How is a soft roof covered. Laying a soft roof with your own hands. Scheme of the device of the roof of the soft roof

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 money by doing the roofing work yourself. Of course, the work is not easy and very responsible, but if you prepare well, read the instructions, carefully watch the video tutorials, then any master who knows how to hold a hammer in his hand can handle the installation.

Private construction today is developed quite widely. Many take up the independent construction of outbuildings, trash and even cottages. To cover the roofs of private buildings, most choose a soft roof. After all, this material is very convenient to use.

The material is quite light, it can be used on roofs of various shapes, and the coating is reliable and durable. In addition, the soft roof is quite “quiet”; during rain and even hail, no special noise is created.

What is a soft roof?

Modern soft roofing is a coating 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 characterized by high resistance to temperature effects and elasticity. In addition, the material has a mineral coating on top, which gives it greater strength and eliminates the risk of gluing the material before installation.

This type of roof 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. 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 counterparts.
  • Piece materials - soft or bituminous tiles.

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

Tool preparation

Work on the creation of a soft roof can be carried out by one person, however, it will, of course, be more convenient to work with an assistant. To complete the installation, you will need to prepare:

  • For marking - a tape measure, a coated cord for beating, a pencil.
  • To cut the material - a roofing knife and a thick plank.
  • For fastening - a hammer, roofing nails, a building hair dryer (for bituminous tiles), a gas burner and a roller for rolling (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 prepare the base well for its laying. It should be as smooth and dry as possible. As a rule, for the manufacture of flooring under the roof, OSB sheets or moisture-resistant plywood are used. You can also use a grooved board.

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

In the process of preparatory work, the following operations are carried out:

  • After the installation of the flooring, it is necessary to take measurements to check the geometry of the structure. It will be necessary to measure and compare the indicators of length, width, diagonal length, as well as the level of the plane of the completed flooring.
  • Cornice overhangs are reinforced by installing metal slats. They are installed along the edge of the cornice and nailed. The distance between two adjacent hardware is 10 cm, they must 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.
  • Further, additional waterproofing of the roof is carried out by laying the roofing carpet. On flat roofs, a continuous coating is performed, laying the material with an overlap and smearing the joints with mastic. On pitched roofs, the material is laid in valleys (the width of the roofing carpet in this place is 50 cm in each direction from the center of the corner), on the eaves and at the junctions with any vertical elements located on the roof.

Material laying

Upon completion of the preparatory stage, you can proceed with the installation of the roof.

Installation of bituminous tiles

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-cornice tile elements are used. They differ from ordinary shingles in the absence of "petals".

Advice! Ridge-cornice tile elements do not have to be purchased separately, they can be easily made from ordinary tiles by cutting off the petals.

  • Before installing the tile shingle in place, you need to carefully peel off the protective film from the bottom of the element.
  • The first row is laid out parallel to the cornice strip, stepping back 1.5 cm from the edge. Each shingle is fixed at the corners with 4 nails.
  • The next row is laid with an indent of 1.5 cm from the first laid strip.

Advice! When laying tiles on a roof with a slope of less than 45 degrees, each shingle is fastened with 4 nails. On steeper slopes, use 6 nails per shingle.

  • Upon reaching the gable overhang of the roof, the shingle is trimmed at a distance of 1 cm to the edge of the installed end plate. The edge of the tile is smeared with mastic to a width of at least 10 cm.
  • The last row of tiles is laid so that it goes a little on the ridge board. Then they begin to install the ridge tiles, installing overlapping elements and fixing them with nails.

Stacking of roll materials

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

  • Before laying, the rolled material must be unfolded, cut into strips of the required length and kept unfolded for a day. If there is no place to store the unrolled media, then the media roll can be rewound to the reverse side. Rewind the material should be a day before the start of 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 precipitation in a given region.
  • A cheaper lining material is laid in the first layer, a material with coarse-grained dressing is placed on top.
  • When laying each subsequent layer of roll material, indent by half the width of the sheet. This is necessary so that the joints between the individual strips do not coincide in different rows.
  • The fusion 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, stop heating and start rolling the material and rolling it with a roller.

When planning to install a soft roof on your own, you should not only carefully study the test installation instructions, but also watch video tutorials in which experienced craftsmen share their experience and craftsmanship secrets. This approach will allow you to prepare well and do the job without errors.

Soft roofing, the laying instructions for which are described in this article, it is also a flexible roof, it is also a flexible tile, it is also a bituminous tile, is a modern roofing material that is distinguished by high waterproofing characteristics, original external design, as well as accessibility and ease of installation. Soft roofing, the manufacturing technology of which is based on the latest developments, has become quite widespread in our country.

The basis of the soft roof is fiberglass sheets impregnated on both sides with rubber bitumen, which provides this material with high tightness. The top layer of the bituminous sheet is covered with fine stone chips to avoid mechanical damage, as well as to protect against ultraviolet radiation, in other words, from burning out the material.

