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The assortment of roofing materials in hardware stores has hundreds of items, it includes both traditional materials, as well as innovative ones that are only gaining popularity. Ondulin is a modern analogue of the usual slate with improved performance.
Professional craftsmen note the wide possibilities of using this coating in private housing construction. Most buyers did not have time to appreciate the benefits of the material for 5-10 years from the moment it appeared in stores. Therefore, in this article, we will compare the qualities of these coatings and find out which of them is better - slate or ondulin?
Slate is a material made from shale or asbestos cement by molding. For the production of this coating, asbestos dust is mixed with cement, water, obtaining a thick mass, which is poured into molds and left to dry completely.
There is a wave and flat slate. A roof is constructed from a relief material, and a flat one is used for wall cladding. Roofing material made of asbestos cement is sheets standard sizes, whose weight reaches 36-39 kg. The slate has the following performance characteristics:
Note! Most of world abandoned the use of slate because of the detrimental effect of asbestos dust on human health. However, research shows that slate roof completely harmless during use. Hazardous dust is released only during cutting or installation of the material, so all work with it is carried out with goggles, a respirator and gloves. To make the use of slate even safer, it is better to cover it with paint, which will prevent the release of asbestos, and also protect the roof from the growth of moss.
This roofing material is lightweight but durable sheets with a wavy surface. Ondulin is easily cut with a sharp knife, so laying on a slope does not take much time and effort. It has the following properties:
Important! Produce offer a variety of colors of ondulin. The necessary shade is given to the material by adding a coloring pigment to the cellulose-bitumen mass. However, this staining method does not have a stable effect, since ondulin burns out unevenly under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. This adversely affects the appearance of the roof, but the situation can be corrected by painting.
It can be difficult to decide which of the roofing materials is better, because each of them has undeniable advantages and features. Slate and ondulin are equally durable and reliable coatings that will cope with both rain and hail. Choice of the most suitable material do based on the following factors:
Comparison of the characteristics and scope of use of slate and ondulin
Important! Experienced roofers note that ondulin and slate can equally long and effectively protect the structure from moisture penetration, provided that the material is of high quality. When purchasing roofing, pay attention to the product's compliance with quality standards, as well as appearance products.
V late XIX century, roofing material was invented - the first soft roofing material, which began to be produced in industrial scale. The principle of its production - the impregnation of fibrous materials with resin - is still used to obtain modern soft roofing materials.
The name of this material, produced by the company of the same name, is known to many people, even those who have nothing to do with construction. He is also called euroslate or bituminous slate.
This is one of the most common modern soft roofing materials. They cover houses in many countries on different continents. Let's try to understand its properties and compare it with other roofing materials.
The raw material for the production of ondulin is natural cellulose fiber which is obtained from waste paper. First, the waste paper is cleaned of debris and soaked, turning into paper pulp (pulp). A dye is added to the pulp, giving color to the finished material.
Next, the pulp is sent to a machine in which a corrugated sheet is formed. This sheet is dried and then sent to the impregnation department, where it is impregnated with bituminous resin under pressure and heating. Since the resin impregnates the mass after dyeing, the color of the sheet is preserved. long time. This original material different from fakes.
The finished material is packed with shrink film in pallets. The material is stored in pallets and delivered to the consumer.
Although the technology for the production of ondulin is not much different from the technology for the production of roofing felt, there are some differences in the composition of the material that significantly affect its properties. The main components of the composition are:
Thanks to additional components, the roof of this material is heated by the sun's rays much less than the roof of roofing material.
Synthetic resin makes the material stronger and harder, its softening temperature is significantly increased. Substances that reduce the combustibility of the material are also added to the composition.
Since ondulin is pretty solid material, it is produced not in rolls, like roofing material, but in the form of corrugated sheets. One so wavy a sheet 2000 mm long, 950 mm wide and 3 mm thick weighs approximately 6.5 kg. In other words, this material is one of the lightest among roofing materials (3.4 kg/m²).
To destroy the roof of this material, you need to create a pressure of more than 960 kgf / m². At the same time, the sheet of material itself only bends, and the crate and rafters break. This happens if the roof is going a large number of snow.
