Flat roof insulation. Flat roof device: repair and insulation options for a flat roof

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A flat roof is one of the most popular structures used in the construction of various technical structures, industrial buildings and outbuildings. This option is distinguished not only by relatively low cost, but also by high practicality. At the same time, it is worthwhile to insulate a flat roof as responsibly as possible, since otherwise all the advantages of such structures may come to naught.

Thus, timely and proper roof insulation contributes not only to better preservation of the entire structure, but also to the creation of the necessary conditions for productive activities and storage of tools and materials. At the same time, it should be remembered that the process of insulation itself and the choice of heat-insulating materials are influenced by such factors as the design features of the structure, the type of roof and the form of thermal insulation.

Flat roof insulation and roof design features

Any roof includes the following components:

1. The base, which is a powerful slab, the main material for which is usually reinforced concrete or profiled sheet;
2. Insulating layer consisting of bitumen or bitumen-polymer complex;
3. Insulation for a flat roof, which is a layer of mineral wool or polystyrene;
4. Waterproofing that prevents precipitation from entering the room.

It is worth noting that today two main types of flat roofs are used - traditional and inversion. It depends on what type is chosen, in what sequence all of the above layers will be laid. So, if the traditional option is used, then the waterproofing spreads over the insulation, and with the inversion type, the insulation is already located on top of the waterproofing. The choice of one or another laying option depends on the future fate of the roof. If it will be used for gardens or recreation areas, then the inversion type looks preferable, and if no additional load is expected, then the traditional option can be limited.

How to make roof insulation: choose the main type of thermal insulation

Looking for the main ways to solve the problem: “How to make roof insulation?”, - it is worth, first of all, to understand the main modifications.

Today, there are two main types of thermal insulation that are most optimal for Russian conditions:

1. A single-layer system, when the density of the insulation on the entire surface of the roof is absolutely the same. Such a system is very effective and convenient in the construction of various technical and industrial facilities (garages, providing for warehouses, workshops). If at the same time active operation of the roof is planned, then a neat concrete screed should be laid on top of the insulation.
2. A two-layer system, which is a more complex structure, often used in the renovation of old buildings. Here, the lower layer, whose thickness varies from 70 to 170 millimeters, plays the role of the main heat insulator, and the upper, thinner one (30-50 millimeters) is necessary to reduce the mechanical load on the main bearing supports. This second layer is made of a stronger and denser material, which, among other things, must effectively withstand external influences. With such a system, the best insulation for the roof is extruded polystyrene foam, which is already a two-layer slab with a harder top and a soft bottom.

Single-layer and double-layer roofing systems have both advantages and disadvantages. If the first one is cheap and quick to erect, then the main advantage of the second one can be called the absence of through seams and more effective protection from external influences.

Flat roof insulation: material features for various types of roofs

The choice of thermal insulation must be carried out using the entire amount of available information. The main task of the insulation is to keep water vapor under the roof without disturbing the waterproofing layer itself. After all, as you know, being absorbed into the insulation, water vapor over time can lead to serious deformation of the heat-insulating layer, which will extremely negatively affect the condition of the entire roof.

1. Film, which is a layer of polypropylene film, the main pieces of which are connected with seams. It is the presence of these seams that makes this coating insufficiently reliable: moisture quickly begins to penetrate through the joints.
2. Built-up, in which bitumen is used. This is a more durable type of thermal insulation, which, at the same time, has a much greater mass.

The main layer of thermal insulation can consist of a variety of materials: much depends on the type of roof, as well as on the design features of the building. Most often, the roof is insulated with extruded polystyrene foam, foam glass or mineral wool. The main advantage of the first material is that it always remains dry under absolutely any circumstances. At the same time, the main disadvantage of expanded polystyrene is its combustibility and destructibility under the influence of ultraviolet rays. The same applies to foam glass, which is also quite expensive and causes significant damage to the family budget.

Insulation of a flat roof with mineral wool - expert advice:

Roof insulation with basalt wool is a more affordable and common option, however, it also carries several dangers and disadvantages at once. Firstly, this type of insulation is very fragile, so it almost never serves as the basis for waterproofing. To strengthen it, it is necessary to arrange special ties that will give sufficient rigidity to the coating. Secondly, if the insulation of a flat roof with polystyrene foam allows you to forget about the problem of roof waterproofing for a sufficiently long period, then in the case of mineral wool, the first repair will have to be carried out in a few years.

