Roof pie under shingles. Roofing pie under a soft roof: general rules for the device and possible options. Roofing cake for a roof made of soft tiles


Often during construction, the owners of private houses try to use even the attic area for living quarters. Some of them plan only summer-type rooms (unheated) on the attic floor, but preference is still given to full-fledged rooms in which you can live all year round. And this circumstance directly affects the arrangement of the roof. If in attic rooms insulation is usually laid on the floor in order to insulate the heat coming out of the lower floor, and the empty space of the attic serves as an air gap that prevents cold from penetrating into the premises from the roof, then the attic room is insulated differently. All insulation from the floor must be transferred to the roof structure. Therefore, in mansard-type houses, a roofing pie is an obligatory element of the roof - a multilayer system of different materials that provide heat, hydro, vapor barrier and ventilation.

In a roofing cake, each layer performs a specific function, but subject to the correct order of placement. It is better to entrust the creation of such a pie to professionals, but each owner must be aware of what it is in order to control the quality of the installation, check whether all the layers are laid in the correct order, and know what materials are best to purchase. If the device of the roofing pie does not meet the norm, then heat losses will go through the roof, condensation will form, and in winter - frost and icicles. So, all the insulation was wasted.

Each layer has its own purpose and is inextricably linked with the others. An error in the construction of one of them leads to a reduction in the service life and performance of the roof.

Consider what is the sequence of laying layers, and what materials are best selected for each layer.

Uninsulated roofing pie

It is created in cases where they plan to live on the attic floor only in summer, and the ceiling of the main premises is already insulated. In this case, the main task of the roofing pie is to isolate the attic from condensate entering from the outside, and to allow moisture to escape from the house to the outside. And in order not to disturb the microcirculation of air, they lay a waterproofing film with the smallest holes (microperforation).

The sequence of laying an uninsulated pie is as follows:

  1. A rafter system is being created.
  2. A waterproofing film is laid.
  3. The counter-lattice is stuffed.
  4. The crate is attached.
  5. Roofing material is laid.

Read on for details on how to lay each layer.

Insulated roofing cake

This is a more multilayer construction, which is used for attics, in which it is planned to equip full-fledged residential premises. And its task is not only waterproofing, but also heat preservation. The thermal regime under the roof is significantly different from the climate on the ground floor.

An insulated roofing pie can turn an attic into a living space

In summer, the roof can heat up to 70˚, and in winter it can get very cold. Of course, there can be no comfortable living in such a room. Therefore, the roofing cake should not only keep the heat inside during the winter, providing air insulation from contact with the cold roof, but also keep hot air out of the heat inside the house.

The attic loses heat more intensively than the lower floors, since it has a large common surface of contact with the external environment

Consider the structure of the insulated roofing pie in more detail.

rafters

The total thickness of all layers of the roofing cake is about 35 cm, so this should be taken into account in the rafter system. To know for sure whether the height of the cut rafters is enough, decide what material you will lay as a heater. For example, a basalt insulation has a thickness of about 150 mm, so a beam of traditional thickness of 100 mm will be too small.

The rafters, which will carry the main load of the roof, are best created from coniferous wood, in which there are no flaws. Choose wood with a moisture level of no more than 22% and be sure to impregnate the entire tree with antiseptic compounds.

It is necessary to treat the rafter structure with antiseptics before laying the roofing cake

The thickness of the rafters and their pitch are selected depending on the coating that will cover the roof.

Vapor barrier layer

It is from this layer that the installation of the roofing pie begins, although the finishing will become the last inner layer.

Why is a vapor barrier needed?

Moisture is always present inside any house, and it is more in warm air, which, according to the law of physics, tends upward, i.e., to the attic floor. Neither natural nor forced ventilation can completely erode excess moisture, and when it gets on the roof structure, it settles with condensate. In our case, the vapor barrier layer must protect the insulation from moisture penetration, which is laid with the next layer, since the heat-insulating material saturated with moisture completely loses its properties.

What material is used for the vapor barrier

  1. Glassine is an affordable vapor barrier, but its ability to retain moisture is lost over the years.
  2. Vapor barrier film. As a rule, such a film has several layers and a reinforcing frame made of polymers, which prevents it from sagging.
  3. foil material.

The foil in the composition of the vapor barrier material will increase the level of heat retention, as it does not transmit infrared radiation

It can be a film with a foil side or a material that resembles a chocolate wrapper, in which one side is paper and the other is foil.

Both the one and the other option, in addition to waterproofing, performs another important function: it does not let in infrared radiation. And since it is it that causes heat loss from the premises, then with the use of a foil layer, heat loss is reduced (and this is without a heater!). At a price such a waterproofer is more expensive than the rest.

How to attach the vapor barrier layer to the truss system

  • The material is rolled out along the rafter legs. As a rule, waterproofing film is sold in rolls, which must be rolled along the ridge. Laying starts from the bottom, and the rows are overlapped, going over the previous layer by 15 cm.
  • It is most convenient to fix the film to the tree with a construction stapler.
  • The places where the rows are laid and the edge adjacent to the wall must be sealed, fastened with a connecting tape. Instead of tape, you can carefully glue it with tape.

note! The tape doesn't need to be stretched too hard. It should sag a little between the rafters (up to 2 mm).

All rows of vapor barrier film begin to be laid from below, and the joints are tightly sealed with adhesive tape

Thermal insulation layer

If you plan full-fledged rooms on the attic floor, then the microclimate and the level of heat in them should be no worse than in the premises of the main floor, which means that they need to be insulated with the same quality. Moreover, the ceiling (also known as a pitched roof) has a large surface area in direct contact with the street, which leads to significant heat loss. The heat-insulating layer of the roofing cake will help to reduce them.