Containers for mastic and tools for roll roofing: a - mastic tank; 6 - thermos for mastic; in-bucket for mastic; g - bucket; d- brush; e-stroke; .zh: - stroke with a rubber insert; s-awl; i- spatula; k-knife; l-roller scissors

The popularity of this material is also determined by such a factor as the relatively low cost of installing a soft roof due to its simple installation. If self-laying of a soft roof is available, the price for its installation will be much lower. The undeniable advantage of this type of roofing is the low amount of waste during installation. Meanwhile, the soft roof coating technology does not require any special skills, expensive equipment, and a home master will be able to handle the laying of this material. The main thing is to have the desire and desire to comprehend something new. However, before you cover the roof with soft tiles on your own, you must carefully prepare the tool and the base for laying. It will also be useful to familiarize yourself with the instructions for laying a soft roof, attached to each of the materials. The installation of a soft roof, video tutorials for which can be viewed online, implies that a person has basic skills in working with a home tool. In this article, we will try to describe as easily as possible how to cover the roof with a soft roof.

Soft roof installation tool

Before laying a soft roof, you must immediately prepare all the necessary tools. Installation of this roofing material does not require "intricate" devices or expensive power tools. An ordinary hacksaw is enough, which every home craftsman can find, a hammer, a measuring tape, a sharp knife, a sharpened pencil. You will also need a trowel for applying the bituminous adhesive mixture. For marking, prepare a coil of chalk rope. Well, it would not be superfluous to recall that laying a soft roof with your own hands should be done with work gloves, so you should immediately stock up on them.

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Foundation preparation

So, the tool is prepared, the material is purchased. The next stage is preparatory work. The surface on which the shingles will be laid must be as clean as possible, leveled and dried. On a wet surface, installation of a soft roof is not permissible. And if a construction in the form of a crate is allowed under a slate, a profile sheet or a metal tile, then under a soft tile the surface should be continuous. Experts recommend using OSB boards, or moisture-resistant plywood, as a material for flexible tiles. It is important to ensure that the structure does not sag, otherwise, as a result, the roofing in the places of deflection may be broken, creating water flow into the room. That is, it is obvious that a carefully prepared base for a soft roof provides a more durable reliability of the entire structure. By the way, such an option as a soft roof on corrugated board is also interesting.

One of the important factors in preparing for laying is the angle of the soft roof. Before making a soft roof, you should make sure that the minimum slope of the soft roof is at least 11 degrees, in order to avoid heavy loads on the surface of the material with possible mechanical damage. If the angle of inclination does not meet the requirements, it is necessary to change the design to the required slope or more.

By the way, one should not think that with a larger slope it will be difficult to lift the sheets up, because each sheet of soft tiles weighs an average of 1.5 kg, so there will be no difficulties in transporting it to the roof surface.

The next point that you need to pay attention to when laying: in different packages, the shades of the sheets may differ slightly, therefore, in order to avoid the “variety” of shades on the roof, it is better to immediately mix the sheets from different packages before laying a soft roof. Then the naked eye can see these differences.

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Hydro and vapor barrier

Scheme of waterproofing and vapor barrier of a soft roof

In general, flexible tile itself is a pretty good waterproofing material, however, in order to make sure, additional waterproofing of a soft roof is often used. As an additional waterproofing, experts recommend using rolled self-adhesive materials, the basis of which consists of anti-adhesive and polyethylene films impregnated with bitumen. These materials are laid in rows parallel to the roof eaves, while the vertical overlap must be at least 20 cm, and the horizontal overlap must be at least 10 cm.

It is customary to lay insulation under almost any type of roof these days. However, as a result of the ingress of steam and its subsequent condensation, moisture penetrates into the insulation, reducing its thermal insulation properties. Therefore, it is important to immediately take care of a good roof vapor barrier. The vapor barrier of a soft roof implies the pre-laying of a vapor-tight, diffusion film under the insulation, which effectively prevents moisture from entering the insulation, as a result of which its high thermal insulation characteristics are maintained. Unlike waterproofing materials, vapor barrier films are not laid across, but along the rafters, that is, their joints should be located along the rafters.

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Laying a soft roof

Due to the wide variety of modern materials, the technology of laying a soft roof may differ, depending on the properties of a particular material. Although, in general, it is recommended to install a roof from a soft roof in the hot season, since then the best bonding of the material when it is heated is ensured.

The structural features of the roof should be taken into account, since for residential premises they differ from industrial ones. For example, the soft roof of garages will be laid in a slightly different way, since its design does not provide for a cornice, or it is provided, but has its own characteristics. In general, the soft roof of the garage requires a more serious approach to laying, due to the very small angle of the roof.

So, if everything is ready for styling, you can proceed. The installation scheme of a soft roof consists of three main stages:

Laying the first sheet and cornice row
Laying the rest of the rows
Installation of "ridge" sheets
As mentioned above, soft tile roofing technology is not as complicated as it seems at first glance. The most difficult thing is to lay the bottom row correctly, and laying the rest is much easier. However, before you start laying the first sheet, you should take care of the best waterproofing of the entire structure by laying the valley carpet along the "ridge" of the roof. The valley carpet is laid from a material corresponding to the color variant of the entire roof. After that, you can start laying the cornice row. Installation of the first sheet should begin at the eaves. To do this, the first sheet is laid along the eaves, from which the protective film is previously removed. Depending on what type of material is used when laying. self-adhesive or simple, mastic for soft roofing is used for gluing. The sheet is laid 1-2 cm above the cornice bend. Then the next sheet is mounted, butt-to-butt to the first, and each of them is nailed at the perforation site. Thus, the entire cornice row is laid.