Insulation of corrugated board and concrete roof: the main stages of fixing the insulation

1. Insulation of a concrete roof involves gluing the main insulation to bitumen. Despite the fact that this process is quite time-consuming and costly, it allows you to get an excellent result. The presence of a concrete base allows you to abandon specialized dowels that are difficult to install, which eliminates the presence of various kinds of gaps and seams in the coating.
2. A cheaper option is mechanical fastening, where telescopic dowels play the main role. They have a wide cap, which minimizes leakage. Insulation of corrugated board is most often carried out according to this scenario, however, it should be borne in mind that in this case it is best to use bitumen as thermal insulation. Its main advantage is that it allows you to give the desired tightness to those holes that remain after using the dowels.

The modern market of building and finishing materials constantly offers its customers new technologies and ways to solve certain problems. So, special sandwich panels with mineral wool insulation have become a new word in roof insulation, which are devoid of many disadvantages of ordinary mineral wool and, in addition, have unconditional aesthetic advantages.

Flat roofs are less popular in private buildings compared to pitched ones. They are mainly used in the construction of multi-storey residential buildings and industrial facilities. According to statistics, only 5% of private houses and cottages have this type of roof.

But in the construction of outbuildings, garages, terraces, this type of roof is used quite often. A flat roof is affected by various types of loads: precipitation, wind, temperature differences, sun, installation loads, etc. Therefore, flat roof insulation is a complex undertaking that requires a thorough approach.

Thermal insulation technologies

The method of insulation and the sequence of work depends on the type of flat roof. They are traditional and inversion. Inverted roofs are usually exploitable. Traditional roofs do not perform additional functions.

Thermal insulation of a traditional roof

The “roofing cake” of a traditional type of roof is made from the following layers:

• concrete base or metal profile;
• vapor barrier;
• insulating material;
• waterproofing layer.

The sequence of layers for thermal protection of an inverted roof is somewhat different. In this case, the insulation system looks like this:

• bearing base;
• waterproofing;
• insulating material;
• geotextile;
• crushed stone backfill;
• finish coating.

Exploited and non-exploited roofs

Unexploited roofs have only the main protective function.
The surfaces of exploited roofs can additionally serve as a garden, a terrace, a sports ground, a recreation area. Therefore, the insulating structure of the exploited roof must be especially durable and reliable. When installing a single-layer insulation system on such a roof, a concrete screed must be made on top of the insulation.

Green roof.

Single layer and double layer insulation

Depending on the number of layers of insulation, the insulation system can be two-layer and single-layer.
With a single-layer system, the heat-insulating layer is made of an insulating material of the same density. In this case, the heat insulator must be sufficiently dense and durable.

This design is usually used in the reconstruction of an old roof or in the construction of warehouses, industrial buildings and garages.

When installing a two-layer insulation system, two layers of insulation are laid. The bottom layer has the main heat-shielding function. It has a greater thickness compared to the top layer, high thermal insulation characteristics. In this case, the strength of the material can be relatively small.

The top layer of insulation additionally carries the function of redistributing the load. Its thickness is less, while the density and compressive strength must be high.

The two-layer design allows to achieve high strength of the insulation system with relatively low weight. As a result, the load on the floors is reduced.

Material selection

When choosing insulation for a flat roof, you need to consider the following material characteristics:

• strength;
• density;
• thermal insulation properties;
• Fire safety;
• soundproof characteristics.

The following materials can be used for thermal insulation:

• mineral basalt wool, due to the air in the structure, the material has high thermal insulation properties, and the insulation fibers adhere tightly to each other, providing it with high tensile strength;
• ecowool - a cellulose material that is treated with fire retardants to make the insulation non-combustible;
• polyurethane foam - a modern sprayed heat insulator that forms a uniform surface without seams;
• extruded polystyrene foam - a popular insulation with good thermal insulation qualities, is not afraid of moisture, easy to install, affordable;
• Foam concrete is a modern material, strong as concrete and light as foam.

Vapor barrier installation

When insulating a traditional roof, a vapor barrier material must be laid on top of the base. If this is not done, then the insulation will gradually accumulate moisture and lose its thermal insulation properties, air pockets will form, the roof will deform.

Polyethylene and polypropylene films or built-up bituminous materials can act as a vapor barrier. Lack of films in the presence of seams. Bituminous materials form a uniform, tear-resistant surface.

The vapor barrier must be laid not only on a horizontal surface, but also on the wall just above the level of the insulation.

Insulation installation

After laying the vapor barrier layer, you can proceed to the installation of insulation material.

