Over the past centuries, the architecture of the cities of the Earth has changed several times, which was facilitated by fashion trends, the prevailing culture and religion at that time, available building materials and technologies for their installation. However, from century to century, most of the architectural changes concerned only the “box” of buildings, the roof structure remained practically the same – but why? It was not easy to create a roof of a complex structure for one reason – the rigidity of traditional roofing materials, attempts to give them a different shape in addition to a flat one were accompanied by a large consumption of material and required high professionalism from roofers. The appearance on the construction market of flexible shingles for the first time made it possible to find non-standard architectural solutions for the roof, but, like any other novelty, the soft roof was immediately overgrown with authoritative negative reviews – we will investigate how real they are.
Myth 1: Shingles are made of roofing material
Indeed, some types of soft roofing, often referred to by their manufacturers as “organic shingles”, are made of cardboard impregnated with bitumen, cut into shingles and sprinkled with stone chips on the liquid surface layer of bitumen. Shingles made of roofing material contain a large amount of bitumen, because otherwise, waterproofing cannot be achieved, so it burns well. Finally, the service life of roofing tiles, like that of roofing material, rarely exceeds 6 years from the date of installation on the roof..
However, not only cardboard can serve as the basis for a soft roof, but also a fiberglass canvas, and the performance characteristics of this material are many times higher than the capabilities of cardboard. Fiberglass is not susceptible to moisture, therefore it does not require saturated impregnation with bitumen, as in the case of roofing material – if you call some kind of soft roof “organic”, then it should be exactly a tile with a fiberglass base. Five layers on both sides of each sheet of such a tile, a saturated layer of stone chips on the outside, scattering the ultraviolet rays of the sun – this roofing material is really reliable and is able to protect the roof from any weather conditions for several decades.
Myth 2: Soft roofs burn well
With regard to shingles of bituminous-roofing material origin, this statement is partially true (roofing material does not instantly flash, but is flammable), as for a soft roof with a fiberglass base – it does not support combustion.
Myth 3: Quality shingles are very expensive
If we talk about really expensive roofing materials, then this is a copper sheet and natural (ceramic) tiles. Compared to them, flexible shingles are much cheaper, but they are more expensive than metal or conventional slate. But will it be correct to evaluate the roofing material only by its cost, because, ultimately, it will not be the price at all that will determine the operational characteristics, but the reliability of the roofing, its ability to serve for decades without requiring major repairs – and in this flexible tile definitely wins.
Myth 4: Shingle roofs burn out in the sun
It is known that paint applied to any surface loses its saturation over time, which is facilitated by solar ultraviolet light. And if the stone chips, the layer of which determines the color of the shingles, were painted only on the outside, then it would also burn out. Therefore, at the largest manufacturers of soft tiles, stone chips are painted using a chemical method, with the penetration of the coloring pigment into the structure of the mineral, thereby ensuring the preservation of the color. But, if you raise one shingle of a soft roof and compare the colors of the stone chips on the raised shingle and located under it, then the bottom plate looks darker – why so, one wonders? In fact, the mineral chips on the underlying flexible shingles are darker than on the top plate, not because the color on the front covering fades out, but due to the fact that in the warm season the bitumen contained in the fiberglass softens, soaks the stone chips on lower sheets and it looks darker.
Myth 5: In the sun, shingles dry out, exposing a wooden base.
This information is correct provided that the soft roofing was made of boards or oriented strand boards of insufficient drying, i.e. having high humidity. A wet wooden base warps and leads in the heat, and this, in turn, displaces the shingles that are not exposed to moisture.
Myth 6: In winter, flexible roofing freezes and cracks
If in the production of this shingle, oxidized bitumen was used (air is passed through the bitumen melt) or containing an AMP modifier – yes, such a roofing coating will be sensitive to low temperatures, since it is designed to “work” in warm climates. The series of tiles produced by the world’s leading manufacturers are not universal depending on the climatic zone, i.e. designed for a specific range of average annual temperatures. Shingles impregnated with oxidized bitumen serve European and American homeowners reliably as they are designed for mild climates. And for the rather harsh conditions of the Russian climate, frost-resistant flexible shingles are required, the bitumen impregnation in which contains an SBS modifier that increases the viscosity of bitumen at low temperatures and prevents its curing.