How to choose the right heater

There are many insulation materials on the market. But for a residential building, the heat-insulating material must meet the following requirements:

  • be environmentally friendly;
  • non-combustible;
  • vapor permeable;
  • isolate sound.

Consider which heaters are used most often.

Mineral wool. The most commonly used insulation. The material is based on basalt fiber, does not burn, has a dense structure, and a high level of heat retention. But you should not buy it in a roofing pie under a metal tile, because the condensate formed on the back of the roofing can penetrate mineral wool, quickly soak it, from which the insulation loses its properties.

The soft structure of mineral wool completely fills the volume even in the most inconvenient areas of the roof structure

Fiberglass. Non-flammable, environmentally friendly material. But the fiberglass structure is unstable and tends to "slide". Therefore, it is not recommended to cover pitched roofs with such a heater, but only flat ones.

Both mineral wool and fiberglass should be laid on a roof with difficult areas. They are easily placed in any niches, filling the entire volume between the rafters completely, thereby preventing cold bridges.

Styrofoam . Popular because of the low price and good thermal insulation. A big plus is that it does not absorb moisture. But it should be borne in mind that it is combustible, and when burned, it forms toxic compounds.

Styrofoam. Demanded due to lightness and low thermal conductivity. Non-toxic and completely non-absorbent. But due to vapor permeability in summer, increased humidity can be observed in the room. But from the street in case of roof leaks, moisture will not get inside. Expanded polystyrene plates have a rigid structure, so it is difficult to lay them on difficult areas of the roof.

So, to summarize: for pitched roofs, it is best to use insulation with a loose structure, and hard materials are suitable for a roofing cake for a soft roof.

What layer of insulation is placed in the roofing pie

The most minimal layer of insulation for areas with mild winters should be at least 15 cm. If the winters are frosty, then it is better to lay 20 cm thick.

If one layer of insulation is not enough, a second one is applied on top

The ventilation gap serves as an air gasket between the insulation and the waterproofing film, which will prevent moisture from entering from the outside. It is needed so that excess moisture that forms in the off-season, when there is high humidity outside, or gets through cracks in the roof, etc., is vented from the insulation. It is very difficult to find and eliminate leaks in roofs with a roofing pie, because whole blocks of mineral wool they can get wet in one place, and a crack will be found somewhere near the ridge. And if you do not provide for an air gap, then during the season with such a leak a large amount of insulation can deteriorate (especially fiberglass and mineral wool, which absorb moisture).

How to create a ventilation gap:

  1. If a corrugated material is chosen as the roof covering, then passive ventilation will be created in any case, even if the ridge structure is flat.
  2. For forced ventilation, it is necessary to purchase special equipment that is driven by wind or powered by the mains. It includes aerators, special ventilated skates.
  3. On pitched roofs, natural ventilation is sufficient, and on flat roofs, compulsory ventilation is required.

With the help of roof ventilation, moist air is easily removed from under the roof, either by natural draft or using special ventilation valves.

waterproofing layer

The task of waterproofing is to prevent moisture from the roofing from entering the heat-insulating layer, but to remove excess moisture from the insulation. Therefore, the film that was laid in the vapor barrier layer will not work here: it does not allow moisture to pass through. For waterproofing, special materials are purchased, including:

  • Diffusion membranes

This is a film coating in which there are microscopic holes, similar in shape to funnels. The wide side of the funnels is laid to the insulation, and the narrow side - to the roofing.

They can only be laid if 2 ventilation gaps are created. Contact with the insulation is not allowed, because the funnels will become clogged and will not let steam through.

Moisture in such pies comes out under the roofing material, so diffusion membranes can be used with roofing that is not afraid of condensation on the back side.

These films are so effective in introducing vapors that they do not require the creation of an air gap. This is convenient for those houses where the roofing cake is not created immediately during the construction process, but in an already residential building.

Superdiffusion membranes are the most popular materials for protecting the roof of a house from condensation, leaks and external moisture.

Both versions of the membrane are not suitable for metal tiles and euroslate, because the back side of these coatings is afraid of condensation, but the roofing cake for soft tiles, clay tiles are mounted with this type of waterproofing.

  • Condensate films

It is they who are used on roofs made of metal and euroslate, because the films are vapor-tight. Moisture from the insulation settles on the fleecy surface of the waterproofing layer and is carried away with ventilation. The second air gap (under the roof covering) prevents condensate from settling on the underside of the roof.

Counter-lattice and crate

After laying the waterproofing, the bars of the counter-lattice are stuffed, and along it - the main crate. The type of lathing depends on the roofing material. For soft tiles, ondulin, they create a continuous crate of oriented strand board, plywood or boards, for slate, metal profiles, etc. - they make the crate with bars with gaps for ventilation.

The crate for metal tiles is made of bars to create an additional air gap, which will prevent condensation from settling on the reverse side of the coating.

Roofing is laid on top of the crate.

Video recipe "layer cake" under the metal tile

Now that you know all the nuances of the roofing pie, you can safely invite the construction team and observe the correctness of the work from the outside.

Every year, manufacturers of bituminous materials produce more and more new coatings, but at the same time, the roofing cake for a soft roof remains unchanged. The exception is its slight changes, based on the finish layer used. To date, soft roofs have high waterproofing and elasticity parameters, therefore, working with them is not difficult. In this article, I will write down what the pie should consist of so that the roof does not need expensive repairs in the first year of operation.