Thermal insulation with mineral wool

Not every type of mineral wool is suitable for warming a flat roof. The material must have sufficient strength to withstand the loads during installation and operation. Therefore, special high-strength mineral plates are used.

Installation of insulation can be done in two ways: dowels or bitumen. The process of fastening to bitumen is quite complicated and expensive. Therefore, this method of mounting plates is appropriate when laying on a concrete base. Then you do not have to buy specialized dowels, which are more expensive, and drill holes in concrete.

If the base is made of profiled sheet, then it is more convenient to fix the plates mechanically using adhesives or dowels. In the case when it is planned to install a cement-sand screed, it is not necessary to fix the plates.

When choosing a mechanical method of fixing insulation for a flat roof, the vapor barrier must be made of welded materials so that the holes formed in the base can be tightened.

When laying insulation in two layers, the lower plates are coated with bitumen, and the upper ones are installed so that the seams between the plates of the upper and lower layers do not match. This is necessary so that cold bridges do not form.

The use of expanded polystyrene

The principles of roof insulation with extruded polystyrene foam are similar to mineral wool insulation. At the same time, polystyrene foam plates have slotted locks, which greatly simplify the process of their installation. Tape all seams to prevent moisture ingress.

Waterproofing

To protect the roof from water, laying a waterproofing layer is necessary. At the same time, on traditional roofs, it is installed on a heater, and on inversion roofs - under a heater. The installation of a waterproofing membrane follows the same principle as the installation of a vapor barrier. Waterproofing can be made of rolled, built-up materials or profiled steel sheets.

Polyurethane foam insulation

The stages of work described above can be skipped if such a modern material as polyurethane foam is used as a heater. It is sprayed onto the insulated surface using special installations. The result is an even sealed layer without seams. Additional vapor and waterproofing is no longer required. The material can be applied to almost any substrate. Service life - from 25 years. The disadvantages of polyurethane foam insulation are its high cost and the need to call specialists.

How successfully the insulation of a flat roof will be performed depends on the strict observance of certain rules and generally accepted technology. Let's take a look at some of them.

Following instructions

Any modern insulation system involves the implementation of a number of rules established by the manufacturer. Basically, the order of work is the same everywhere. The difference lies in the details. Some types of insulation require the use of only certain adhesives. Take another - harm the surface. Therefore, when buying a ready-made system, be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions.

Foundation preparation

Before performing insulation work, the base must be carefully prepared. It must be cleared of ice or snow in winter and free of moisture and debris in summer.

Proper installation process

Installation of a heater is carried out "on itself". You should start from the edge, which is opposite the exit of the roof. You need to move along special inventory walkways in order to evenly distribute the mechanical load. The direction of laying periodically changes.

Soft roof - not metal, it does not conduct heat. But just a thin layer of bituminous coating is not enough to keep the house warm. How to insulate a soft roof?

It makes sense to do a cold roof if the house is operated exclusively during the summer season. In other cases, a soft roof with insulation is installed.

How to insulate a soft roof?

Regardless of the type of roof (flat or pitched), it is preferable to warm the soft roof with basalt wool. Its distinguishing feature is incombustibility.

This is important because:

• wooden buildings predominate in the private sector;
• the rafter system of a pitched roof is usually wooden;
• Most flat roofing rolls are either built-up or laid on heated bitumen.

Expanded polystyrene insulation for the roof is not the best option: all types of PPS are flammable to one degree or another and emit toxic substances during combustion. Also, complete insulation with this material is impossible!

Minus mineral wool - hygroscopicity. But when using an absolutely sealed bituminous coating and a full ventilation device to remove condensate, this disadvantage will not appear.

The advantages of basalt insulation for soft roofs include an affordable price and ease of installation.

How to insulate a soft roof from a flexible tile

When installing complex roofs (round, curved, mansard), the most suitable material is flexible tiles. It is plastic, repeats the contour of the base. When designing attic superstructures, installation is obtained with a minimum of waste. But the insulation of an attic with a roof made of soft tiles is even more important than roofs with any other configuration, because. at the expense of dormer-windows heat losses increase.

Consider, using the example of an attic, the structure of a roofing pie with insulation:

• top layer - tiles;
• lining carpet;
• solid base for coating - sheets of moisture-resistant plywood;
• crate, boards 10 by 2.5 cm or 7.5 by 2.5;
• counter beam 5 by 5 cm. Required for proper ventilation of the under-roof space, because absolute tightness of bituminous tiles prevents the free removal of condensate from the house;
• windproof (aka waterproofing) membrane;
• rafters with a heater placed between them;
• if you lay additional soy insulation, you need to fill another 5 by 5 beam on the rafters from the inside;
• vapor barrier film;
• ceiling panels.

