DIY Flexible tile installation: step -by -step briefing on work

Are you considering adding pliable roof tiles? If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide that makes the process easier to understand and accessible to even DIY enthusiasts, look no further. Flexible tiles combine the beauty of traditional tiles with the conveniences of modern design to provide a lightweight, long-lasting roofing option. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to achieve a professional-looking finish, whether you’re looking to improve the curb appeal of your home or are searching for an affordable roofing solution.

Having all the required tools and materials together is essential before beginning the installation. This usually consists of flexible tiles, roofing-specific adhesive, a utility knife for sizing tiles, a measuring tape, and a pencil for marking measurements. To maintain a safe and effective workflow, safety gear like gloves and safety glasses should be worn at all times during the installation process.

Prepare the roof surface first. Make sure it is clear of any debris that might impair the tiles’ adherence and that it is dry and clean. If the adhesive’s manufacturer suggests using a primer, fix any existing roof damage and apply it. A successful installation and the longevity of your new roof are guaranteed by careful preparation.

Next, determine the tile layout by measuring and planning. To stop water from seeping in, start at the bottom edge of the roof and work your way upward, overlapping each row of tiles. To ensure a straight and symmetrical appearance, mark alignment guidelines with your measuring tape and pencil. In order to achieve a professional finish and reduce the possibility of installation errors, this step is essential.

Step 1: Prepare the Surface Clean and smooth the roof surface, ensuring it"s free from debris.
Step 2: Measure and Cut Tiles Measure the roof area and cut flexible tiles to fit, using appropriate tools.
Step 3: Apply Adhesive Spread adhesive on the roof surface using a trowel, following manufacturer instructions.
Step 4: Install Tiles Place tiles carefully on the adhesive, pressing down firmly to ensure good adhesion.
Step 5: Seal Edges Apply sealant around edges and overlaps to prevent water leakage.
Step 6: Finishing Touches Smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles, and let the installation cure as recommended.

"Homeowners can improve their roofs in a practical and economical way with DIY Flexible tile installation. With the help of this comprehensive guide, readers can easily transform their roofs by streamlining the process. This article provides beginners with the necessary knowledge to attain professional results, from planning and material selection to installation tips and maintenance advice. Gaining proficiency in flexible tile installation is essential for ensuring long-term satisfaction, durability, and aesthetic appeal—whether one is taking on a creative project or repairing an existing roof. Explore this easily navigable guide to learn how to revitalize your home’s roof at a reduced cost and with minimal effort.

Step 1. A roofing pie

With the aid of natural ventilation, all the moisture in a cold attic will naturally escape. But a vapor barrier is required in a residential attic. It fits from the inside, keeping moisture away from the insulation. Vapor barrier film is adhered with special tape (regular does not fit) and mounted with an overlap.

Additionally, place the selected insulation—preferably raised—on top of the vapor barrier film from the exterior. Place a windproof membrane on top and secure with bars, which will also be used to make ventilation ducts in the future.

Consequently, you ought to receive what roofers like to refer to as a "layer pie":

We have prepared a comprehensive master class that outlines the steps and sequence in which everything should occur:

Step 2. Installation of continuous flooring

In order to install flexible tiles, a continuous, rigid base is required. In order to allow for temperature expansion, mount a continuous carpet made of plywood or OSB stamps on a prepared crate, leaving a gap of three to five millimeters. Fasten the rafters in place using self-tapping screws.

An even surface and the ability to secure the hounds with nails are the two primary requirements for the base of flexible tiles. For this, plywood or a downshole board placed in front would work well as sheets of glued wooden shavings. The board alone should be completely dry to prevent waves from forming during the drying process. However, using just a crate underneath a soft roof is a big mistake—albeit one that happens frequently—because the entire roof will simply collapse in the first season. Additionally, manufacturers who scare their customers with such errors profit greatly from photos that have these issues.

The cornice overhangs with metal strips as soon as the base is prepared. These are positioned in a checkerboard pattern with an edge on the base and fastened with roofing nails at a 150 mm interval:

Step 3. Choosing and installing a substrate

It’s time to address waterproofing now. It is required in intricate areas like yendovs, joints, and adjacent spaces. In this instance, canvases are arranged with a 10 cm longitudinal and 15 cm transverse overlap, starting from the bottom up:

It is advised that you use a specifically made substrate rather than, as they occasionally do, roofing material or a comparable substance. The truth is that their finishes differ in terms of longevity and even usage conditions!