Soft roof indicators

The device of a roof from soft products is carried out in several layers. Not only the effectiveness of the protective layer, but also the life of the entire building depends on their location. For example, without a vapor barrier layer, the thermal insulation boards will quickly become saturated with moisture, and you will have to replace them, and this will happen again without eliminating the cause.

To date, bituminous tiles almost entirely occupy the niche of soft roofs. In fact, this roofing variety is recognized precisely by this product. As a raw material for the production of soft tiles, fiberglass impregnated with a special bituminous compound or rubber is most often used. The protective layer, as a rule, is a mineral dressing.

In addition to shingles, a material called shingles is common in private construction. Its advantages are as follows:

  • Increased resistance to aggressive environments. Bituminous materials have the highest possible resistance to moisture and withstand temperatures from -50 to +100 degrees. They never get covered in moss or rot, so they are not attractive to other small rodents either.
  • The operating period is about 25 years, which is quite impressive considering the cost of this material. This indicator may be higher if during the installation process the processes proceeded with maximum quality.
  • The soft surface is good sound insulation. Its noise-absorbing properties for some developers are the highest priority along with all the positive aspects.
  • Ease of installation work. As mentioned above, bituminous products are highly elastic. This allows you to easily lay the material even on complex truss systems. Due to the properties of the coating, installation work can be carried out independently. To do this, you will need a good gas burner and special equipment for working at height.

The use of soft roofs is advisable only if the slope of your roof is in the range of 15-45 degrees. Laying a roofing carpet from individual elements on more gentle planes is fraught with leaks. The fact is that the method of fastening does not make the surface completely sealed. If your area has high temperatures during the hot season, then it is better to make the slope as low as possible, this is due to the fact that with strong heating, the bituminous product can drain from a steep slope.

The introduction of new technologies into production allowed manufacturers to create a new type of soft tile. It practically does not differ from its counterparts, but has a self-adhesive base. Thanks to this, installation work can be carried out in a very short period and you do not need to use many tools.

To get acquainted with the product, I advise you to study its structure, which includes the following layers:

  • There is a protective film on the bottom of the bituminous product. It performs the protective functions of a self-adhesive layer.
  • The composition of the adhesive allows high-quality gluing of bituminous material, both to the crate and to another identical element. The result is a perfect waterproofing surface
  • These layers are followed by bitumen. It is thanks to him that soft materials have high elasticity and strength characteristics.
  • In the center is a reinforcing base or fiberglass in another way. This material is the basis of the tile and does not allow it to break.
  • On top of this layer, lay another layer of rubber, and mineral dressing closes all this. Bulk protection gives the entire material resistance to mechanical damage and direct exposure to sunlight, gives the product fire safety

Roof pie under soft tiles

The soft roof pie has a somewhat complex structure and for its high-quality arrangement it is necessary to understand the functional tasks of individual layers. All work must begin with preparatory work. At this stage, the base is carefully studied and, in case of any serious deviations from the norms, cosmetic repairs are carried out.

The soft roof pie with insulation has the following structure:

  1. Vapor barrier layer. It is laid from below in order not to let in moisture coming from below. There is a simple answer to the question of where it comes from. In the process of human life, a certain amount of moisture is released. The most elementary example is cooking. Warm air rises and condenses on the colder side, so it enters the attic space, and then in the same way it can penetrate the roofing pie. It is worth noting that the presence of even a small amount of moisture in the insulation boards reduces its performance by more than two times.
  2. thermal insulation layer. On pitched roofs, any material can be used, but on flat roofs, it is better to pay attention to hard types, for example, mineral wool slabs.
  3. waterproofing layer. In fact, it is no different from a vapor barrier and is often made from the same material, but the quality suffers. The main task is to protect the heat-insulating layer from moisture coming in the form of precipitation and condensate.
  4. Crate. This lumber system allows you to distribute the load from the overlying layers as evenly as possible. As a rule, soft roofs are laid on a continuous crate made of OSB boards, moisture-resistant plywood or cut boards.
  5. The lining layer creates a soft base and does not allow the sensitive layer of shingles to receive mechanical damage. It has a dense structure and serves as additional waterproofing and protection against strong gusts of wind.
  6. The final layer is the roofing itself. It gives the structure a finished look and serves as protection against an aggressive external environment.

Manufacturers of roofing materials often give advice on laying their products. If you want to achieve maximum performance - listen. The wrong combination of products will inevitably lead to problems that will be revealed already in the first year of operation, for example, leaks and the beginning of rotting of wooden elements.

Requirements for the crate

Metal roofs have a more rigid surface, therefore, the whole structure will also be highly durable. As for soft roofs, they have problems with this. To ensure good strength characteristics, it is necessary to carry out a number of special measures.

A little higher in the article it was already said about the crate, more precisely, what materials it should consist of. Now, you need to know how to build it. This process takes place in just three steps.

  1. After laying the vapor barrier layer on the rafter legs, a counter-lattice must be laid. Its placement should be strictly parallel to the rafters. As a rule, these elements are made from softwood timber. Its thickness should be 3-4 centimeters. Long nails are used as fasteners
  2. The counter-lattice is closed with auxiliary boards. They must have a cross section of at least 150x20 millimeters and be attached perpendicular to the rafters.
  3. On top of all this, the crate itself is arranged. If you have free access to lumber, you can build it from boards, but it is best to use OSB boards or moisture-resistant plywood. The dimensions of the boards should be selected in such a way that the plane is as even as possible, otherwise the material laid on top can be severely deformed, which will lead to leaks.

IMPORTANT: When laying OSB boards or moisture-resistant plywood, do not forget about ventilation gaps. A distance of 3-5 millimeters is enough for the air to ventilate.