This material is a soft roof, the installation of the main rows of which starts from the center of the roof slope. Perhaps the technological map of a soft roof seems a little complicated at first, but after laying one or two rows, you will undoubtedly get into the taste and next time you will not have a question: how to lay a soft roof? So, again, remove the protective film from the next sheet and stick it towards the end parts. Just above the groove, the sheet is nailed with 4 nails if the roof slope is less than 24 degrees, and 6 nails if the slope is higher than this value. Despite this type of fastener, the dismantling of a soft roof, if necessary, will not cause any trouble. It is necessary to ensure that the lower edge of the first row is at a distance of 10 mm from the lower edge of the cornice row. The next sheets of this row are stacked on the same level with the petals of the first. The end edges of the tiles are cut and glued with mastic. All nodes of the soft roof should also be coated with mastic for better sealing.

After laying the last row, you can proceed with the installation of "ridge" tiles. Installation instructions for soft roofing show that ridge tiles are obtained by dividing cornice tiles into 3 parts. Next, glue the divided sheet, while the short side of the sheet should be parallel to the ridge. Then the sheet is nailed on each side with 2 nails, while the nails should be located under the next sheet, which is overlapped. Again, it should be mentioned that the methods of laying a soft roof may vary slightly, depending on the characteristics of the material used.

As you can see, do-it-yourself soft roofing does not require supernatural capabilities and the process of laying it, with certain skills and the presence of “straight” hands, is quite simple.














The reliability and durability of soft roofing directly depends on the observance of the technology of its laying. In the presented article, you can get acquainted with the common types of soft roofing and, in more detail, with the features of bituminous tiles. This review contains information about the construction of a roofing pie and some of its important components, including lathing and ventilation.

A popular option for suburban housing construction is shingles

On the origin and specifics of soft roofing

A few decades ago, expensive ceramic tiles and more democratic slate and galvanized steel were among the most common roofing materials. Roofing installation was laborious, time-consuming and carried out by several workers. The development of technology has presented an alternative to classical materials - soft roofing, which simplifies the process of building a roof.

These modern developments trace their origins to roofing material, a rolled material with waterproofing properties. The production of roofing felt was straightforward: roofing paper was impregnated and then covered with bitumen and an additional layer of sand (sometimes asbestos dressing) protecting it from sticking. The first soft material did not cope well with low and high temperatures and other vagaries of mother nature; its low wear resistance forced the development of new generation coatings.

Good old ruberoid

The concept of a soft roof combines several classes of flexible roofing materials, modified derivatives of roofing material, produced in the form of rolled, plastic and piece coatings. All of them have improved consumer qualities. Like the progenitor, they are flexible, have a low weight, perfectly protect housing from weather vagaries; many are able to effectively transform the roof. Thanks to the improved composition (with the addition of polymer components), the period of flawless operation of a modern soft roof roof has increased several times.

5 main types of soft roofing

Manufacturers offer the following classes of soft roofing materials, focused on various installation methods:

    Roll coatings based on bitumen. Their predominant scope is industrial buildings and residential structures with flat and low-pitched roofs (when the slope angle does not exceed 3º). Roll materials are successfully used for waterproofing roofs, they are laid in strips, and adhesion is provided by fusing.

Installation of a soft built-up roof

    Polymer membranes. They are also supplied in a roll format, but they contain an additive - a polymer modifier applied over a reinforcing base. The new component improves resistance to high temperatures and maintains ductility at low temperatures. Bitumen-polymer membrane materials have good adhesion (adhesion to the surface), high mechanical strength and the ability to recover in places of minor damage. If the roofing carpet is chosen correctly, the bitumen-polymer roof will last at least 20 years.

Laying a polymer membrane

    Roofing mastics and emulsions. They have a limited area for full use, as they are a polymer or bitumen-polymer mixture and correctly lie only on a horizontal surface. More recently, such materials were used only as a waterproofing or bonding layer in the roofing carpet. Today, mastic is increasingly used as a full-fledged independent coating. Depending on the type, it is applied by pouring, spraying or using a spatula (distributing over the surface). Fiberglass layers are used for reinforcement.

Roof covered with bituminous mastic

    baseless materials. Relate to rolled roofing; a well-known representative of this class is polyethylene film (plain or reinforced). Baseless materials are known for their ductility, durability and bio-permanence, making them an important part of the roofing pie (as an inner layer) for both flat and pitched roofs.