Installation sequence:

1. The plates are installed between the rafters, close to each other.

2. A hydro / windproof film is laid on top. Adjacent strips are overlapped, the joints are glued with mounting tape. Fastening - with a stapler to the rafters.

3. The bars of the counter-lattice are stuffed along the rafter legs. With this direction of installation, air will move freely under the roof from the overhang to the ridge.

4. The batten boards are stuffed parallel to the ridge. The total thickness of the board with the counter beam is 10 centimeters.

5. Moisture-resistant plywood or OSB is placed on top of the board with a gap in the joints. Fastening with galvanized nails or self-tapping screws.

6. On top of the plywood lay the lining carpet and the coating in accordance with the instructions for the model.

7. An aerator is installed on the ridge and covered with ridge tiles on top.

8. From the side of the attic, a vapor barrier film is sewn to the rafters - with an overlap, the joints are glued with adhesive tape.

9. Sew up the attic ceiling with clapboard, boards or other material.

note

For the installation of pitched roofs, it is recommended to choose a basalt insulation 15 centimeters thick, with a density of 30-40, so that the layer does not sag over time.

Our work

Technology of a rolled soft roof with insulation

The base of a flat roof can be made of a reinforced concrete slab, a thick corrugated board with a high corrugation, a wooden board:

• corrugated board should be chosen galvanized, corrosion resistant;
• wooden floors must be treated with antiseptics;
• on a reinforced concrete slab, in order to avoid its further destruction, all cracks, cavities, and irregularities must be repaired.

The procedure for installing the pie:

1. Lay a vapor barrier membrane.

2. Lay basalt wool slabs. Fix to the base with dowels or screws.

3. If there is a reinforced concrete slab at the base that can withstand the load of a cement-sand screed, a waterproofing film and a 2-10 cm thick screed are placed on top of the insulation.

4. Fuse a bituminous roof over the screed in 2-3 layers.

If the floor is wooden, it will not support the weight of the screed. In this case, it is recommended to choose a polymer membrane (PVC, EPDM, PVO) for the top coat. A layer of geotextile is placed on top of the insulation, a membrane is placed on it. Fastening is carried out mechanically.

Flat operated roofs are becoming more popular every year, as the cost of housing and land rises in price, and this design allows you to make additional usable space. To equip such a roof, it is necessary to use special materials and adhere to a special technology. We will talk about how the installation of a flat roof takes place in our article.

Flat roof technology is determined by its functional load. Therefore, first you need to determine what an exploited roof is, and how it differs from the usual one. The clue lies in the name itself - the exploited roof can be exploited, that is, used as additional usable space. Some prefer to set up mini-gardens on it, others make a recreation area with a barbecue and tables, open restaurants on flat roofs, build sports grounds, hold concerts and make parking lots. Needless to say - an ingenious solution for the metropolis.

There are classic and inversion roofs. The difference between them is only in the order of the location of the heat-insulating layer inside the roofing pie. So, in the first case, the insulation is under the waterproofing, and in the second - above it.

An exploitable flat roof is a flooring that includes all the components of the usual "pie" - vapor barrier, waterproofing, insulation and topcoat. But in addition to this, such a roof is reinforced with a durable ceiling that can withstand heavy loads. It is very difficult and quite expensive to make such a structure with your own hands, but it is much easier and cheaper than building additional living space from scratch.

The device of the operated roof

The device of a flat roof of the operated type is different from any other type of roof, and the order of work is determined by the type of building and the materials used.

Any operated roof consists of the following layers:

• load-bearing slab - usually a reinforced concrete monolithic structure that takes on the entire load exerted by materials lying on top, furniture and objects placed on the roof, people on it;
• slope - a special leveling layer that provides the minimum required slope to drain water from the roof surface;
• vapor barrier - experts recommend using modern built-up bituminous products, self-adhesive films or mastics (layer thickness 1-2 mm). In this case, the vapor barrier takes on the function of a temporary or replacement waterproofing;
• thermal insulation - insulation must be resistant to moisture or have minimal moisture absorption, its thickness can be at least 150 mm (preferably 200 mm). Another mandatory requirement is strength and durability. Expanded polystyrene and foam glass have proven themselves well;
• waterproofing - ensures the safety of thermal insulation and the integrity of the carrier plate, therefore, for the protective layer, it is necessary to choose only the highest quality time-tested materials;
• finish coating - gravel or sand powder, cement screed, decking, lawn, ceramic tiles or any other suitable material.