Remember that laying underlayment is a must. If you skip this layer, the rough surface of the lumber will easily damage your soft top.

Requirements for waterproofing

A roofing pie for a soft roof must necessarily include high-quality waterproofing. As a rule, it is a rolled material and is laid in strips. It should be noted that during installation work it should not be stretched, it should be in a slight sag. For good protection, the overlap of the material should be about 15 centimeters.

Today in construction you can find only two materials that can be used in this regard.

  1. waterproofing film. The simplest and cheapest insulating material. Polyethylene is used as a raw material, in connection with this, the strength characteristics of the material are very low, and after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet it becomes even more brittle.
  2. membranes. This product is a kind of analog film. The fact is that in its production more advanced polymers are used. The structure of the membranes differs significantly from the cheap counterpart. The fact is that its structure has pores similar to funnels. It is thanks to them that the material can pass moisture in only one direction. This is a really good material if you care about the thermal insulation layer. Moisture that has got into the roofing cake can somehow leave it and will not come back. There are also varieties that do not allow condensate to accumulate on the surface of the membranes.

If we take into account the experience of some developers, then when installing soft roofs, it can be advised to use vapor-permeable products. Note that they only let steam through, not water. Their use will eliminate the possibility of condensation in the roofing cake from the air. The fact is that bituminous materials with strong heating contribute to the appearance of moisture from the air, which adversely affects all components of the roof.

Requirements for a roofing pie

The soft tile roof cake may differ slightly from the standard set of layers. Some of them are removed from the composition because of their inappropriateness. The following factors may influence this:

  • The functional purpose of the building. It can be industrial, residential or commercial.
  • Frequency of use. In buildings operated only during warm seasons, it is not advisable to install heating systems, therefore, heat-insulating boards can be removed
  • If there is a residential attic in the house, it is imperative to use thermal insulation
  • Weather conditions in your area

When making bituminous roofs, you should work as hard as possible with your head and take into account the compatibility of the products included in the pie. In no case do not ignore the advice of manufacturers, they often play an important role in installation.

If you doubt the materials, then ask the seller or acquaintances about them, and in extreme cases, you can turn to specialists.

A roof pie under a soft roof is an expensive part of the construction of the entire building, but it’s better not to save on these layers. If you lay the surface with low-quality materials, then soon you will need repairs, for which you will spend a much larger amount.

A roofing pie under a soft roof makes it possible to retain valuable heat as much as possible, remove excess moisture and carry out free air exchange with the external environment.

A roofing cake under a soft roof retains valuable heat and removes excess moisture.

Flexible shingles have been confidently holding high positions in the popularity rating among roofing materials for many years. Due to their distinctive properties - resistance to weather factors, durability and ease of installation, bitumen products are leading in the construction of private houses. Due to the constant increase in energy prices, the degree of heat preservation becomes an important parameter of such a roof, which largely depends on the structure of the heat-insulating pie.

What thermal insulation materials are used for modern roofing

Modern materials for roof insulation are characterized by high resistance to external factors and humidity, as well as fire safety. When choosing them, you should be guided by the following criteria:

Figure 1. Scheme of a warm roofing pie.

  1. High-quality insulation should stably maintain its characteristics over a long service life. This means that the material has the ability not to cake, not lose shape and not be saturated with moisture.
  2. The environmental safety of the heat insulator plays an important role. In its production, toxic substances that are released into the air should not be used.
  3. It is best to choose a heater that has a low specific gravity. Such material allows you to make a roof structure without additional elements that complicate construction and increase the cost of work.
  4. Modern roofing products should be characterized by high rates of fire resistance - do not support combustion. Insulation materials such as stone and mineral wool can withstand temperatures of around 1000°C and can act as a fire barrier.

When creating a warm roof, several types of materials are used. They differ not only in appearance and thickness, but also in functionality. The main heat-insulating layer consists of mineral or stone wool, in some cases glass wool is used. To limit the penetration of water, which reduces the useful characteristics of the insulation, the roof over the material is lined with a special superdiffusion membrane. In order for water vapor from the air inside the house not to condense in a layer of mineral wool, it is isolated from the inside with a vapor barrier.

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The structure of the heat-insulating cake of a warm roof

A roofing pie is a complex, multi-layered structure consisting of several important elements, each of which takes on a certain part of the functions. Describing the structure of a soft roof with full insulation (Fig. 1), the following layers can be distinguished in it:

Figure 2. Scheme of a cold roofing pie.

  1. The top one is shingles or another type of product.
  2. The material is laid on a special lining carpet, which is a layer of polyester fabric coated on both sides with a polypropylene film. The carpet provides additional protection from rain and snow, acting as a barrier between the soft tiles and the bottoms of the pie.
  3. The upper layers are laid on a continuous coating of OSB-3 boards (oriented strand board, designed for operation in conditions of high humidity).
  4. A sparse crate runs under the chipboards. The frequency of its laying should be such that each slab rests on at least three boards.
  5. A counter-beam is nailed to the inside of the crate, the main purpose of which is to ensure the presence of a ventilation gap.
  6. A superdiffusion membrane is attached to it, which freely passes air, but retains moisture, thus protecting the layer of material from getting wet.
  7. Under it is the main part of the cake - mineral insulation. Its dimensions must correspond to the parameters of the rafters, as they create the walls of the cells in which the material will be located. The optimal thickness of the mineral insulation is 200 mm. For work, it is best to purchase stone, mineral or glass wool, the thickness of which is 100 mm. It is laid in two layers, with a run of seams.
  8. The rafter is an important structural element of the roof. Although she does not directly participate in the process, but with the help of her a support is created for the main layer of insulation.
  9. Another counter-beam is installed across the rafters, which not only prevents the material from falling out, but also allows you to securely fix the sheathing layer or additional thermal insulation.
  10. It is used in cases where there is a risk of cold bridges at the joints of mineral insulation. It is laid between the counter beams, by analogy with the main layer of insulation.
  11. A vapor barrier film is mounted on top of the additional insulation. It is designed to prevent the penetration of moisture contained in warm air into the thickness of the product.
  12. The vapor barrier film is attached with small strips, which also create a second air gap.
  13. The last layer is a solid lining. It can be made of lining, sheets of wood or drywall. The filing, in some cases, is at the same time a decorative element that does not require additional processing.

