When purchasing roofing material, we all want it to serve as long as possible. The actual service life of metal tiles can be 30/40 years, although manufacturers usually guarantee only 10/15. In order for the coating, at the same time, not to lose its protective qualities and aesthetic appearance, it is necessary, first, not to make a mistake when choosing a roofing, and second, to correctly lay it.
Aspects affecting the life span of metal tiles
Before you purchase a metal tile for a roof, consider those factors that affect the quality of the coating, and hence its durability.
- Strength characteristics of the starting material, i.e. - galvanized steel.To ensure that the shingles were made from high quality steel sheets, choose products from reputable manufacturers.
They ensure that only the highest grades of metal are used, and the coating is done on modern equipment. - The durability of the tiles is greatly influenced by the thickness of the steel sheets and the protective zinc coating. If the metal is very thin, then there is a great danger that it will deform and quickly rust through at the slightest violation of the protection layers.
On the other hand, if the sheets are too thick, the metal tile will be quite heavy. This will make it difficult to assemble the coating, and will also create heavy loads on the roof frame.
The optimal weight of metal tiles is from 3.6 kg to 5.5 kg/m². The thickness of the sheets should be at least 0.45 mm, and the protective zinc layer - 245 microns.
The literacy of the installation of Viking metal tiles is extremely important. It is on this, in many respects, that the life of the roofing material depends..
If you will independently cover the roof with metal tiles, then be sure to strictly follow all the recommendations and instructions of its manufacturer.
Note! And, finally, one more feature that a metal tile has: its service life strongly depends on the type of protective coating.
Types of decorative and protective polymer coatings, which one is better
Pural, PVDF, polyester and plastisol are used as the top protective layer for metal tiles. Thanks to them, the material can withstand temperatures from -50º to +120º.
The best option for covering metal tiles is pural.It is quite inexpensive, while it has excellent performance: resistance to temperature extremes (withstands from -15º to +120º), aggressive chemical influences, and ultraviolet radiation. The thickness of this coating is 50 µm.
Pural ennobles the appearance of the metal tile, gives it gloss, color fastness and endows the material with dirt-repellent qualities. Also, this polymer increases the life of the tiles, due to resistance to chemical and mechanical corrosion.
Polyester is also a very common metal tile coating. This material is resistant to corrosion and high temperatures. Its thickness is 25 microns. It can be either glossy or matte. A metal tile with a protective polyester coating can last up to 40 years.
Plastisol has the largest thickness - 200 microns. Has a textured surface. Although it is highly resistant to corrosion and mechanical damage, it can only last about 20/25 years.
The PVDF coating is the youngest. But, it has already begun to gain popularity in our country. This protective material, only 27 microns thick, is composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and acrylic. Their combination gives the surface of the tiles a gloss that has a distinct metallic effect.
PVDF perfectly resists aggressive environments, is resistant to ultraviolet radiation and mechanical stress. The warranty period for tiles with this coating is 10 years. In fact, roofing material can last up to 40 years.
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