Deaf vapor barrier - polyethylene film

    bituminous tiles. At its core, these are piece products of a modified roofing material. The material has the form of flexible sheets with a curly outer edge. If rolled and mastic materials are suitable for use on the roofs of avant-garde or high-tech residential buildings, then shingles are usually chosen for buildings in the most common, classic style. It is able to elegantly imitate natural ceramics, slate tiles and wood shingles.

Features of shingles

Although the piece material is less elastic than roll coverings, other properties make it a popular option for private construction. The soft roof device looks like a three-layer structure:

    The basis. The basis is fiberglass, which, although it cannot boast of high tensile strength, but it weighs little and is quite elastic.

    Coating. Coating material - bitumen, natural or modified. The composition of the latter includes a polymer additive that increases the elasticity and frost resistance of products. On the back of each product there is an adhesive strip for attaching to the base (it is protected by a film during storage and transportation).

The structure of shingles

    outer layer. To increase the service life, the tiles are covered on the outside with painted basalt or slate chips. The use of granules increases the strength and durability of the material; a layer of powder protects the bituminous base from the sun, precipitation and mechanical damage. One of the reasons for the prevalence of soft tiled roofing is a rich color palette and various forms of cutting, which open up wide design possibilities.

Builders note the following advantages of shingles:

    light weight, thanks to which the soft roof is transported and unloaded without serious costs. An additional bonus is the reduction in the load on the roofing system of the roof and the entire building.

    The versatility of installing a soft roof. Flexible tiles are successfully laid on the roof of any shape.

    frugality. On any surface, the percentage of waste will be minimal (not exceeding 5-7%).

The advantages of bituminous tiles during operation are the following properties:

    Strength. Flexible tile is immune to ultraviolet radiation, corrosion, precipitation and temperature changes.

Wide design possibilities

    Durability. It depends on the number of layers of shingles. Standard single-layer material is designed for 20 years of flawless service. The most durable, three-layer coating is guaranteed to withstand 50 years of operation (which does not exclude routine inspections and current repairs).

    tightness. The material is characterized by almost complete water resistance.

    Soundproofing. The soft tiled roof perfectly absorbs the sound of rain and hail.

    Zero electrical conductivity.

    Justth care.

The disadvantages of a soft roof are its high price (when compared with traditional materials) and a number of rules that must be followed when laying.

Video description

About the benefits of flexible tiles in the following video:

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer roof repair services. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".

Rules for the use of soft tiles

When choosing a roof covering with a soft roof, you should have an idea about the features of a flexible tile. When conditions change (non-compliance with installation rules), these features can turn into minuses, and the same material under different conditions will last for different times. The main differences between soft tiles and other roofing materials include the following facts:

    Soft tiles not suitable for use, if the slope of the roof does not reach 12°(on a flat surface, the risk of water retention and seepage increases).

    Impossible to objectively determine the quality coatings and bases of bituminous shingles. The material should be purchased from a trusted manufacturer, when buying, studying the certificate, markings and warranties. Soft tiles offered at a suspiciously low (below average market) price are always suspicious.

    Laying soft roof is carried out only on a solid moisture-resistant base. To do this, you will have to purchase plywood sheets, grooved or edged boards, or OSB sheets, which will increase the final cost of the roofing carpet.

Laying shingles

    Installation looks simple, the main thing is in the process of laying prevent deformation of soft tiles(which, in the absence of experience, is not so difficult to do).

    Installation in the cold is difficult, since in such conditions the adhesive layer does not provide proper adhesion. In order for the roof to still turn out to be airtight, the packages with the material are preliminarily kept in a warm room (at least a day), and during installation, 5-6 packages are taken out into the air.

    Soft roof repair may be much more difficult to install. After laying the shingles, under the influence of sunlight, stick together, forming a single cover. If over time one of the tiles is damaged, due to adhesion of the material, a replacement of the roof section will be required, and one cannot do without the involvement of a specialist.

Video description

About the installation of a roofing pie in the following video:

Features of laying a roofing pie

Bituminous shingle is the leader in private construction, leaving other soft roofing materials far behind. Such success is explained by the successful combination of its qualities: the insulating capabilities of roll coatings, the solidity of the self-leveling roof and the aesthetics of classic materials (ceramics and wooden shingles). If the attic of a residential building is supposed to be made warm, a solid moisture-resistant base and flexible tiles will not be enough. In this case, additional layers will be required, and the roofing cake will have a more complex structure, including the following layers:

    vapor barrier. Protects the rafter system and the insulation layer from wet steam penetrating from the room.

    thermal insulation layer(optional). Helps maintain a stable temperature inside the living space.

    thermal insulation. Its role is successfully performed by a layer of basalt or mineral wool.

    waterproofing membrane. Protects rafters and insulation from atmospheric precipitation.

    Lathing and counter lathing. A rigid solid base for a bituminous roof is fixed on them.

Standard roofing cake

    Roof base. A solid OSB, plywood or plank flooring is laid on the crate. Since the reverse side of the soft roof is covered with an adhesive layer, there is no need to apply mastic or glue to the base. If the angle of inclination of the roof structure exceeds 18°, a additional layer of waterproofing. If the slope is more gentle, waterproofing strengthens structurally weak points that are subjected to intense load: areas around chimneys, cornices, overhangs, skates, valleys.