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Cold Roof Pie

When designing buildings and structures that do not provide for heating systems, the structure of the roofing pie is greatly simplified. In its creation, heat-insulating materials are not used, which make up the main part of a soft roof with insulation.

Cold roofs are used in outbuildings, gazebos, sheds. When decorating them in the same style with the rest of the buildings, competent laying of the roofing cake is required. In this case, it consists of shingles, underlayment, OSB sheets or thick plywood, which are attached to the crate. This entire package lies on the rafters that form the attic space (Fig. 2).

To date, soft roofing is one of the main types of roofing. And this is fully justified - after all, this material has many advantages: reliability, durability, ease of installation, a variety of shapes and colors, the ability to realize the most complex fantasies of architects, and many others. But all these advantages will only work if you have made the right roofing cake for your soft roof.

Each developer must understand that this issue must be addressed in conjunction with the main project of the house. There are three types of structures using bituminous (soft) coatings:

  1. Pitched with a "cold" attic.
  2. Pitched with an attic.
  3. Flat roof.
Of course, each of the above types of roofing has many more options. Depending on the insulation used or the types of roofing films, the material of the inner lining of the roof, the presence of skylights or the need for ventilation, the composition of the cake may vary slightly. We are considering exactly the principles that must be taken into account when constructing roofs with a soft roof. The first type is probably the easiest. The design should simply withstand the load and protect the house from precipitation. In the second case, everything is much more complicated. Here we need not only to make a warm room, but also to ensure the correct operation of the entire roof pie. For such work, you need to take proven professionals who know how to make a mansard roof. The last type of roof is fundamentally different from the first two. In such designs, only roll materials are used. The principles of the device, the composition of the layers of the structure and the materials themselves are completely different than those of pitched roofs.
Let's now take a closer look at what layers the pie of each type of soft roof structure consists of and why it should be done that way.

Pitched roof with a "cold" attic

The cake of such a roof is very simple:
  • this is the soft tile itself and the lining carpet;
  • OSB sheets (OSB) or plywood serving as a solid base;
  • crate, which should distribute the load from the roof itself, the weight of snow and the load from the wind;
  • and in fact, the supporting structure of the roof - rafters.

First of all, the rafters are mounted. The dimensions of the rafters and their number are determined by calculation. The crate is made of timber 50 × 50 mm or boards 30 mm thick. The distance between the boards is made from 30 to 50 cm. The greater the angle of inclination of the roof, the less often the crate can be installed. On top of the crate, sheets of moisture-resistant OSB or plywood are mounted. Sheets must be fastened with a gap of 3–4 mm. This is the so-called expansion joint. When the air humidity rises, our sheets will increase slightly in size, simply “swell”. If there is no such gap, the sheets will begin to rest against each other and bend, or may collapse at the edges. In both cases, our design will lose strength. Sheets of plywood or OSB create a continuous covering. Now the underlayment is being laid. This is a rolled material, fiberglass impregnated with a special bituminous composition. It is laid either in places of the most likely leaks - valleys, cornices, junctions, edges, or over the entire roof area. Like all roofing materials, it is better to lay the lining carpet from the bottom up - we start from the bottom of the roof, the next row lies on top of the first one with an overlap of 10-15 cm, and so on up to the ridge. The task of this layer of the cake is to provide additional protection of the roof from leakage, and to improve the mechanical and moisture-proof properties of soft tiles. Adhered to a continuous roll, the individual tile elements form a continuous, reliable roof covering. And the last layer is soft tiles. Also stacked from the bottom up. The first, bottom layer is made from trimmed elements.
Tiling elements are nailed with special nails or self-tapping screws. Typically, the manufacturer recommends a mounting kit, which should include fasteners. In the process of building this layer, you need to keep track of several things. The first is accuracy, evenness of laying. Both the aesthetic appearance of the roof and the reliability in terms of tightness depend on this. The second is to follow the technology - laying should be carried out at temperatures of at least + 5ºС, in dry weather. Particular attention should be paid to junctions with pipes, parapets and similar roof elements - these are the most common culprits for various leaks. Watch the strength of the roof structure (rafter system and lathing), because it will not only have to bear the weight of the roof, but also the load from snow and wind. A fragile roof structure can loosen during operation. Small loosenings in the places where the batten or OSB sheets are attached can lead to movement between the elements of the pie. And this, in turn, will lead to a violation of the tightness of the soft roof, especially in winter, when these materials become more brittle due to frost. In some cases, the design with a cold attic is supplemented with a waterproofing film. This may be a reinsurance, but if you want to provide yourself with a double guarantee against leakage, then this option may well be justified. Then the cake will look a little more complicated. We'll have to supplement it with the so-called counter-lattice. This is a rail laid along the rafters, along the upper edge of the rafter leg. It simultaneously fixes the hydro-barrier and creates a gap between the film and the main crate. This gap is necessary for ventilation of the under-roof space.
  1. Soft tiles.
  2. Lining carpet.
  3. OSB or plywood.
  4. Main crate.
  5. Waterproofing film (hydrobarrier).
  6. Control grid.
  7. Rafter.

