Bitumen tiles – soft roof of your home

Bitumen tiles (also known as soft or flexible) began to be used as roofing material in the United States about 100 years ago. Due to the relative cheapness, convenience of installation and a beautiful eternal form, was widespread. Possessing high strength, tiles are used on roofs with almost vertical surfaces. Due to its plasticity, the material is indispensable when working on roofs with a complex structure, in addition, this property allows you to transport, preserve and mount tiles without damage. The basis of bitumen tiles is a glass chloride treated with bitumen and on one side covered with mineral granules. Using granules allows you to create a unique voluminous appearance of the roof. The lower surface of the tile plates is covered with self -adhesive bitumen, which, when exposed to solar heat, forms a waterproof layer. Tiles tiles are attached with nails, they are fastened with adhesive tape. Due to the lightness of the roof material, the roof design does not require additional strengthening. The advantages of bitumen tiles also include a huge selection of color scheme, noiselessness, high thermal insulation. The material is relatively fireproof – although it melts, it does not allow flame to spread. Bitumen tiles do not require special care, experts recommend inspecting the roof at least 2 times a year and remove fallen leaves and other garbage from the slopes. Repair of such a roof is simple – it is enough to heat the damaged plates, remove them, and fix the new. Like any roofing material, bitumen tiles have a number of disadvantages. The material is exposed to burnout and loses its original color. Manufacturers give a 25-year guarantee for leakage. The course may occur as a result of poor -quality sealing and gluing using cheap materials. In addition, bitumen tiles are unstable to the UV radiation, temperature differences. Often subject to mold and unstable to aggressive environments. On the market is a soft tile with a coating of copper foil. It costs more than similar with a coating of mineral crumbs, but has a huge plus when oxidizing a copper plate form an additional protective layer of patina of noble greenish tones characteristic of the roofs of ancient buildings.