To ensure the safety and durability of your roofing, just as important as choosing a proven quality product, such as Onduline plant fiber shingles, is to do roof installation correctly.
It is not uncommon to believe that roof installation is a standardized thing, that roof installation, regardless of the material used, is “all the same.” Each type and model of shingle has a specific installation procedure, which must be observed to maintain the warranty offered by the manufacturer, while preserving the safety of the roof.
With that in mind, we have separated some tips from riverside roofing pros so that you can install Onduline vegetable fiber shingles with total safety. Read on!
1. Check wind direction before fixing Onduline
Highly resistant, the eco-friendly Onduline shingle does not come off easily when properly fixed.
However, to prolong the life of the roof it is important to check the wind direction in the area before installation. The reason for this is that overlapping of the tiles must be done in the opposite direction of the wind.
The installation of the ridge must follow the same logic: always fix it in the opposite direction of the wind to extend the durability of the material. Also pay attention to the anchorage of the roof to the building structure. Make sure it is well done to keep the wind from damaging your new roof.
2. Check that the woodwork is free of cracks and termites
One of the most important factors for the successful installation of Onduline fiber glass fiber roofing tiles is the condition of the wood structure that will support the roof.
Wood that is not in good condition due to rotting, cracks, termite infestation or other pests compromises not only the fixation of the tiles but also the safety of the whole construction. To avoid problems during installation, be aware of some important precautions:
- Pre-treat the structure. Choose a product that repels termites and helps prevent excessive humidity;
- Check that there is no accumulation of yellowish dust, small wings or brownish balls, indicative of the presence of termites in the wood.
- Hire specialized professionals to calculate and install the woodwork;
- Replace damaged parts before installing the tiles;
3. Maintain proper spacing for the laths
Maintain proper spacing for laths and rafters. Besides making sure that the structure where you will support the Onduline fiber plant tiles is in good condition, it is important to observe the spacing for the laths, which must have a minimum gauge of 2.5cm X 5cm, regardless of the tile model used.
If you have chosen the Onduline Classic and Onduline Classic Fit models for your roof, the distance for the laths must be 45 cm from the axis and 1 m between the rafters, whose minimum gauge is 5 cm X 6 cm. If you have chosen the Onduline Stilo model, the distance between the laths should be 46 cm.
Will your roof be made with the Onduvilla ecological tile? In this case, the distance between the laths should be 32 cm. The measurement will only be different in the first row of tiles. There, the spacing should be 27 cm, since the maximum overhang of the eaves is 5 cm.
It is also important to remember that for the installation of the Onduline ridge, it is necessary to add an extra lath to support the tiles.
4. Make sure the roof has the minimum pitch
To ensure complete success in the installation of the Onduline fiber plant shingle, you need to pay attention to the slope of the roof. Structures without the minimum necessary slope can affect the durability of the material and lead to loss of warranty. So stay tuned!
Onduline Classic: the minimum slope is 18%, but to ensure greater thermal comfort, you should ideally use a slope of 27%;
Onduvilla and Onduline Stilo: the minimum slope is 27%.
To achieve the appropriate slope, you only need to raise 27 cm for every meter, from the eaves to the ridge. It is important to remember that there is no maximum slope for you to install the ecological tiles, which can be fixed even vertically.
5. Install fasteners properly
The correct positioning of the fasteners is another important point for the success of the installation of the Onduline ecological tile.
Always place them at the top of the wave, on all waves in the overlaps. To avoid detachment or damage to the product, always use the number of fasteners recommended by the manufacturer. For the Onduline Classic and Onduline Stilo tiles 18 fasteners are needed per tile. And for the Onduvilla tile – 5 fasteners.
Never fix Onduline shingles with roofing nails or rubber tiles with washers. Besides reducing the useful life of the material, these fasteners cause the loss of the waterproofing warranty, which is 15 years.
6. Walk on the roof correctly
Installing Onduline fiber plant shingles does not prevent you from walking on the roof. However, it is important to take some precautions to ensure your safety.
When walking on the roof, always use a wide board to distribute the weight. Also, ensure that the tiles are not damaged. Never abandon the use of the following personal protection equipment:
- parachute-type belt;
- safety goggles
- hard hat;
- gloves;
- boots.
Although it is a product characterized by its lightness, Onduline fiber plant shingles do not prevent you from walking on the roof because weight and strength are not necessarily related. In fact, some shingles made of heavier materials, such as ceramic, are more prone to breakage than their vegetable fiber counterparts.
The strength of Onduline plant fiber shingles is proven by rigorous quality controls, such as the Wind Tunnel test. In this test, the product resisted winds of up to 290 km/h over wooden structures.