Pitched roof with attic floor

This type of roof differs from the one described above not only in the presence of insulation in the pie. There are completely different operating conditions. It is assumed that the space under such a roof should be residential and heated. It must be kept warm, it must have a pleasant appearance and be suitable for life. To ensure these conditions, the cake of such a roof must have more than one difference from the cake of a cold roof. A vapor barrier should be provided here, a layer of insulation required in thickness, a layer of interior decoration. This is what the set should look like:
The layers of interior decoration may be different, not the same as in the diagram. It can be drywall on metal profiles, and a simple wooden or plastic lining. One rule must be observed without fail - the presence of a vapor barrier. And this needs special attention. This film should protect the insulation and rafter structures from the penetration of steam generated inside the room. The vapor barrier layer must be no less airtight than the top layer of soft tiles. The film must be carefully fixed and the joints must be sealed. Otherwise, steam penetrating into the insulation layer will condense in the under-roof space, and the insulation will get wet and lose its thermal insulation properties. The rafters can also get wet and the wood will start to rot. The installation of such roofs must be approached with particular care.

flat roof

This type of soft roof is more often used on industrial or public buildings. But it can also occur in private housing construction. Such a roof is arranged mainly on concrete floors. A pie of such a soft roof can be with or without insulation. In the upper layer of a flat roof, instead of soft tiles, rolled welded materials are used.
The pie of such a roof consists of one or two layers of roofing material, a cement-sand screed is usually arranged under it, which provides a slope of at least 1.5%, below the insulation layer, a vapor barrier must be present, and a supporting structure, for example, a reinforced concrete slab overlap. When constructing such roofs, special attention should be paid to compliance with slopes and drainage units..

The roofing pie is a layered construction of covering flooring and accompanying insulating materials, each of which has its own purpose. The types of materials in the composition of the roofing cake, their location and the number of layers depend on the finish coating and the configuration of the roof - flat or pitched, cold or insulated.

Purpose and composition of the roofing pie

Roofing cake - filler of the truss frame. Its main purpose is to protect the house from atmospheric precipitation and provide a comfortable microclimate in residential premises. This is achieved due to the multi-layered roofing cake and the presence of forming elements, the functionality of the roof depends on the correct installation of which, namely, the order in which the materials are arranged and adherence to the fastening technology.

Each layer of the roofing pie has its own purpose, is connected with the rest and must be mounted in a strictly defined sequence.

Since everything is interconnected in the construction process - accuracy, reliability, combination of building materials, etc., you should remember an important rule - the weight of the roofing cake should not exceed bearing capacity rafter system.

Hence, the initial task is to correctly assemble and calculate, in accordance with the standards 2.01.07–85, all the loads on the building envelope, the required thickness of the insulation and, in proportion to this, the strength of the roof truss frame, even at the design stage.


The greater the weight of the roofing material, the stronger the supporting structure should be, which creates an additional load on the building itself and on the foundation

By and large, the structure of the roofing pie is the same for all roofs. Usually it includes the following layers (from inside to outside):


Depending on the type of roofing, separate elements can be added to the composition of the cake, for example, a lining carpet for flexible tiles. Or, according to the type of roof and its purpose, the arrangement of the layers may change. In particular, when installing an inverted roof, waterproofing is placed under the insulation.


In an inverted roof, the insulating and waterproofing layers are interchanged

Thus, under each roof there is a certain technology for laying a roofing pie, and only strict adherence to it ensures the durability of the entire structure. But just following the order of the layers is not enough. It is necessary that all materials are of high quality, tested and meet the standards. And if everything is more or less clear with almost all the components of the pie, then problems often arise with vapor barrier, especially for novice developers who either lay material unsuitable for this purpose, or completely refuse it, having heard the "wise" advice of people who do not have practical construction experience, but who consider themselves experts.

There is no multifunctional "vapor waterproofing" that unscrupulous sellers do not tell. Vapor-permeable waterproofing and vapor-tight membranes or films are different materials, the misuse of which will result in extremely disastrous consequences.


The lack of vapor barrier has a detrimental effect on the thermal protection of the roof, as a result of which the insulation deteriorates and after a while the house becomes damp and cold

As for the observance of the methods of laying and fastening the components of the roofing pie, only one thing can be said here - the whole process is set out in the manufacturer's instructions for each material. . You just need to follow these instructions and do not violate them.

Video: laying the insulating layers of the roofing cake

Today, thanks to modern technology, there are many ways to equip a quality roof. Consider the most popular.

The roof is considered cold if the under-roof space is not insulated and is not used most often. In some cases, the attic is left cold deliberately - arranging a wine cellar, a place to store food, a gym, a workshop or a bedroom that will be in great demand on hot days.


In the attic under a cold roof, you can create a full-fledged room if you find a functional approach to it.

In addition to attic roofs, there are also cold non-attic structures crowning gazebos, terraces, the main entrance to the building, greenhouses, and so on.


A roofless roof is cold and warm, depending on the purpose of the building.

The device and composition of the cake for a cold roof depends on its slope. For pitched roofs, the roofing pie is arranged in two zones: along the slopes and along the lower floor.

If you look from the inside, then on the slopes the sequence of layers will be as follows:

  • waterproofing material fixed to the rafters;
  • counter rails that fix the waterproofing and provide a ventilation gap;
  • crate;
  • roofing.

On floor slabs (from interior to roofing):


For flat attic roofs, the layout of the layers remains the same, only the division passes between the lower and upper floors. There is one feature here - waterproofing is not included in the composition of the roofing pie and is not laid along the upper base, except for structures where wooden beams resting on walls and girders serve as the base for roofing.


A flat cold roof can only be installed with a vapor barrier, unless the attic roof is supported by wooden beams.

The exclusion of hydroprotection from the composition of the roofing pie for such configurations is fully justified. Most often used on flat roofs, soft roofing is an excellent sealer in itself. In addition, the roofing material is laid on a solid base of profiled sheets or concrete slabs, along which a expanded clay or perlite ramp and a leveling cement screed are arranged, which is quite enough to prevent any leaks.


Expanded clay screed - an affordable and inexpensive way to drain rainwater from a flat roof

Cold attic roofs are the most correct designs. They provide good natural air circulation, which, as needed, is enhanced by roof aerators. No wonder such roofs have long been built in Russia. The entire roofing pie in them consisted of a slab (modern lathing), stuffed on bulls (rafters), and also laid on top of a rough and red hew. Cold roofs can last for hundreds of years, keeping the entire roof structure usable.


In ancient times, the huts were covered with gable roofs “on males” in a nail-free way and covered with any material at hand.

Video: cold attic roof pie

Cake under a soft tile Shinglas

A cold roof with a wooden truss system and a high-quality soft coating "Shinglas" is often equipped in private houses and office buildings. This design is easy to install, maintain and operate. The composition of the roofing pie includes:


As you can see, this design is very simple. Even one person will cope with its device, while saving on paying contractors.

Video: laying soft tiles "Shinglas"

Unlike cold roofs, all components of the roofing pie for insulated structures are combined into an integral system with an indispensable arrangement of ventilation gaps and a strictly determined alternation of materials. The arrangement of the layers of the pitched warm roof cake is as follows:


When arranging a warm roof, it is necessary to qualitatively seal the joints of all roofing materials in hard-to-reach and therefore problematic places - valleys, chimney and ventilation passages, dormer windows, adjoining walls. Poor tightness or its absence is fraught with a roof leak with the formation of fungus and mold, wetting of the insulation, rotting of the truss system, heat loss through the roof and, accordingly, huge energy bills.

Types of roofing cake regarding roof construction

Consider the features of the pie using the example of a pitched and flat roof.

pitched roof cake

There are simple pitched and broken attic structures with a residential under-roof space. Simple pitched roofs have the roofing pie structure discussed above.

Video: correct pitched roof pie

Features of the device of warm broken roofs

Broken warm roofs are of particular interest, although they do not have global changes in the composition of the roofing cake and the typical layering of materials. The difference is only in the location of the insulation and its eternal companion - the vapor barrier, which are laid along the slopes to the point of fracture, and then, as in a cold structure, horizontally along the support beams connecting the opposite rafters.


A feature of the roofing cake of a warm broken structure is the laying of insulation and vapor barrier, which, after a break, are located horizontally along the support beams

Thanks to this laying, a cold triangle is formed between the crossbars and the ridge, which provides good ventilation of the attic, which is a necessary condition for arranging a warm roof with a residential under-roof space.


The method of laying insulation and waterproofing of a sloping roof creates a cold triangle in the upper part of the structure, which provides good ventilation of the attic

The roofing pie of a sloping roof in the direction from top to bottom has the following structure:


Recently, it has become fashionable to leave the wooden rafters in the attic open, which is why the location of some layers of the roofing cake changes in any pitched structures. The sequence remains unchanged, but all materials, starting from the sheathing, are laid along the upper edge of the rafters, which must be taken into account when calculating the loads on the rafter system.


If the rafters remain open, then all layers of the roofing cake, including sheathing, are laid along the upper edge of the rafter legs

Video: mansard roof pie

Pie under seam roof

Seam roofing is a metal structure in which panels (pictures) are interconnected by bending (transverse and longitudinal seam). The grooves (grooves) formed in this case serve as a drainage system. Such a joining of sheets of aluminum, steel, copper and titanium-zinc looks charming on the roof of the house, and also creates a waterproof flooring that reliably protects the roofing pie and truss system.


The fastening system concealed under the seam guarantees no roof leaks and no need for through holes

The composition of the roofing cake for seam coating:


The peculiarities of the folded pie are that a raising bar is added to the pie, usually with a section of 50X50 mm, laid along the upper edge of the rafters and providing an additional ventilation gap between the insulation and waterproofing, which is necessary to remove condensate from the metal roof. In the crate, which for flat roofs and structures with a small slope is stuffed with solid flooring, using wood, chipboard or moisture-resistant plywood.


Seam roofing is arranged on a sparse crate with a small step or on a solid base

Since a seam roof, like any metal one, belongs to the category of noisy ones, when laying a roofing cake, you need to:


Video: seam roof installation

flat roof pie

The construction of a flat roof is becoming increasingly popular due to the savings in financial, material and labor resources for its construction. In addition, this configuration is very effective in regions with frequent and strong winds - even a hurricane wind will not blow a flat roof.


The key advantage of a flat roof is the ability to significantly increase the usable area.

The structure of a flat roof cake depends on its base and how it is used.

Unexploited flat roof

On the basis of profiled sheets, the layers of the roofing cake are arranged in the following order:

  • steel galvanized base (profiled sheets);
  • vapor barrier material;
  • insulation;
  • finish coating.

On the basis of reinforced concrete slabs, the roof pie consists of:


Operating flat roof

On the operated roof, you can move freely and use it at your discretion. On this design, recreation areas, winter gardens, playgrounds, swimming pools and even parking for cars are arranged. Naturally, the exploited roof needs a solid foundation that can withstand significant loads, and correct styling all insulating materials.

Standard technology for placing layers of roofing cake:


A feature of this layering is that the waterproofing is well hidden and will not collapse, and the insulation located between it and the geotextile is reliably protected from getting wet.

Green roof cake

In modern cities, thanks to intensive development, there is a catastrophic lack of green spaces. Private homeowners compensate for this lack by arranging green areas on the roofs - neat lawns and garden beds, bright flower beds and entire public gardens.


The indisputable advantages of a green roof are environmental friendliness, durability, strength and extraordinary attractiveness.

The creation of a green roof should be taken into account at the design stage of a house.

The composition of the roofing pie under the “live” roof is standard, with the only difference being that 2–3 layers of geotextile are laid in this construction, which prevents weeds from penetrating into the base, preserving it from destruction. The layers are stacked in the following order:


The green roof is an oasis of health and spiritual uplift. But for its arrangement, it is necessary to strictly observe the installation technology and use good-quality materials, otherwise the repair will be too expensive.

Despite all the advantages of slate, it is rarely used for arranging free-standing flat structures. An exception is transparent slate, the roofing pie under which consists only of the crate and covering material.


Transparent slate is a durable hermetic coating that can reliably protect the room under it from negative atmospheric phenomena.

Wavy slate, due to its relatively low cost, is more often used:


For the latter case, the roofing cake has the following composition:


Roofing pie under a soft roof

Today, soft roofing is in great demand among developers, due to its absolute tightness and a huge variety of materials that will make a roof of any configuration durable, reliable and attractive.


Soft roof is suitable for all types of private houses and roofs of any complexity

According to the texture, shape, color and composition of the upper layer, 3 types of soft roofs are distinguished:


It cannot be said that some material is better or worse than others. They are just different. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you should choose based on personal preference and common sense.

For example, piece tiles are ideal for well-visible pitched roofs. Roll materials are universal. Their new generation with a special laying technology on pitched roofs resembles a rebated construction. However, they are also good for flat roofs. And bulk - of course, the prerogative of sloping roofs. In addition, soft roofing is a well-balanced combination of price and quality, which is why it is in high demand.


Thanks to various mineral coatings, as well as the latest laying technologies, modern roll roofing looks extremely interesting and attractive.

The specifics of the device roofing pie under the soft roof

Roofing cake for soft coatings is more difficult than for rigid structures. It is formed for each type of soft flooring, taking into account all the indicators that affect the operational properties of the roof.

Some types of roofing cake for soft finish materials have wooden components, so it should not be placed close to the chimney ducts.

The indentation standards are regulated by the regulations of 01/41/2003, in which it is recommended to equip an apron made of galvanized or laminated metal around the pipes, and fill the empty space with non-combustible mineral wool material.


If the junction of the soft roof to the chimney is improperly processed, at best, leaks begin, and at worst, installation errors can lead to fire

In addition, sheets of particle boards or plywood, when arranging solid flooring, are mounted with a checkerboard pattern of seams, leaving a gap of 3 mm between them to compensate for linear expansion in warm weather. And when stuffing a wooden crate, the boards must be positioned with the convexity of the growth rings up - if for some reason the board leads, it will bend, filling the empty space, and not put pressure on the roof.


Lathing for soft roofing turns out to be reliable and durable, which is due to the creation of a continuous two-layer wood flooring

A typical roofing cake contains the following layers:


Video: abutment of the membrane to the pipe

Installation of a roofing pie under a soft roof

Consider laying a roofing cake under a soft coating using the example of a cold and insulated soft roof.

Installation of a cold structure

Since the roofing pie of the cold roof is simple, it is mounted quickly and easily.


On pitched cold roofs, it is permissible to lay the lining carpet only in problem areas. On flat structures, the lining carpet is spread over the entire area.

Installation of insulated soft roof

The pie of a warm soft roof is more complicated due to the addition of heat and vapor barrier, but it also does not present any difficulties in installation, since the arrangement of the layers remains unchanged.

The scheme for laying a warm roofing cake will be as follows.


Video: the subtleties and nuances of laying a lining carpet

Lightning protection mesh in the roof pie

Often, in the old manner, a lightning protection mesh on flat structures is mounted in a roof pie under a heater. Let's say right away - there is zero sense from such lightning protection:

  • the location of the lightning rod near the reinforcement of reinforced concrete slabs or the supporting metal profile is meaningless, since it is quite likely that the lightning current will be blocked by metal elements;
  • covering material and roofing equipment in this case remain unprotected and may suffer from a lightning strike.

Properly equipped lightning protection is a grid of semiconductors connected to lightning rods that rise above the roofing. Such a device provides many ways for the lightning charge to spread, which reduces the likelihood of lightning current breakdown to electrical installations and electrically conductive grounded parts of the building.


On flat roofs, the holders are simply weighted without additional fixation with self-tapping screws to the base, and on pitched roofs, reliable fasteners are required.

Many advise to make lightning protection on their own. The matter, of course, is the master's, however, home-made assembly in terms of durability, reliability and manufacturability, of course, cannot be compared with the factory equipment. Moreover, new developments in the field of lightning protection make it possible already today to equip lightning protection nets that rise significantly above the coating. This will protect expensive equipment that provides all the life of the house.

In conclusion, one piece of advice - do not skimp on the roofing pie. Any violation of technology will lead to unpredictable consequences, the least of which is heat loss and an increase in energy costs, as a result of which you will heat the street. Only high-quality materials, strict sequence, compliance with instructions and standards are the key to the longevity of the roof without additional costs for its maintenance and repair.

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