    Lining carpet. Protects soft tiles from mechanical damage; serves as an additional barrier to wind and moisture.

    Gives the house a finished look. The elements are glued individually; for better fixation, glue, nails or self-tapping screws are additionally used. When installing pitched surfaces, ordinary (shaped) tiles are used; for skates and cornices choose a universal, ridge-cornice. The energy of the sun's rays heats the bitumen, the tiles are sintered, turning into a single hermetic roofing shell.

Video description

About errors in the installation of shingles in the following video:

Some nuances of arranging a soft roof

The composition of the roofing cake is important for the long-term trouble-free operation of the roof. If you use unsuitable materials or change (reduce) the number of layers of the roofing cake, the consequences will not be long in coming. The roof structure will become unusable; you will get leaks, condensate, damp insulation and rotten elements of the roofing system requiring replacement.

In order for the roof to serve its time perfectly, during installation it is necessary to use additional recommendations, which include the following tips:

  • urgent need for ventilation. The waterproofing of the roofing pie not only reliably protects the structure from raindrops, but also prevents steam from escaping to the outside. Failure to ventilate will cause condensation to accumulate inside the cake and cause it to leak.

Arrangement of ventilation (ridge air)

    Types of ventilation. The roof ventilation system can be passive when ventilation gaps (open channels) are formed between the layers. When arranging the forced option, the roof structure is equipped with a factory-made ventilation system. Such a system is able not only to effectively ventilate the under-roof space, but also to start forced air circulation in the attic and in the attic.

    An important technological subtlety is a soft roof, all types of which serve as a high-quality replacement for traditional tiles, unlike the latter, should not adjoin the chimney. During installation, the chimney is carefully insulated around the entire perimeter; the conditions for ensuring the fire safety of a roofing pie are regulated by SNiP standards.

    Mixing shingle. During installation, it is recommended to mix bituminous elements from several packages. Shades from different packs (even in the same batch) may vary slightly. Mixing will allow you to evenly distribute the tones over the surface of the roof, avoiding sharp transitions from tone to tone (which is always striking). This will be useful in the future, if you need to pick up material for repairs.

Arrangement of abutment to the pipe

    A shingle roof surpasses many roofing materials in terms of strength (easily tolerates hail), resistance (to wind gusts) and solidity. To keep these wonderful properties as long as possible, it is necessary care for the roof during operation. To clean the roof from snow, a wooden shovel is chosen (it will not damage the protective basalt dressing on the shingle). It is convenient to remove summer dust and dirt with a water jet from a hose.

Conclusion

In many countries, bituminous tiles are considered the best option for arranging the roof of a country house, practical and aesthetic. Buildings with a soft roof have a stylish look and are characterized by excellent performance. If you want to get a high-quality, durable and spectacular coating for your home, the installation of a roofing pie should be entrusted to specialists from a specialized construction organization who are familiar with all the intricacies of the work.

Do-it-yourself soft roof with a step-by-step photo: Instructions for action In this article you will find instructions with step-by-step photos and video tips on how to make a soft roof with your own hands using the example of the Onduvilla roof.

2017-08-18T16:10:38+03:00

In this article you will find instructions with step-by-step photos and video tips on how to make a soft roof with your own hands using the example of a roof.

Preparatory stage

Installation of a soft roof begins with the arrangement of a new or repair of an existing crate:

1. After installing the truss system, the inside of the roof is covered with a vapor barrier film, which is overlapped and fixed with bars.

2. Insulation plates are located between the rafters. Their thickness, density and number of layers are determined by the architectural features of the roof and the climate of the region.

3. From the outside, the insulation is closed with a superdiffusion membrane. On top of this layer, bars of the counter-lattice are installed - they are attached along the rafters, create the necessary ventilation gap and form an additional frame for OSB or plywood.

4. Finishing stage - installation of the crate. Its type depends on the slope of the roof. At 9-20 degrees, it is necessary to mount a solid base under a soft roof made of moisture-resistant plywood FSF, OSB-3, DSP, boards. At 20 degrees and above, a sparse base is allowed from a board with a thickness of at least 25 cm or a bar with a thickness of at least 50 cm. The two extreme elements of the crate are mounted with a reduced gap of 30 cm, the rest - with a step of 32 cm.

5. In the case of a continuous crate, another layer of roofing cake appears - rolled bituminous waterproofing is laid over the entire surface.

Important! This manual gives the maximum allowable batten spacing. If possible, it is better to make a more frequent or continuous crate.

Do-it-yourself installation of a soft roof

Before starting installation, be sure to check whether the roof slopes are even. If there are deviations, it is necessary to draw a strictly vertical line - you will be guided by it when centering the sheets.

When carrying out work, do not stretch the sheets by more than 10 mm and follow the instructions with step-by-step photos exactly.

Stage 1

Laying must begin on the side of the roof opposite to the prevailing winds. Mark the overhang of the first row with a stretched rope. The optimal length is 3.5-5 cm. Secure the first strip by driving nails into the top of the wave strictly at an angle of 90 degrees.

