Among the materials for the arrangement of the roof, there are many options that have almost the same characteristics. For example, if we take metal tiles and bituminous roofs, then both options are quite reliable, durable and have an attractive appearance. In addition, the cost of materials is also almost the same. All this can lead developers to a dead end when they are faced with a choice - a metal tile or a soft roof. But to solve this problem, you need to compare and analyze the features of both types of roofing materials and draw conclusions.
Design features
The first step is to consider the design features of both materials. The fact is that there is a fundamental difference in the structure. And they only have in common that each type of coating imitates natural tiles.
Metal tile
So, this is a multilayer roofing material. This product is made from rolled steel. The thickness of the steel can vary from 0.4 to 0.7 mm. It is recommended to use roofing steel with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm for production - with a smaller thickness, the product may deform under loads. The durability of the thinner sheet is also reduced.
In order for the coiled steel to be sufficiently protected against corrosion, the metal is covered with a layer of zinc on each side. The thicker this protective layer, the longer the metal tile will last. Steel is also covered with a passivating layer - an oxide film that prevents active rusting.
A decorative and protective layer is applied on both sides of the material. From the back the product is painted with special paints. The front side is covered with various polymers - it can be polyester, plastisol, pural. The future durability of the roofing coating and resistance to fading under direct sunlight, as well as resistance to various kinds of mechanical damage, depend on the technical characteristics and thickness of the polymer layer.
Finished steel coils are profiled on the equipment and then cut into sheets to size. The appearance of the roof will depend on the type of profile. But in general, the imitation of clay tiles is obtained at a high level.
To understand what is better - a metal tile or a soft roof, now you should consider bituminous tiles in detail.
Features of soft roofing or shingles
Lastmore flexible than metal. The soft roof is based on fiberglass or any materials similar in characteristics. Raw materials for the production of bituminous tiles must be tear-resistant, as well as resistant to putrefactive processes.
Modified bitumen is applied to this base from each side. These are special additives made of polymeric materials. Due to these additives, soft roofing is able to maintain elasticity at low air temperatures. Thanks to this, the roofing will not crack even in very cold climates.
The bottom layer of soft roofing materials is coated with adhesives. The adhesive layer is covered with a protective film. Before installation work, this film is removed. On the outside, a soft roof or bituminous tile is covered with a decorative and protective layer - it is a mixture of mineral chips with pigments and polymer resins. This coating is necessary to protect the bituminous layer from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Also, resistance to mechanical stress is significantly increased.
Sheet roofing is produced in the form of shingles of various configurations. Thanks to the figured petals and the special color, the finished roof made of soft materials can look original and attractive. But for those who choose - metal or soft roofing, you need to remember that bituminous tiles have visual differences from classical tiles.
Weight and dimensions of material
These parameters determine the convenience inthe process of carrying out installation work, the ability to do the work with your own hands. In addition, the loads exerted on the foundation and walls in the house depend on the mass. Sometimes this can be critical.
Metal tiles are made in the form of profiled sheets. The width of such a sheet can be in the range from 1.12 to 1.19 m. The length of the sheet is from 0.5 to 7.5 m. Laying small sheets can be done by hand. But in this case, a mass of joints will be visible on the coating - this worsens not only the appearance of the roof, but also the operational parameters. The standard length of one sheet is approximately 4.5 m. For the installation of such material, you will need to involve assistants. Larger sheets are mainly made to order.
Soft roof comes with shingles. The format is relatively small - 100-337 mm. Installation is easily carried out by one person. If you choose which roof is better - soft or metal based on installation, then soft is definitely easier and more convenient to install.
Also pay attention to the difference in weight. One shingle of a soft roof is less in weight than a sheet of metal. At the same time, the total weight of bituminous tiles is about 8-12 kilograms per square meter, while one square meter of metal tiles weighs only 5 kilograms or a little more. What is better - a metal tile or a soft roof? For these reasons, the choice is obvious.
Specific application
The choice between flexible or metal tiles makes sense only if the roof is built on a pitched roof with slope angles of 12up to 14 degrees.
Bituminous materials due to their greater elasticity are suitable for installation on complex roofs with cone-shaped, hemispherical and even broken surfaces. The shingles are small in size, the fastening technology is simpler - all this helps to save material. If you compare soft roofing and metal tiles, then on complex roofs, the amount of waste shingles will be only about 4 percent.
Metal tiles are often purchased on simple roofs with the most even slopes. Also, this material is suitable for multi-gable roofs. If you try to use a metal product on a curved surface, this will lead to the formation of a large number of joints, the need for additional treatment against corrosion of the cut edges. Also waste will exceed 30 percent of materials. This greatly complicates the installation process and increases the cost of arrangement.
As you can see, the advantages of soft roofing over metal roofing for complex roofs make you opt for bituminous shingles.
Foundation
Metal tile has a certain stiffness. For installation, a fairly rare crate, which is made of timber or boards, is suitable. The greater the angle of inclination of the roof slopes, the wider should be the step of mounting the elements of the crate. Thus, the snow load on the roof surface is reduced. For a sheathing under a metal tile, a standard step is 350-400 mm.
Choosing what is better - a metal tile or a soft roof, you need to consider thatbituminous tiles are laid only on the most even surface. Here you need a continuous crate of predominantly sheet materials. The sheet crate is laid on top sparse. This is much more expensive and more difficult during the installation process, since it is necessary to exclude significant height differences at the joints.
Installation and its features
You also need to compare metal tiles and soft roofs in terms of installation.
Installation consists of several stages. The first of them is the installation of a waterproofing layer, counter-battens and battens. Under a metal tile, this process will require significantly less time and labor costs compared to a continuous crate and a special lining carpet for bituminous materials. If the question is what to choose - a metal tile or a soft roof, then the metal tile wins in terms of labor intensity.