Roof slope

Despite the fact that the roof is called flat, it should still have a slight slope. This necessary measure is needed to ensure the runoff of rain and melt water. Otherwise, they will linger on the surface, spoil the finish coating and render the “pie” unusable. To set the direction of the water and make it flow to the right place, a very small slope is enough - from 1 to 5 degrees. It is completely imperceptible either visually or by sensations.

However, it is not enough to tilt the surface just a little, it is necessary to make a drain for water, through which she could leave the house and go outside. Funnels for a flat roof will help organize the safe removal of excess moisture.

There are several ways to create a ramp:

• the use of bulk materials;
• pouring concrete with the addition of bulk materials;
• pouring concrete with polymer fillers;
• installation of additional insulation.

For the first method, various bulk materials are used - crushed stone, expanded clay, crumb. They are quite cheap to purchase, but installation causes many difficulties. First, a waterproofing layer is laid on a concrete base, on which crushed stone or expanded clay is poured along a given slope. In order for the granules to maintain their position, they are watered with "cement milk", which acts as an adhesive. When the loose particles seize, they begin laying the subsequent layers of the "pie". However, very often "cement milk" cannot provide reliable fixation, and the granules still roll. As a result, the angle changes and the slope does not meet the required parameters.

In the case of creating a slope of a flat roof with concrete, its weight can put too much load on the carrier plate, and it simply will not withstand. This option is only suitable if the arrangement of the operated roof with a concrete slope was taken into account at the design stage of the building.

It turns out that the first three methods are either difficult or impossible at all. Fortunately, the abundance of modern building materials allows you to find an alternative solution, and more than one. To create a smooth and imperceptible slope of the roof, light and easy-to-install materials are used: polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene foam, stekloizol, foam concrete slabs, stone wool, fiberglass, foam glass, etc. There is also a special Ruf-Slope system, which involves laying stone blocks in a special way.

It is much easier, faster and more profitable to make a flat roof flat roof with mineral wool or polyurethane foam slabs than fiddling with expanded clay and concrete. The most important advantage of such materials is low weight with impressive rigidity. They are glued over waterproofing with various mastics or special compounds so that the bonding strength is higher than the tensile strength of the insulation.

As for the use of foam concrete for arranging the ramp, its installation will require special equipment and skilled workers. First, a layer of foam concrete is applied to the base, which is covered with a foam fiber concrete screed. Since this entails additional costs, most prefer the above-mentioned plates, especially since the result is equally good in all cases.

Roof-Slope is a special flat roof slope technology developed by ROCKWOOL. Its essence is that for each roof structure an individual system is selected that provides an optimal slope and fast water flow. Development and calculations are fully automated, so there can be no errors. When the program has calculated all the data and generated a virtual slope model, a set of panels with the required slope is produced at the factory. The elements are delivered to the assembly site and mounted according to the puzzle principle, after which they are covered with a layer of liquid rubber. Such a service is quite expensive, but it should be borne in mind that you get at the same time a ramp, insulation, and additional waterproofing.

The slope of a flat roof is necessary so that water does not linger on the surface and flows to a certain place, but in order to remove it from the roof, it is necessary to equip a drainage system. Drainage funnels are installed on each sector of the roof, and in the case of an inversion type of construction, the funnels must ensure the removal of moisture not only from the surface, but also from the waterproofing layer.

Roof insulation

The heat-insulating layer for an exploited roof must be made of durable (not soft) materials that are resistant to moisture and the pressure of the weight of the roof. Without fail, the insulation needs to be protected with a vapor barrier to provide additional protection against moisture. When choosing film materials, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, it should be borne in mind that there will be seams between the cuts - potential risk areas. Therefore, many prefer welded seamless vapor barrier made of bitumen or polybitumen.

For thermal insulation of a flat roof, stone or mineral wool in slabs, extruded polystyrene foam or foam glass are most often used. The last two materials are characterized by almost complete hydrophobicity and remain dry in any circumstances, therefore they are considered the best option for laying a flat roof. The only caveat is the high cost, especially foam glass. In the case of expanded polystyrene, it is also necessary to provide additional fire safety and protect the insulation from ultraviolet radiation.