Follow a certain order of hammering.

Use a special filler to protect the cornice gaps from birds, snow drifts and debris. If necessary, the holes are easily pressed through with an improvised tool of a suitable diameter.

Stage 2

Lay the second row, starting with half a sheet. At the corner joint there should be 3, not 4 overlaps - otherwise, deformation of the roof is possible. Drive in nails, fixing both sheets at the same time. Install the following blades in the sequence shown in the figure. Make sure the locks match. For marking sheets, you can use an ordinary colored pencil.

Important! Installation of Onduvilla is possible at temperatures from -5 to +30 degrees. In the cold season, the speed of work depends on the condition of the repair compositions. With strong cooling, the adhesive properties of the mounting tapes are lost, and the sealants become more viscous. Therefore, consumables should be stored in a heated room, and during installation - kept in pockets.

Features of the installation of roofing elements

Mounting forceps

Fasten the end beam with a size of 40 * 40 mm along the bottom of the slope crate. Install gable elements, placing them along the edge of the roof from the eaves to the ridge. The overlap should be 8 cm. The transverse lines serve as a good guide. Mounting options for components are clearly shown in the photo.

Mounting the skate

Decorate the ridge elements. To do this, install covering aprons with an overlap of 4 cm on both slopes. Fasten the skates over them, taking into account the angle of the roof slope. If you use Ondulin roofing elements, the gaps must be closed with Onduvilla filler. In the same way, the ribs of a multi-pitched roof are formed - in this case, the joints of the slopes are additionally sealed with a breathable tape.

Onduvilla ventilated skates are also used to protect the slope joints. First, lay a breathable insulation pad along the rib, then close it with a roofing element with an overlap of 8 cm. Install special end caps on the ends of the ribs.

Installation of valleys

For laying the valleys, an additional crate is required. Install 50 mm thick timbers on the inside corners of the roof. The distance between their center and the rafters should be no more than 21 cm. Mount a continuous boardwalk at least 70 cm wide along the slope line.

Lay underlayment waterproofing to protect against leaks. Here you can use Ondutis superdiffusion membranes. Make sure that the overlap of the canvases is at least 30 cm.

Fix the valley on the resulting base. Installation of roofing elements is carried out in the direction from the eaves. The starting gutter is installed with an offset of 5-7 cm, which allows you to set the valley flush with the cornice line. The subsequent parts are laid with an overlap of 15 cm and fixed in all corners with wide-head nails.

Connection design

To carry out the work, you will need an Onduvilla covering apron and a specialized Onduflash-Super metal-coated tape. To begin, lay the apron around the chimney/along the wall and nail it into each wave of soft roofing.

Close the apron-to-wall/pipe joint with an appropriately sized strip of tape. Make sure that the sealing material extends at least 10-15 cm onto the vertical surface.

To fix the top edge of the tape, use metal profiles or wooden planks.

After finishing work, cover the bottom of the tape with an additional sheet of Onduvilla soft roofing.

Ventilation outlets

Use additional elements to ensure complete tightness of the connections and avoid future leaks. Onduvilla ventilation pipes perfectly match the "native" soft roof, and deflector caps reliably protect the channels from debris and precipitation. Installation is carried out as follows:

  • Cut an appropriately sized hole opposite 3 or 4 Onduvilla sheets. To do this, draw a line that coincides with the axis of the wave, and measure along it 13.5 cm from the top edge of the sheet. Set the leg of the compass at the end of the line and draw a circle with a diameter of 12 cm. Carefully cut it out with a jigsaw.
  • Mount the vent pipe. Make sure that the profile of its base coincides with the waves of the soft roof.
  • Lay the Onduvilla sheets over the base and secure the vent pipe with branded nails.

Video installation of a soft roof

Take a few minutes to watch the video. The plot highlights the features of a soft roof and typical mistakes of novice builders.

Important nuances

Prior to installation, Onduvilla must be stored in a horizontal position. It is advisable to keep the original packaging. If it has been damaged, it is necessary to protect the opened pallets from moisture and dirt. The soft roof cannot be stored near heating devices, the minimum distance is 1 meter.

Private construction and the use of soft roofing is a topic that is quite relevant. This material has many advantages. Among them are light weight, absolute tightness, visual appeal, the possibility of using a wide variety of roof shapes, a long useful life and the low cost of a soft roof. Moreover, the rain does not drum on such a roof, but quietly rustles. In addition to high operational and technical characteristics, the material allows you to install a soft roof on your own, without involving specialists.

The concept of soft roofing

The soft roof is a modern material, the base of which is fiberglass sheets impregnated on both sides with rubber bitumen. Rubber bitumen is characterized by high tightness and moisture resistance, which is why soft roofing has spread so much during the construction of buildings. Also, the soft roof in its composition has a special dressing that increases wear resistance and prevents the roll coating from sticking together.

Soft roofing is considered an ideal covering for roofs in which the angle of inclination is at least 11 degrees. Therefore, when choosing a material for such strict requirements, be careful. Soft roofing is often called shingles, which is used as the top layer of a roofing pie and differs from other materials in its structure, which resembles rolled materials.