Furthermore, the entire roofing carpet will soon swell as a result of this attempt to save money. Furthermore, no manufacturer will provide a guarantee for a roof in the pie that included materials from other manufacturers.

By the way, lining carpets were essentially nonexistent in Russia until recently, and many people now try to deceive others. This makes sense because, by the time the roof is constructed, it’s common to discover that the allocated funds for the entire home are insufficient and that compromises must be made. However, do not disregard such a crucial component if you wish to install a flexible tile roof and forget about it for many years.

Water can always seep into subcutaneous spaces, particularly in locations as intricate as those where chimneys are avoided or where contact with an installed antenna occurs. There are also instances where the hounds are lifted in the rain by a strong wind.

Additionally, selecting a roofing carpet is not tough. It must meet the same standards as the tiles: it must be long-lasting, dependable in its waterproofing, and resistant to temperature changes. Also, a wide range of domestic and imported options are available in the current market. Furthermore, a large number of Russian plants currently operate on European machinery and produce goods that are on par with those of their international counterparts.

Carpet linings typically come in two varieties: mechanically fixed and self-adhesive. The mechanicals are rolled out on the remaining roof area and secured with galvanized nails after the self-adhesive is primarily laid in the valleys:

The following describes how to install a typical roofing carpet, which requires bitumen mastic to seal it in place:

Here’s an illustration of how to use a more contemporary type of self-adhesive roofing carpet:

For Endova, therefore, a self-adhesive waterproofing carpet is perfect. Additionally, if the slopes are steeper than eighteen degrees, consider carefully where to lay carpeting in areas where leaks are likely to occur, such as ridges, pedimental overhangs, and all roofing element outputs.

However, you will require a continuous waterproofing carpet on a roof that slopes between 12 and 18 degrees. Previously, we advise applying a self-adhesive bitumen-polymer material, such as a "barrier," to cornice overhangs. At the same time, make sure the carpet is overflow-free throughout its whole length.

Additionally, beforehand in the areas surrounding the attic windows and chimneys, as well as ventilation passages. It’s easy to smear bitumen mastic with your hands on all the passing elements prior to installing flexible tiles.

It will also be necessary to reinforce the cornice overhang before you begin installing flexible tiles. Roofing nails must be used to secure them, with a step of 10 to 15 cm. Here is a Technonikol video tutorial on cognition on this topic:

Step 4. The choice of fasteners

You will need special nails with wide hats in order to fix the flexible tile. Their ability to keep the hat in the same plane as each gunt’s surface while preventing it from "crashing" into it will be crucial. Galvanized nails are also required for soft tile.

There are two categories of nails used for installing soft tiles:

  • Hot nails. They have so sharpened the tip that when dripping into the bitumen layer, they do not violate its integrity. Such nails are produced galvanized or without a protective layer at all. Of course, unprotected are the cheapest, but at the same time they are not at all practical and quickly begins to rust. These are suitable only for assembling furniture or construction of time.
  • Haric nails. On a working rod, they have special cloves that are directed towards the hat. Such is not easy to clog into wood, though it is quite difficult to pull them out even with a nail. And most often during the dismantling process, a hats are simply cut off in harsh nails – and all. They fix the roofing so tightly that they are more often used for slate than for a soft roof.
  • Trephic nails They have longitudinal grooves and jumpers on a working rod, and for a soft roof they are less suitable.

We advise you to use roofing nails designed especially for flexible tiles that can accommodate precisely 8 to 9 millimeter-diameter galvanized ruffles. In contrast to their conventional counterparts, special nails for bitumen ralics are still released.

These are constructed from sturdy steel wire that is automatically divided into equal pieces. The workpiece is then pulled on one side and rumbled into the shape of a hat on the other. You can buy if you have come across one on sale.

But it is important that the nails themselves correspond to GOST 4030-63: the diameter of the rod is 3.5 mm, and the diameter of the hat is at least 8 mm. The thing is that in working with a specifically bitumen tile the most unpleasant moment – when the nails during the next blow simply plunge into the bitumen layer and violate the integrity of the coating. But the expanded hat is already so easy to “drown”. And the more it is, the better to hold the gunt, why and high -quality nails for flexible tiles resemble a stationery button. Moreover, for a single -layer and two -layer tiles, nails with parameters of 30×3.5 mm will be needed, and for a three -layer – 45×3.5 mm.