Mineral wool boards do not burn and are quite cheap. However, this material needs serious protection from moisture - the slightest wetting, and the plates cease to fulfill their purpose. In addition, mineral and stone wool do not have the necessary strength, so they need additional reinforcement. Often, a cement screed is used for this - it evenly distributes the load, is an additional protection for the plates and provides an even and solid base for laying the waterproofing carpet.

There are prefabricated and wet screeds. The team is made from sheets of slate or asbestos, and this is quite an expensive pleasure. A wet screed looks like a classic cement-sand mortar, which is used to fill the insulation. This option is much cheaper, but provides additional load on the slab and foundation. In addition, when pouring, moisture from the solution will necessarily be absorbed into the insulation, so you need to lay a protective layer of kraft paper or glassine. A wet screed dries for a very long time (up to 3-4 weeks), and if you try to fuse waterproofing without waiting for it to dry completely, then bubbles will definitely appear on the surface. From all this, a logical conclusion can be drawn - it is better to spend money on durable insulation than to buy cheap mineral wool and make a screed.

To insulate a house with a flat roof, experts recommend using high-strength basalt mineral wool slabs. Their special production technology, which involves a double orientation of the fibers (weaving), guarantees high rigidity and durability.

Whatever insulation you choose for your roof, it must meet the following requirements:

• do not absorb moisture;
• do not swell;
• do not rot;
• do not shrink;
• be durable;
• be durable.

Waterproofing

The waterproofing of the operated roof should be given special attention, since the safety of not only the roofing pie, but the entire building depends on its quality and installation. Regardless of whether you are building a soft flat roof or an inverted one, the work on waterproofing is the same.

If earlier the roofs were covered with liquid bitumen, today they prefer rolled welded materials, between which there are no seams (roofing material, polymer-bitumen materials, PVC membranes, etc.). Bitumen polymer materials are highly elastic and easy to install. Molded asphalt, self-adhesive film and various emulsions are especially popular among them.

Features of laying waterproofing:

Waterproofing with liquid rubber is by far the best and most reliable way to protect the “pie” from moisture penetration for a period of 20 years or more. In addition to the fact that liquid rubber, after hardening, gives a one-piece seamless coating, it simultaneously acts as a vapor barrier, so it is often used in cases where it is not possible to buy additional building materials. The only caveat is that to create such protection, you need special equipment and skills in handling it. Applying liquid rubber should be done in calm, dry weather.
Such waterproofing is used not only to protect roofing pies, but even in the construction of pools - the hardened rubber reliably retains all moisture on the surface.

Finish coat

When all the nodes of a flat roof are installed, you can proceed to the final stage - the installation of the finish coating. When choosing it, you should start not only from the operational characteristics of the material, but also take into account your own preferences. The right coating will set the mood for the entire interior of your future outdoor area. We offer to consider the most popular materials used for finishing the exploited roof.

Important: Regardless of the coverage, it is necessary to install a parapet for a flat roof around the entire perimeter. It will perform a protective and decorative function. The height of the parapet depends on the purpose for which you are building a platform on the roof. If it will be a sports hall with a basketball hoop or a tennis court, a high net should be installed instead of a parapet.

Roof tiles

As a floor covering for a flat roof, you can use tile, ceramic, marble, porcelain stoneware, granite and other durable types of slabs. The main thing is that the surface is not slippery. The tiles are placed on special plastic stands, granite gravel or mortar.

Plastic donut stands are quite inexpensive, but their adjustment range is limited to 15 mm, so the curvature of the finish coat will correspond to the slope of the roof. However, experts have figured out how to eliminate this drawback - before installing the stands, they level the base with rubble.

Another thing is the support columns. They have a wide range of adjustment and provide a flat surface for any roof slope.

Pebbles and gravel on the roof

In most cases, crushed stone acts as a leveling layer, on which a more aesthetic material is laid. But it can also be a topcoat if you want to diversify your landscape design or make neat paths.

When arranging plantings on a flat roof (green roof), crushed stone is used as drainage to ensure uniform saturation of plants with water and prevent waterlogging of the soil.

With smooth stones, turned by a river or the sea, you can lay out a very beautiful surface on which it will be useful to walk barefoot. From pebbles of various colors and shades, original compositions, even, neat paths and decorative elements are obtained.

Polymer coatings

Polymeric materials for exploited roofs provide a smooth, seamless surface that does not allow water to pass through and is able to withstand temperature changes. Depending on the composition, the characteristics and method of coating differ. Thin coatings are applied with a brush or roller, thick coatings are poured and leveled.