Styling tools

A flexible roof can be laid by 1 person. The only requirement that we have already mentioned is put forward to the roof surface - a slope of no more than 11º. But the maximum slope angle is not limited. Laying a soft roof with your own hands requires the following materials and tools: a hammer, a knife, mastic, sealant, a mastic trowel, roofing nails, cornice and end strips, a waterproofing carpet, a ridge-cornice strip and work gloves.

Ventilation device

The ventilation system is able to provide air circulation, which is necessary to prevent condensation on the bottom of the base. Neglecting this step when laying a soft roof on the roof will cause the rafter system to begin to rot, and in winter, ice and icicles will form.

The constituent elements of the roof ventilation system are ventilation ducts and outlets, gaps between the waterproofing and the base (at least 5 millimeters). Natural ventilation can be provided by ventilation holes that are distributed evenly under the eaves.

Lining layer

Cornice strips are made of metal and mounted on the overhangs of the cornices on the lining. They are required to protect the edges of the crate. Gable strips are also made of metal, they are fixed at the ends of the roof to protect the edge of the crate. The valley carpet provides additional protection of the roof from atmospheric precipitation. Choose it according to the color of the flexible tile.

In places where leaks are most likely, it is necessary to create a lining layer: on valleys, roof ends and eaves. A feature of the installation is the observance of the direction (from bottom to top) and overlap: in the longitudinal direction 150 millimeters, in the transverse direction - 100 millimeters. Places of overlap are usually coated with bituminous mastic.

Valleys and skates, respectively, are reinforced by 500 and 250 millimeters. At the same time, the valleys must be equipped with a lining layer on both sides, and along the ends and cornice overhangs it should be laid to a width of at least 400 millimeters.

The lining is nailed to the base with galvanized roofing nails every 200 millimeters. The lining carpet not only protects the roof from moisture, but also from destruction if the laying of the soft roof is suspended.

Preparatory work

The base to which you will attach the soft roof must be solid. It is in this that the process of constructing a roof made of soft tiles differs from roofs for which other materials are used. For example, a metal tile must be laid on a crate, in which a gap is allowed between the bars, which is explained by the high rigidity of the metal tile. A soft roof does not possess these qualities and therefore needs a preliminary installation of a solid foundation.

To equip the base, you can use oriented strand board, moisture-resistant plywood with a thickness of 9 millimeters or more, as well as grooved or edged boards. If you have chosen a board as a base, then it is recommended to preliminarily keep it in a pile until an equilibrium moisture level is reached.

Buy material in the winter and use it in the summer. The width of the boards is not more than 100 millimeters. It is desirable that the material has the same thickness and is sawn on a band saw. The maximum wood moisture content is 20%.

A video about the technology of laying a soft roof shows that such materials need to be laid with a shift of the seams - apart, while leaving a gap of 1 centimeter between them. The surface must be dry, clean and smooth. The quality of installation and the service life of a soft roof will depend on these conditions.

The roofing cake must necessarily have the following layers: a waterproofing layer laid on the rafters; mineral wool insulation, if you are planning an attic device; waterproofing roofing carpet, overlapped on the base from the outside.

The subtleties of installing a soft roof

To cover the roof with a soft roof with your own hands, in addition to having free time, you also need good weather. It is customary to carry out work in warm, dry weather, while the air temperature should not fall below plus 5 Celsius. If, due to necessity, it is necessary to lay a soft roof in the winter at the wrong time, the tiles must be kept in the building at room temperature before starting work. You can also use a hot air burner.

The choice of such a temperature regime is explained by the peculiarities of the shingle - a sheet consisting of 3-4 "tiles". It can be attached to the surface with nails or using a self-adhesive layer, which is located on the inside. The tightness of the tiles is ensured by the heat of the sun, under its influence, the sheets are soldered to the base and to each other. This does not happen at sub-zero temperatures, and high-quality insulation is not obtained.

Soft roof tiles should be used simultaneously from 5-6 packages and selected in turn one element at a time to avoid sharp differences in shades in case it is necessary to repair the soft roof with elements from another package. It is in this property that another advantage of this material lies: a small difference in shades facilitates the process of replacing tiles and decorates its matte surface.

The choice of mastic

For laying the top layer of a soft roof, a bitumen-polymer material should be used, which allows you to make a continuous elastic coating that can withstand thermal and mechanical deformations of the base. According to the technology of laying a soft roof, it is recommended to use cold and hot mastics for attaching rolled material to the roof.

Cold mastics are traditionally used for the inner layers of the roof, and the hot substance is used as an outer coating. Cold mastics include roofing material and bitumen, and hot mastics include tar and roofing felt. The mastic used must contain bitumen and a dust-like mixture or filler made from fiber. Among dusty materials, lime, gypsum and ash stand out.

Production of bituminous mastic

You can buy bituminous mastic, but you can also make your own. To do this, take the bitumen, which is close to 80% of the mastic, and filler. Taking 2 servings of bitumen and diesel fuel for 1 serving of filler, you will get a cold mixture. Bitumen needs to be heated to 180 degrees while diesel fuel and filler are being prepared elsewhere. Both boilers can be mixed only after the water has evaporated in the bitumen.

To make hot mastic, you need to use a boiler. In it, the bitumen should be heated to 200 degrees, while it is necessary to slowly add the filler. It is important that during the procedure the temperature does not fall below 160 degrees.

To check the quality of the mastic, you need to lay it at an angle of 45 degrees, after heating the mastic to 60 degrees. The video on laying a soft roof shows: if the coating drains, then its quality is poor. If it does not drain, then you should let it dry. When drying, cracks will not appear in high-quality material.

Laying a soft roof

Before laying the roof directly, walk with a solution of bitumen and diesel fuel on a wood surface. Then slowly cover with mastic, then lay the glassine and roofing material. It is customary to start installation from the middle part of the cornice and move to the ends to the right and left. On the wrong side of the soft tile, before applying, you need to remove the film that protects the adhesive.

If you use cold mastic, then you need to wait 12 hours after applying the layer, only then you can apply a new layer. When covering with hot mastic, you can apply layers one by one. Each element of the roof must be nailed in the amount of 4-6 pieces.

When laying rolls according to the instructions for laying a soft roof, make a 7-10 cm overlap. In all cases, it is recommended to follow the overlay rule: position each top row so that the fastening joints of the previous one are closed. There is a displacement of the next new layer, depending on their number (with 2 layers - by half, and with 3 - by a third).

Cut off the excess along the edges of the roof and glue it with mastic. Due to the properties of modern soft roofing materials, the useful life of a roof covering is about 30 years. But this does not mean at all that you can forget about preventive measures.

Laying near ventilation pipes

Proper sealing of joints and careful fixing of material require space around antennas and pipes. The installation of a soft roof here is easy, provided that through elements are used. Without such components, the tightness of the coating is violated. Even before the shingles are laid, you need to outline the places where you will install ventilation and pipes.

Then you need to cut holes around which the edges of the lining carpet will be glued with mastic. Spread the upper surface of the carpet along the contours of the elements to be glued and nailed. Lay the tiles on top of the mastic.

It is recommended to treat the joints of the upper part of the passage element and bituminous tiles with a sealant. Having brought the work to the ridge line, you need to use special ridge elements of flexible tiles, which are bent over it, glued to the mastic and nailed.

Soft roof repair

The frequency of repairs that need to be carried out with the roof of the house depends directly on the base on which you installed the tiles, and on the cost of laying a soft roof. Timber lumber, cement and concrete screed - they all react differently to soft roofing, which causes some damage.

Cleaning up the damaged area

Immediately before starting the repair, determine whether such work is needed at all and to what extent. To do this, evaluate the degree of damage present. If holes have formed in the roll coating, it is recommended to fill them with mastic, observing the sequence of materials used for this.

Repair of rolled roofing should be carried out exclusively on a clean area. And this is very problematic, because there is a special dressing on the roofing material. For this reason, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the area where the repair work will be carried out.

The crumb can be removed by using process oil. Anthracene oil is best for cleaning roofing felts, and solar oil is used for roofing material. Clean with an ordinary cloth or brush. With this treatment, you can remove the topping and soften the surface for further repairs.

Repair work

After preparing the damaged area, you can proceed to the main work. With small defects, you can use the usual mastic with a patch. But this solution is not suitable if all roofing layers are broken.

If several layers of the roof are damaged at the same time, it is recommended to clean the area from the old layer of mastic and dirt, and then dry it. After that, it is necessary to prepare a mastic mixture with the addition of sawdust or sand. This mixture should putty all existing damage so as to even out the edges. Mastic on all sides of the patch should come out at least 10 centimeters.

With the help of hard brushes and brushes, the mastic can be applied to the most inaccessible places. If you are working on a small area, then it is advisable to use a simple spatula that allows you to apply thick mastic and a mass with sawdust. If a “water bubble” occurs in the roof, repairs must be carried out in the same way as in the situation with a conventional hole. The main thing is to determine in time the source where the water comes from.

If cracks appear in the roofing material, it should be cut to the bottom layer. Then clean up excess mastic and debris, after which the area is dried and filled with new mastic. You can do without an incision if the cracks are small. They should be closed with a patch and mastic. If small cracks appear throughout the area of ​​the soft roof, then it must be prepared and covered with heated mastic.

Powder recovery

After repairing the soft roof, it is necessary to renew the removed layer of dressing in place in order to avoid excessive heating of the material and melting of the mastic. To do this, smooth the surface and cover the roof with sand. Excess topping, which does not stick to the roof, will eventually be removed by itself. However, if you want, you can remove it yourself.

Now you have learned what advantages a soft roof has - tightness, long service life and a reasonable price for laying a soft roof. Follow our instructions carefully to install the shingles correctly. Use the recommendations on the choice of mastic and its preparation. And if minor problems arose during the operation of the roof, re-read the information about repairing a soft roof again.