Due to changes in the composition of the material, its resistance to heating by sunlight has increased. So, ondulin sheets remain elastic, retaining their shape up to 110 ° C. Soundproofing properties are also not bad: when sound passes through a sheet, its intensity drops by 40 decibels.
To assess the resistance of roofing materials to temperature fluctuations, they are subjected to repeated freezing and thawing. Ondulin withstands 25 cycles of such tests without changing its structure and appearance.
However, in order to objectively assess the advantages and disadvantages of any material, it must be compared with others. Let's try to compare ondulin with other roofing materials and determine its scope.
If ondulin has been used in Russia recently (about 15 years), then metal tiles have been used for more than 20 years. Thus, its properties are already known not only in theory, but also in practice.
The advantages of metal tiles in comparison with ondulin:
Disadvantages of metal tiles compared to ondulin:
Decking - corrugated (profiled) steel sheet coated with zinc or aluzinc, as well as polymers on both sides. This material is also used as a modern roofing material. Its protective coating system is approximately the same as that of a metal tile. Let's try to compare it with ondulin.
Advantages of corrugated board in comparison with ondulin:
This is both good and bad: fewer joints, higher labor productivity, but working with long sheets is harder. It is much easier to work with light ondulin sheets. It is necessary to cut corrugated sheets in the same way as metal tiles with special tools, protecting the cuts from corrosion, and ondulin is well cut with a knife and is not subject to corrosion.
Minuses:
Well-known since Soviet times, slate is still a popular roofing material. Its advantages and disadvantages are known to us very well. Let's try and compare it with ondulin.
Properties of slate when compared with ondulin:
It is necessary to cut slate sheets with a grinder with a cutting wheel for working with stone, be sure to water it with water so that dust does not form. All this complicates its installation. There are no such problems with ondulin. It is cut with a knife and nailed.
The word "slate" for many of us is associated with dullness and despondency. For several decades, gray (asbestos) slate was almost the only material for roofing. But progress does not stand still, and now it's time to break stereotypes. For example, soft slate is very qualitatively different from its gray predecessor.
Unlike asbestos, soft slate (ondulin) is made from mineral raw materials and is safe for environment. It may be based on cardboard, cellulose and other mineral additives. The material is impregnated with a bitumen composition with the addition of other components that can increase the strength and specifications sheet. It has another significant advantage - a variety of colors. The era of monotony and dullness is gradually leaving, giving way to beauty and diversity.
It is not yet as well known as gray (asbestos) slate, but its popularity is growing rapidly. And for this there are several weighty arguments:
With all the advantages, there are also disadvantages. One of these is its low resistance to combustion, already at 300 degrees it ignites, so its use in facilities with high requirements fire safety impossible. Yes, and the neighborhood wooden rafters also significantly reduces trust. And such an advantage as a variety of colors turns into a disadvantage in a few years.- fades in the sun and fades.
For some regions with a harsh climate, the disadvantages of soft slate can be a good reason to abandon this material. So, being exposed to high sub-zero temperatures, increases the fragility of the slate. Too high positive temperature is also unfavorable for him - in this case, he gets very hot, becomes soft and begins to emit a certain smell. The stronger the temperature drops, the shorter the life of the ondulin - with the declared 20 years, it will be good if it lasts at least half the life. Therefore, the use of soft slate is most optimal in latitudes with temperate climate.
Your further comfort depends on how responsibly you approach the choice of material. Pay attention not only to the variety of colors and textures - everything is not difficult here. Coloring depends only on the personal preferences of each. And the texture is of two types: matte and glossy. The matte surface has a rough structure and a dull noble color.
But a glossy surface is more preferable, as it is slippery and precipitation falls off it faster. And this effect should be highly appreciated - the load is reduced not only on the slate itself and the rafters, but also on the walls and the foundation as a whole. When choosing ondulin, the main thing is to pay attention to the manufacturer. Preference should be given only to reliable and trusted manufacturers. Those who have proven themselves well and have acquired many positive reviews.
The original material must be marked, as well as the manufacturer's code printed on the extreme wave. The original cut lines are uniform, without pronounced layers. The dimensions of a real ondulin are standard. Sheet thickness - 3 mm, length - 2 meters. An important feature of the original, high-quality sheet is the number of waves. Should be 10 waves. Fakes often sin with a smaller sheet thickness and the number of waves.
Before buying slate, calculate the quantity required material. For the calculation, of course, you will need measurements of the roof. When planning, you need to consider that the sheets should overlap. And the more severe the climate in the region, the more waves new sheet should overlap the previous one.
Installation work begins with manufacturing. It is made either wooden or metal, or a combination of materials. In a horizontal position (do not forget to use the level), at a distance of 60–80 cm, the bars are attached to the rafters. To attach the slate sheet itself to the wooden crate, special nails with a cast head are required. TO metal crate the sheet is fixed with self-tapping screws. The first row should be fixed in each wave, in next rows- through one.
It will not be superfluous to lay a layer of waterproofing under the slate. Before starting laying, you need to trace where the wind is blowing from - work should begin from the side opposite to the wind. You need to start installation from the bottom corner of the roof, moving from bottom to top, from left to right. Do not forget that the wave of the new sheet should fall on the wave of the previous one, and so on all the time. The second row is laid with an overlap of 10-12 cm on the previous one. The resulting gaps, at the junction of the sheets, are sealed with foam or sealants.
Upon completion of the installation, you can proceed to the design of the roof. For these purposes, along with slate, additional parts are purchased for arranging the roof ridge. Lastly, the edges of the roof are sewn up.
And a few more tips. The sheet must be fastened securely, make sure that the nails enter the crate. Purchase long nails, they are much more convenient to fix the sheet. Nail heads, as well as gaps at the junction of sheets, need to be lubricated protective agent. Also, for installation, you will need a hacksaw with a fine tooth or a more comfortable option - an electric saw. Installation soft roof possible only at positive temperatures and no precipitation.
Work must be done carefully, without haste. In the event that something goes wrong, removing the ondulin and then re-laying it again will not work without serious losses and spoiled results. Quite often, ondulin is chosen to replace the old roof. It is very comfortable. If the existing rafters and lathing are in good condition, and the fastening of the old roof is reliable, you can not dismantle it, but simply cover the roof with new, light and durable slate on top. Such a roof will last for more than a dozen years.
Summarizing the above, we can confidently state that the new kind slate is quite a worthy receiver. The ratio of price and quality makes it popular and competitive among the mass consumer. To achieve the best possible result, you need to purchase high-quality ondulin and install it according to the rules.
Today, there are a large number of roofing materials and choosing the most suitable one from it can be quite difficult.
Difficulties arise due to the fact that roofing materials differ from each other in terms of service life, cost, complexity of implementation. installation work and other properties.
Let's try to determine which is better: ondulin, metal tiles, corrugated board or slate. For this, consider main advantages and cons of each of these roofing materials.
This material is manufactured by the French company of the same name. made from natural cellulose fiber, which is made from waste paper.
It is produced in the form of corrugated sheets, which have the following parameters:
Produced from sheet steel 0.4 - 0.5 mm thick. A layer is applied to the sheet polymer materials, which give it color and enhance anti-corrosion protection.
This material is, in the manufacture of which galvanized steel is used. The cold profiling method gives the profiled sheet a wave-like shape.
Also, this method increases the rigidity of the material. In the manufacture this material for roofing, the steel sheet is covered with several layers. The first coating protects the sheet from corrosion. The second layer is applied with a primer. Then the outer side is varnished, and the inner side is coated with a polymer.
For manufacturing, a mixture is used, which includes cement, water and fibrous asbestos. To obtain a durable roofing material, this mixture is molded and then waited until it hardens.
An important role is played by asbestos-cement fibers. They form a reinforcing mesh, which increases the mechanical strength of the slate. It is important to note that the dimensions of the slate sheet can be different.
The thickness of the sheet is in the range from 5 to 9 millimeters, and the width directly depends on the number of waves. There may be six or eight. The difference between the sizes of a six-wave sheet and an eight-wave sheet is negligible, but on an eight-wave sheet the waves are more compact.
In this article, we tried to find out which is better: ondulin, metal tiles, corrugated board or slate. Each of these materials has its pros and cons and it is difficult to single out the best one.
Therefore, when choosing a material, it is necessary to take into account the complexity of the roof structure, its angle of inclination, the climate of the area, as well as the funds allocated for the purchase of roofing material and installation work.