erroneous actions at installation work appear quite often. as an example, we can name the actual decay of the structure, caused by incorrect implementation of the vapor barrier, the leakage of bitumen, which is caused by difficult or absent ventilation. The most fragile parts of the roof are cornices, valleys, junctions and ridges, and therefore great attention must be paid to the installation of these parts.

Also, defects, in addition to the reasons mentioned above, may appear due to the loss of dressing, any mechanical deformations, or when moss germinates. It is possible to eliminate them. Any vegetation (be it grass or moss) is eliminated with the help of the chemicals used, or the topping is restored manually.

Flexible tiles are sometimes overtaken by damage due to the appearance of so-called waves on the surface, which are caused by defects, ventilation, lathing or leaky mounted valleys, penetrations. It happens that “petals” appear on the surface of a roof with a roof made of soft tiles, which indicates poor fastening during installation. It is never necessary to drive nails into the edge of the part to be mounted, it is necessary to leave a small indent.

Do not drive nails into the edge of the part to be mounted, it is better to leave a small indent.

The shelf life of a soft roof directly depends on the ratio of the quality of the selected materials with correct installation designs. It is possible to extend the service life of the soft coating, but only if the manufacturer's operating standards are strictly followed. To avoid deformation of the roof, it is forbidden to walk on the coating in hot weather, clean it with a shovel or similar tools that can damage the flexible tiles.

To clean, you just need to use a non-rigid broom, and it is better to remove all metal objects (nails, nuts, screws, crowbars, etc.) from the roof by hand, since there is a high probability of mechanical damage to the coating by these objects. It is also necessary to monitor the microclimate of the rooms in the attic in order to prevent the formation of condensate and high humidity, which have a detrimental effect on the condition of the crate, since it can swell and crack.

To make your soft roof last longer, inspect it twice a year and repair minor damage as soon as possible. If you find serious damage to the coating, seek professional help. For the most part, companies that install soft roofs guarantee a service life of 10 to 26 years.

It is up to you to decide which version of the soft roof you choose, but ideally you should get professional advice. The roofing material and all the necessary components for it are chosen from one manufacturer, since in this way they will definitely fit together.

The best soft roof is the one whose quality and properties are optimally suited to the environmental conditions where it is going to be installed.