Next, let's compare the lifting of the material to the place of laying. Here, bituminous roofing has a greater advantage. The weight of the shingle is small, the dimensions are also small. To lift a sheet of metal tiles, you will need helpers, and sometimes special devices. During the lifting process, you need to work as carefully as possible so as not to damage the protective layer on the polymer coating.
The next aspect that will help you decide which is better - a metal tile or a soft roof, is the speed of installation work. The installation of metal tiles can be performed as soon as possible on simple roofs. Work can be done independently. For work with shingles, you must haveexperience and special skills – dismantling glued shingles is quite difficult. Errors in operation can lead to the fact that the coating will not be able to cope with its functions. The installation speed of shingles is three times slower than that of metal roofing.
Functionality
Considering which roof is better - soft or metal, you need to pay attention to certain points. We will look at them in detail.
Metal tile is characterized by increased windage. In areas where strong winds blow, there is an increased risk of roofing failure. The risk increases if errors were made during installation. Roofing from bituminous tiles is more reliable. The cover is glued to the base batten, so this option is best in places with severe winds.
Fastening of sheets of metal tiles is carried out on self-tapping screws. Under them you need to make pre-holes. Each hole can subsequently become a hotbed of corrosion - the integrity of the protective coating is violated. There is a washer on the screw. It should seal the hole - if it does not fit well, then the sheet material will quickly become unusable. In areas where the climate is very humid, heavy rainfall prevails, the choice between a metal tile or a soft roof should not be. In this case, only shingles. Its flooring is a sealed cake of several layers. It is glued with special mastics. Such a roof successfully resists moisture.
Sound proofing
Reveal which roof is better - a metal tile or a soft roof according to these parametersit won't be too hard either. Metal materials are noisier. The metal tile does not dampen the sound of rain and wind. Vibration is also transmitted to structures. To compensate for this shortcoming during installation, it is recommended to use special vibration-proof pads. Still need to perform thermal insulation insulation.
As for the bituminous roof, here the sound insulation indicators are higher. Even if the installation did not take into account the layer of sound or heat insulating materials, then the sound of rain and gusts of wind will not be heard.
Architectural expression
Also consider the pros and cons of a soft roof or metal tiles in this aspect. Usually the choice is made by developers. But if the construction is private, then it is important that the roof is combined with the overall design of the house.
Modern manufacturers provide a very wide selection of different options for metal tiles of different profiles and colors. The market is ready to offer more than 100 different shades. This allows you to choose the best option for all types of houses.
As for shingles, there is also a choice - manufacturers offer petals of various shapes and colors. In addition to monochrome options, there is a large selection of types with a more complex color, where several shades are used at once. This will add expressiveness and originality to the mounted roof.
Repairability and service life
One of the key criteria when choosing a metal roof or soft roof is durability. Importantalso assess the level of maintainability. External factors can affect the integrity of the deck and destroy it.
How does the roof behave in snowfall?
In winter, when snow avalanches descend, it is better not to get close to the house - it can be dangerous. This is exactly what will happen if a metal tile is laid on the roof. It has a smooth surface, and a fairly large amount of snow can accumulate on it. At one point, this snow can fall down so that the drains will vomit thoroughly. Therefore, it is recommended to build snow retention systems.
As for the soft roof, it has a rough surface. The snow that accumulates on the roof will not go down like an avalanche. Therefore, snow retention systems can be dispensed with.
Metal tile and its resource
According to manufacturers, the service life of a metal tile depends on the characteristics of a particular option. Durability in general is determined by a period of 20 to 50 years. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the steel sheet, the thickness of the protective zinc layer, the characteristics of the polymer protective coating.
It is these parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing a metal tile. When buying, it is important to check that the sheets are even, the outer coating is of high quality. Also, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the certificates of manufacturers.
If the flooring elements are damaged, it is possible to replace them with new ones. The main thing is that the profile exactly matches. Patches are also allowed.
Flexible tile and itsdurability
The service life of bituminous roofing materials is from 30 to 50 years, which is quite a lot. The exact time depends on the type of bitumen, the characteristics of the substrate, the thickness of the protective outer coating.
If the bituminous roof is damaged, it is enough to install a patch of the same material or completely replace the shingle. If the work is done carefully, then the repair place will not be evident.
Cost of materials
Consider reviews. What is better - a metal tile or a soft roof in terms of cost? This is an important factor when choosing. If we compare the price of the materials themselves, then the bituminous tile costs one and a half times higher than the metal counterpart. The reviews say that a soft roof will be cheaper.
But installation costs are also important. If for the arrangement of a roof made of steel sheet, you need to additionally purchase bars, films and self-tapping screws. To lay bituminous shingles, you will need bars, plywood for sheathing, mastic, and nails for fasteners.
You should also take into account that it is better to entrust the installation of a soft roof to professionals, while the installation of metal tiles can be done independently.
Reviews
When choosing a soft roof or metal roofing, owner feedback is an important factor. Many people say that metal products are not so bad. If you close your eyes to noise, to waste during the installation process, then with the right approach, you can achieve high performance. About 70 percent of buyers say that metal will cost more than soft roofing. But it's a quality product.with a thick zinc layer. Everyone is happy, as high-quality metal can withstand any load.
What is better - a metal tile or a soft roof? Reviews are clearly not in favor of the latter. With her, not everything is so clear. These are inexpensive roll coatings, as well as elite ones with a long service life. If you need to make a roof as quickly and cheaply as possible, then you can purchase roofing felt. If quality is important, then it will be much more expensive than a metal roof.
Conclusion
So, we compared both roofing materials and their features. All materials are equally good, but only when they are of high quality. Much also depends on the manufacturer.