Thin polymer coatings are mostly colorless (transparent) and serve to create a protective film for mosaics, natural stone or tiles. They prevent the finish from cracking in extreme cold, fading from direct sunlight, and cracking from accidental impacts. Such protection can last up to 20 years or longer.

Thick-layer polymer coatings are made from Plexiglas. After hardening, they form a dense layer about 20 mm thick. The main advantage is that after pouring the self-leveling mixture on the surface, the floor can be used after 2-3 hours. The average service life of such a coating is 50 years.

Rubber tiles

Rubber tiles have established themselves as a reliable universal coating that can be used both indoors and outdoors. It does not fade under the sun and is not afraid of moisture, does not sag under the weight of furniture and has a long service life.

Rubber tiles are made from recycled car tires. They are ground into crumbs and pressed under high pressure, resulting in dense, elastic and very durable "mats". Depending on the model and purpose, the tiles can be connected to each other with special locks or laid on glue, like a regular tile.

This material is ideal for finishing the exploited roof, since it does not slip at all, even if it is wet with water. Since the rubber is quite elastic, albeit dense, it takes the load off the legs while walking.

Terrace board

The most aesthetic type of flat roof flooring. The flooring is made of dense valuable wood - larch, cherry, teak, merbau, etc. Such a finish is quite expensive, but there is also a more budget option - a terrace board made of wood-polymer composite. Outwardly, it practically does not differ from the “noble” wooden one, so many people prefer just such a coating.

Deck boards require little to no care - as a rule, rain washes away all dirt, and if there is anything left, you can simply brush it off with a brush. Installation also does not cause difficulties - for the terrace board they use the same supports as for tiles, and the decking is installed on special fasteners (included).

Before purchasing materials, it is necessary to make an accurate calculation of a flat roof, taking into account the bearing capacity of the walls and the foundation of the building (if it has already been built). Ideally, it is better to plan an exploited roof at the design stage of the house itself.

In the construction of a private house, gable, hip and other types of roofs are traditionally used. Less common is a flat exploited roof. Such structures are often used in the construction of outbuildings. But, in recent years, it is increasingly possible to meet flat roofs in the construction of residential buildings. The popularity of the design is due to the large additional space. This type of roof is perfect for owners of small plots: on an exploited flat roof, you can organize space for leisure and recreation, or even a small garden.

Types of flat roofs

Flat roofs are exploited and unexploited. It is easy to guess that the difference lies in the name: unused roofs are not designed for long-term loads. They are used on buildings that do not require frequent roof maintenance, such as garages. The roofing pie on such structures consists of a base of insulation and a rolled topcoat.

Exploited flat roofs have a more complex structure and a layer of insulation. The first layer is laid with a draft layer of boards or timber, then comes a vapor barrier film, tile insulation and finishing material. The roof structure provides for reinforced overlap. Such a roof allows you not to spend money on the construction of adjoining outbuildings, but it is not cheap.

Ready exploited flat roof perfectly tolerates long-term loads and repairs.

Design features

The design of a flat exploited roof is a complex multilayer system:

• Base. Most often, houses with a flat roof are built of concrete or blocks, so reinforced concrete slabs are used for the base of the roof. The material withstands the constant presence of people, small superstructures in the form of gazebos and other things.
• Razklonka. Despite the fact that the roof is called flat, they do not always make a slight slope. This is necessary to form the sewage system of the house. The layer is laid on a concrete slab to form inclined planes, often bulk materials are used for this, for example, expanded clay. Recently, tiled insulation with a slope has been used for this.
• Vapor barrier. Warm air, along with steam, tends to rise up, and this is detrimental to thermal insulation materials and structural parts of the building. To protect the roofing cake from moisture, a vapor barrier film is used.
• Thermal insulation. Most of the heat loss in a room occurs through the roof. Insulation allows you to keep warm in the home, thereby reducing the payment for heating or electricity (in houses with electric heating). The minimum thickness of the insulation is 15 cm, depending on the climate, the value varies.
• Waterproofing. The waterproofing layer protects the thermal insulation from the effects of the external environment. The density of the material is chosen taking into account climatic conditions.
• Clean coverage. The material for covering the roof is selected depending on the purpose of the space. A lawn is laid for a garden or gazebo, a screed or bulk material is used in barbecue areas.

Important! During the construction of the roof, special attention is paid to the quality of the vapor and waterproofing layer. Savings on these materials can cause a violation of the properties of thermal insulation.