Myth 7: Installing a soft roof is too expensive due to a solid foundation
It is true, without a base of edged boards, plywood or OSB panels, the construction of a soft roof is impossible. In addition, it is necessary to take care of effective ventilation in the attic, but the service life of such a roof is not ten years, but much more.!
It is wrong to say that any building or roofing material is definitely not suitable for use, since it does not correspond to the climatic conditions in a given area. As we found out, in the same group of roofing materials, there are products of different quality, which have deep operational differences. When looking for a reliable material for the roof, it is necessary to research offers on the building materials market with special care, analyzing a detailed list of characteristics, and not rely on the assurances of sellers.
You need to find out the following main details:
- type of bituminous modifier. Atactic polypropylene (APP modifier) is used for grades of shingles intended for roofing in climatic zones with warm winters and rather hot summers. And for a cold climate, a soft roof with bitumen impregnation, modified with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS modifier) is required;
- weight m2 flexible shingles, on which the resistance of the roofing material to gusts of wind depends. Optimal weight – from 12 kg / m2;
- warranty conditions. Often, buyers pay attention only to the numbers that indicate the time period during which the warranty is valid, but do not study its conditions. For example, the manufacturer can reset the warranty period if the roofing was installed by installers not certified by his company. In addition, the warranty applies only to certain characteristics of the soft roof – for example, water resistance, but not color retention;
- availability of the required volume of tiles in the seller’s warehouse. Depending on the remoteness of the manufacturer of this brand of soft roofing, the delivery of flexible shingles can take weeks – this situation is especially likely if the seller insists on prepayment, but refuses to provide written guarantees for timely delivery, calls vague terms of material receipt at his warehouse. Learn that during the installation work, it is possible to find a defect in the purchased batch – the long time that will take to replace it can disrupt the construction (repair) schedule of the house;
- whether flexible roofing of this brand was used as a roof covering in the region where your house is located. Trusting a positive answer is not worth it – find out the addresses of past buyers and visit them, inspect the roof, ask how long ago it was put and whether there was a repair.
It is better to install a soft roof in spring or early summer, after waiting for the rains to end – the work is carried out according to a special technology described in the instructions for the shingles of the manufacturing companies and in this material. If a soft roof is required to be installed in the cold season, then for some series of tiles this is permissible, but it would be correct to involve specialists with the necessary set of tools for “winter installation”.
What are the most common myths about shingles as a roofing material? Are there any specific factors we should be aware of when choosing shingles for our roof?
One common myth about shingles as a roofing material is that they are not durable and prone to damage. In reality, modern shingles are designed to withstand various weather conditions and can last for decades with proper maintenance. Another myth is that shingle roofs do not offer good insulation, but in fact, shingles can provide adequate insulation for your home.
When choosing shingles for your roof, it is important to consider factors such as the climate in your area, the slope of your roof, and your budget. Certain types of shingles may be more suitable for specific climates, such as asphalt shingles for areas with high humidity or metal shingles for areas with heavy snowfall. Additionally, it is important to choose a reputable manufacturer and ensure that the shingles are properly installed by experienced professionals to ensure their longevity and effectiveness.
What are the common misconceptions or myths about roofing shingles?
There are several common misconceptions or myths about roofing shingles. One common misconception is that all roofing shingles are the same, when in fact there are many different types of shingles available, each with their own unique features and benefits. Another myth is that roof shingles are maintenance-free, when in reality they require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure their longevity. Additionally, some people believe that a layer of shingles can be installed over an existing layer, but this can actually cause more harm than good by trapping moisture and reducing the lifespan of the roof. It is important to do thorough research and consult with a professional before making any decisions about roofing shingles.