By the way, some grief builders don’t get why the canvases of soft tiles can’t just be warmed up and glued to the floor; instead, they get upset about the nails and the mess they cause. In fact, for basic fire safety reasons, using an open fire on such a roof is forbidden. Consequently, rent an automatic device and discard this dangerous notion.

Step 5. Placement of the starting strip

Right now, we start installing flexible tiles right away. The initial strip is where it all begins. Consequently, you can take:

  • Pattern of ordinary tiles, such as a hunch with circumcised petals, if you work with collections "Tango" or "Trio";
  • universal skate-carnis tiles, especially if you work with "Chord","Sonata" or "Jazz".

Start with cornice tiles if that is more convenient for you; place them on top of the metal bar, easing them back from the excess area. Next, secure it with nails, keeping in mind that there should be a greater retreat from the bend location the longer and colder the slope is:

This is an example of how the beginning strip is laid in real life:

Step 6. Installation of various kinds

We are now exploring the racetracks. Dry, warm weather is the primary prerequisite for their installation, as bitumen tile should not be laid at temperatures below +5 °C. It will be challenging to bend it in the necessary places without creating cracks.

Precaution will be required if you still need to fix the races in these circumstances. The sheets are bent on a metal pipe with a diameter of roughly 10 cm after being heated with a construction hairdryer. It’s best not to do it, though.

It is easy to determine how many races are needed: take one sheet, measure the visible area, determine how to flake a slope, and divide the second from the first. Here’s some helpful guidance on measuring and getting ready for flexible tile installation:

Naturally, if you have an amazing eye, you can perform intricate calculations, but the marking lines are a great way to align the tiles both horizontally and vertically. particularly if it’s your first time installing a soft roof.

I promise you, business is not the funniest thing. Tear off a few sheets and fix them again to fix the jamb. Additionally, if a component or the general slope geometry is broken into the roof, it should be done so entirely without marking. Tools like a level, plumb line, and chopping board will come in handy in this situation.

As previously mentioned, ready-made horses are typically marked with tiny holes in the factory for convenience, allowing you to know precisely where to clog nails. If none exist (for instance, the least expensive collections), simply step back from the edge by two to three centimeters while using this example as guidance:

The location of the nail click in each scenario is directly related to the tile’s actual cutting shape. The upper corners of Gonta must also be fixed if flexible tiles are placed on slopes with a 45-degree angle. The only requirement is that each nail stitch the lower and upper edges of each sheet simultaneously.

The steps involved in installing flexible tiles are as follows; the process is not difficult at all:

  1. Before laying, mix the racetracks from several sticks to minimize the differentness. The fact is that even in one mail the color may differ so that you will be surprised, and such incidents will be very noticeable on the roof.
  2. If the slope is long enough, start laying the tiles from its center and level horizontally. And the second row is already shifting the hounds left or right half a sheet. The third and all subsequent rows are shifted relative to the previous one, too, half a petal, left or right, depending on which direction you chose initially.
  3. You need to start laying tiles on a slope with a smaller bias, while you should make an entry on a steeper slope by at least 30 cm. It is recommended to recapture the chalk lines on a steeper slope so as not to get down. Now cut the tiles on a more slope along this new line, and in consolidation, smear with bitumen mastic where there is no self -adhesive layer from the back.
  4. Lay the tiles from the bottom-up, retreating from the edge of the droppers. Here it will be necessary to lay a special skate-carnis tile. By the way, you can replace it with ordinary if you cut the petals.

Adjust the races now. For this, an automatic tool is useful, especially if it is powered by the electrical grid. The most important thing is to consider your personal safety when selecting a model: the trigger should be easy to use, protected from stray shots, and capable of safely extracting a stuck nail. After all, hammers are typically used by amateur roofers and are better suited for smaller home projects.

The only point: if special roofing nails do not fit the gun, take a ready -made clip with nails with a wide flat hat. They differ in such that they are interconnected by thin wire. Here such a tape is inserted into the chamber and the nail is fed one by one. This is much more convenient in work at a height: you do not need to look for clusters, you do not need to expose your fingers under blow and the fastening itself will be better than when you are already too tired at the 501st nail. The main thing is to observe the main technology: the nail must be driven strictly perpendicular to Gont"s plane.

Recall that over time, something will crash off and fly off with a gust of wind if it was recorded in an untrustworthy manner. Additionally, the wind itself will lift a nail and tear the sheet, shaking the next. All of this will result in a leak and the required fixing. Naturally, if there are no trouble spots, it won’t function, which is why a regular inspection of a roof like this is necessary.

Now think about the characteristics of installing various kinds of rain. Therefore, you must remove the protective film from a single-layer tile before installing it. This film is always found on both sides of Gont. For what reason is she? In spite of the fact that this roofing is being transported in the heat in regular trucks, bitumen is still being discussed.

Nevertheless, there are no films in collections with cuttings like "Dragon Tooth," so the only thing to do is mix the hounds and choose a lovely pattern.

Additionally, these illustrations will assist you in understanding how to work with each type of hound cut:

Additionally, there are two methods for laying bitumen tiles if you have to work with a complex roof: segmented and seamless. Divide the angle or cone into equal segments and each of the in the first method. And block the entire roof in this manner. The seamless approach is already more challenging because it requires accurate slope marking and navigation. Consider your options and select the option that seems most practical for you.

Step 7. Consolidation of tiles in yendovs

And now for the areas of the roof that cause the most trouble. There are two ways to arrange endovs, or the internal bends of the roof: closed and open, which is also known as the cutting method. Next, the most important thing is to create a triangle rail where the roof meets the wall and place a tile underneath it.

If the wall is made of brick, it also needs to be bitumen primed and plastered. After that, the upper portion of the adjacency needs to be sealed using a metal apron that needs to be secured and brought into the strokes.

Step 8. Laying of ridge and spine tiles

We will then discuss the ideas behind skating tiles. These hits, which cover the horse’s back, are so simple to figure out. Private refers to the remainder of the tile. In addition, the ridge tile is produced by cutting the skating-carnis into three pieces or by dividing it using the standard ordinary perforation method.

Using the cord, measure the future ridge’s dimensions (there are two lanes along it) and lay the span tiles starting from the bottom in order to properly lay the ridge tiles. Next, secure the tiles with nails on all sides, ensuring that the hounds overlap the nails by 5 cm.

The skating tiles are laid from the side, which is the opposite of the so-called wind rose (you can find out which way the wind card goes or from your neighbors). Additionally, nothing has changed from when the ridge was being masonryed. Apply mastic there if the appropriate areas lack a self-adhesive layer.

Let’s move on to the ribs. In this case, the regular tile should be cut to leave a gap of 3 to 5 mm between the neighboring slopes:

Here is an additional fantastic master class where you can think about the specifics of the procedure:

Here’s another instance of well-done work:

Installing flexible roof tiles can be a satisfying do-it-yourself project that improves your home’s resilience and visual appeal. You can save installation costs and get professional-looking results by taking a step-by-step approach.

Prior to beginning, make sure you have all the required equipment and supplies. This comes with adhesive, measuring tape, utility knife, flexible tiles, and an access ladder. For the installation process to go smoothly, preparation is essential.

Next, measure and mark the roof area precisely where you want to put the tiles. Here, accuracy guarantees that the tiles will be cut to fit precisely, cutting down on waste and guaranteeing a tidy finish.

Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying adhesive. To ensure that every tile is firmly in place, apply a thick but even layer. To guarantee excellent adherence and avoid any air pockets, take your time pressing down each tile.

Take periodic breaks as you work to evaluate your work and make any necessary corrections. This guarantees the overall integrity of the new covering on your roof and aids in maintaining consistency in the placement of the tiles.

Lastly, give the adhesive enough time to fully cure before subjecting the roof to severe rain or other weather. In order to guarantee the durability and efficacy of your recently installed flexible tiles, this step is essential.

You can successfully accomplish a do-it-yourself flexible tile installation that improves the aesthetic appeal and protection of your house by carefully following these steps. Remember that producing results of a professional caliber requires careful planning and attention to detail.

Video on the topic

Roof installation. Installation of flexible tiles/ waves. Experimental bath 4

Mounting flexible tiles with our own hands build for ourselves

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Alexander Sorokin

The owner of the roofing company, an expert in the roofing markets. I'll tell you about the novelties of the roofing industry and help you choose the best option for your home.

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