Creation of a drainage system

To create a drainage system on flat roofs, a slope is erected. It protects roofs during the rainy and snowmelt seasons.

Usually the slope of the roof is set at 1-5 o, this value is sufficient for the functioning of the drainage system. When present on such a roof, such a slope is not felt and does not interfere with the arrangement. In addition to the slope, funnels are installed to drain water. With the help of pipes, water is discharged from the house to the outside or into special containers.

The slope structure on the roof is assembled from different materials depending on the budget, the design of the roof and the function of the space.

Concrete screed with the addition of polymers or bulk components

A simple concrete screed is not used in such structures due to the excessive load on the concrete slab. Therefore, the so-called "lightweight concrete" is used. With the same volume as the regular one, it has less weight. Most often it contains expanded clay, polystyrene chips or other polymers. The screed is poured in the same way as usual, but the guides are set at the desired angle. The disadvantage of the method is that it cannot be used in the cold season: this can damage the screed.

Bulk materials

Bulk materials are very cheap compared to other types of raw materials for this construction. To create a slope, expanded clay or stone chips are poured at the right angle, after which they are poured with liquid cement mortar. He, in turn, fastens the stones together and maintains the angle of inclination. However, during long-term operation, the adhesive property of cement may decrease and the slope is broken.

Tiled insulation with a slope

In recent years, in the construction of dwellings with a flat exploited roof, tiled insulation has been used for demolition, such as glass insulation, foam concrete, foam glass, etc. It is very simple to create a slope using tile material, even an unprepared person can handle it. An important advantage of this method is the low weight of the structure. Insulation plates are glued with special liquids to waterproofing layers.

A thin cement screed is poured over the slope-forming layer, after which they proceed to further work.

Regardless of the type of material for demolition, it is necessary to install sewage structures; they are installed on all sections of the roof.

vapor barrier

The vapor barrier is laid on the base, the function of this layer is to retain the steam rising from the room. Violation or incorrect installation of this layer will lead to swelling and destruction of the upper layers of the "roofing cake". Therefore, during construction, do not neglect or save on vapor barrier. For these works, film and deposited materials are used. The former include polyethylene and polypropylene films. The disadvantage of the method is the possible violation of the tightness of the seams. Welded materials, such as bitumen, are stronger than film materials. The thickness of the layer protects the coating from tearing

Note! When using vapor barrier films, special tape or adhesive tape is used to seal the seams.

thermal insulation

As a heater for flat roofs, various slab heaters are used, such as mineral wool or basalt slabs. The material is laid in one or two layers, depending on the climate and thickness. The second method is considered more reliable. Laying slab insulation is very simple, you can handle it yourself. The insulation is attached to the base with adhesives, dowels or bitumen. The latter method is used less frequently due to the complexity and high cost. During installation, bitumen is applied, heated, then the plates are laid, and so on until the end. If an additional layer is required, the insulation is laid so that the upper plates overlap the joints of the lower ones.

Important! If the thermal insulation is fastened with dowels, then only welded materials are used as a vapor barrier. Otherwise, the tightness of the layer is violated.

Waterproofing

For waterproofing a flat roof, welded and rolled materials are used. The laying technology of both is simple and does not require special training.

Before laying the waterproofing, the surface is thoroughly cleaned of debris using a construction vacuum cleaner or other equipment. After that, the drainage funnels and joints of plates or other structures are washed using a drill with a brush attachment.

When mechanical debris is removed, they begin to flush the roof from dust. To do this, use special equipment with high water pressure. The following types of coatings are used for waterproofing:

• The roofing material consists of a special cardboard impregnated with bitumen. The material is very easy to install and has a low cost. Roofing material RKK and RPK is used for the roof, they have exceptional protective properties. Significant disadvantages of the material include a negative reaction to ultraviolet radiation: with prolonged use in the sun, the material loses its properties and becomes brittle. The material is suitable for those who plan to purchase a more expensive coating in the future or are ready to repair and replace every 5-7 years.
• Roll materials using polymer compounds and bitumen are stronger than roofing material. There are many types of coverage to suit every taste and pocket. They are easy to install and operate, all you need is a cutting tool and a torch.
• PVC membranes, if properly maintained, can last up to 50 years, and they are also resistant to environmental influences. There are types of coating that can withstand negative temperatures of 55-70 degrees. The installation of the material is very simple: the rolls are rolled out and fixed with an adhesive to the coating.

When buying waterproofing, you must take into account the climatic conditions of your area.

For more information on the progress of waterproofing a flat roof, see the video: