The range of roofing materials in hardware stores has hundreds of items, it includes both traditional materials, as well as innovative ones that are only gaining popularity. Ondulin is a modern analogue of the usual slate with improved performance.

Professional craftsmen note the wide possibilities of using this coating in private housing construction. Most buyers did not have time to appreciate the benefits of the material for 5-10 years from the moment it appeared in stores. Therefore, in this article, we will compare the qualities of these coatings and find out which of them is better - slate or ondulin?

Slate is a material made from shale or asbestos cement by molding. For the production of this coating, asbestos dust is mixed with cement, water, obtaining a thick mass, which is poured into molds and left to dry completely.

There is wave and flat slate. A roof is constructed from a relief material, and a flat one is used for wall cladding. Roofing material made of asbestos cement is sheets standard sizes, whose weight reaches 36-39 kg. The slate has the following performance characteristics:

• Resistance to temperature extremes, to ultraviolet radiation, to moisture, frost resistance.
• Big weight. Each sheet of roofing material made of asbestos cement weighs at least 23 kg, which causes certain difficulties during transportation and installation. In order for the rafter frame and crate to withstand the weight of the coating, they are reinforced with additional elements.
• fire resistance. Slate does not burn, does not melt, therefore it is used for the construction of roofs through which the chimneys of solid fuel stoves are brought out into the street, heated to a temperature of 300-500 degrees.
• High noise reduction. Unlike metal roofing, asbestos-cement material does not resonate, therefore it dampens sounds when drops fall during rain.
• Ease of installation and maintenance. is done by laying sheets on a slope overlapping with respect to each other.
• Wide color palette . Unpainted slate has an inexpressive gray color. To give coverage desired shade, during production, a special pigment is added to it.

Note! Most of the world has abandoned the use of slate due to the detrimental effect of asbestos dust on human health. However, studies show that slate roofing is completely harmless during operation. Hazardous dust is released only during cutting or installation of the material, so all work with it is carried out with goggles, a respirator and gloves. To make the use of slate even safer, it is better to cover it with paint, which will prevent the release of asbestos, and also protect the roof from the growth of moss.

Ondulin

This roofing material is lightweight but durable sheets with a wavy surface. Ondulin is easily cut with a sharp knife, so laying on a slope does not take much time and effort. It has the following properties:

• Resistance to temperature changes, tightness, resistance to fungal and mold microorganisms, strength. Ondulin, with a small weight, has a high degree of reliability and serves no less than the traditional one.
• Little weight. It is considered the lightest roofing, the weight of this material is several times less than that of tiles or profiled sheets. Therefore, for flooring, it is not necessary to equip a massive truss frame and crate, and you can transport and install it without the help of an auxiliary worker.
• Low thermal conductivity. Ondulin almost does not heat up and does not let heat through, which saves on thermal insulation of the slope and heating. In addition, condensation does not form on the lower surface of the material, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the truss frame.
• Easy to install. Light in weight and cut with an ordinary knife, it can even be laid alone on a slope of a large area.
• Low fire protection. Ondulin can withstand temperatures up to 30 degrees, therefore, to bring chimneys through it, it is better to make a fire-resistant box, and install a spark arrestor around the pipe.

Important! Produce offer a variety of colors of ondulin. The necessary shade is given to the material by adding a coloring pigment to the cellulose-bitumen mass. However, this staining method does not have a stable effect, since ondulin burns out unevenly under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. This adversely affects the appearance of the roof, but the situation can be corrected by painting.

Selection criteria and conclusion

It can be difficult to decide which of the roofing materials is better, because each of them has undeniable advantages and features. Slate and ondulin are equally durable and reliable coatings that will cope with both rain and hail. The choice of the most suitable material is made based on the following factors:

1. Roof complexity. To cover roofs of complex geometry or shape, with valleys, bay windows or multi-gable structures, ondulin is used, since it is easily cut.
2. Roof slope. The minimum allowable roof slope on which ondulin can be laid is 6 degrees, and slate - 19 degrees.
3. Reliability of the truss frame. Slate, the sheet of which weighs 23-39 kg, is mounted only on a solid rafter system designed for such a load. If an old roof is being reconstructed or a new one is being built without performing calculations, it is better to use light ondulin.
4. Price. Slate is 30-40% cheaper than ondulin, therefore, when covering slopes of a large area, possible costs must be taken into account. With a small budget, it is better to use inexpensive, but high-quality slate.
5. Life time. Ondulin provided quality installation, competent operation has a longer service life of 40-50 years. Asbestos cement slate is operated for no more than 30 years, and then must be replaced.

Comparison of the characteristics and scope of use of slate and ondulin

Important! Experienced roofers note that ondulin and slate can equally long and effectively protect the structure from moisture penetration, provided High Quality material. Upon purchase roofing pay attention to the compliance of products with quality standards, as well as the appearance of the product.

Video instruction

Any house is covered with a roof to protect from the weather. For thousands of years, people have been improving the design of the roof of the house, covering their homes with more advanced materials. From what they just did not try to make roofing material! Ceramics, slate, vegetable fibres, metal, bitumen, plastic, concrete…

At the end of the 19th century, roofing material was invented - the first soft roofing material that began to be produced on an industrial scale. The principle of its production - the impregnation of fibrous materials with resin - is still used to obtain modern soft roofing materials.

The name of this material, produced by the company of the same name, is known to many people, even those who have nothing to do with construction. It is also called euroslate or bituminous slate. This is one of the most common modern soft roofing materials. They cover houses in many countries on different continents. Let's try to understand its properties and compare it with other roofing materials.

From what and how is ondulin produced? The raw material for the production of ondulin is natural cellulose fiber, which is obtained from waste paper. First, the waste paper is cleaned of debris and soaked, turning into paper pulp (pulp). A dye is added to the pulp, giving color to the finished material. Next, the pulp is sent to a machine in which a corrugated sheet is formed. This sheet is dried and then sent to the impregnation department, where it is impregnated with bituminous resin under pressure and heating. Since the resin impregnates the mass after dyeing, the color of the sheet is preserved. long time. This is what distinguishes original material from fakes.

The finished material is packed with shrink film in pallets. The material is stored in pallets and delivered to the consumer.

Composition of ondulin.

Although the technology for the production of ondulin is not much different from the technology for the production of roofing material, there are some differences in the composition of the material that significantly affect its properties. The main components of the composition are as follows:

• cellulose fibers;
• purified bituminous resin;
• mineral fillers;
• synthetic resin.

Thanks to additional components, the roof of this material is heated by the sun's rays much less than the roof of roofing material. Synthetic resin makes the material stronger and harder, its softening temperature is significantly increased. Substances that reduce the combustibility of the material are also added to the composition.

Ondulin properties.

Since ondulin is a rather hard material, it is not produced in rolls, like roofing material, but in the form of corrugated sheets. One such corrugated sheet 2000 mm long, 950 mm wide and 3 mm thick weighs approximately 6.5 kg. In other words, this material is one of the lightest among roofing materials (3.4 kg/m²). To destroy the roof of this material, you need to create a pressure of more than 960 kgf / m². At the same time, the sheet of material itself only bends, and the crate and rafters break. This happens if the roof is going a large number of snow.

Due to changes in the composition of the material, its resistance to heating by sunlight has increased. So, ondulin sheets remain elastic, retaining their shape up to 110 ° C. Soundproofing properties are also not bad: when sound passes through a sheet, its intensity drops by 40 decibels.

To assess the resistance of roofing materials to temperature fluctuations, they are subjected to repeated freezing and thawing. Ondulin withstands 25 cycles of such tests without changing its structure and appearance.

However, in order to objectively assess the advantages and disadvantages of any material, it must be compared with others.
Let's try to compare ondulin with other roofing materials and determine its scope.

against

Which is better, ondulin or metal tile.

If ondulin has been used in Russia recently (about 15 years), then metal tiles have been used for more than 20 years. Thus, its properties are already known not only in theory, but also in practice.

Advantages of a metal tile in comparison with ondulin:

1. Ease. Weight 1 sq. m metal tiles about 5 kg. This is about 2.5 times less than that of slate, but in comparison with ondulin (3.4 kg / m²), the metal tile loses. One way or another, under both of these materials a powerful rafter system not needed, saving you money.
2. Durability. The metal tile of the European quality serves from 25 to 50 years. The manufacturer of ondulin gives a guarantee of 15 years, although it can serve up to 40 years (according to European practice). Thus, in this parameter, ondulin is inferior to a metal tile.
3. Simplicity of laying technology. The metal tile is mounted quickly enough and without large labor costs, but it requires special tools for cutting (nibblers, hacksaw, electric jigsaw) and protection of the cut from corrosion. Self-tapping screws in the metal tile must be screwed with a screwdriver. Ondulin can be cut with a sharp knife, and it is fastened with nails using a hammer. No other tools are needed.
4. Beautiful appearance. Metal tiles are produced different colors and shades that do not change over time. Ondulin is also available in multi-colored, but the choice of colors is limited.
5. Resistance to temperature fluctuations. The metal tile well maintains temperature fluctuations for many years. Ondulin is also resistant to temperature fluctuations, but at high temperatures it softens, and in the cold it becomes brittle, therefore, such a coating cannot be repaired either in the heat or in the cold.
6. Damage resistance. Both materials withstand the pressure of snow and the impact of falling branches or stones quite well. A slightly damaged sheet of metal tiles can be easily painted over with paint, and in case of significant damage, replace the sheet with a new one. In the same way, you can replace the ondulin sheet.
7. Fire safety. The metal does not burn and does not support combustion. As for ondulin, it lights up at a temperature of 230–300 ° C.

Disadvantages of metal tiles compared to ondulin:

1. Insufficient soundproofing. Metal makes a loud thud when hit by hailstones and raindrops. This disadvantage can be eliminated with the help of fibrous insulation. Ondulin, due to its elasticity, dampens the sounds of impacts well, and weakens street noise.
2. The metal tile easily gives off heat, therefore, it requires reliable thermal insulation of the roof. Ondulin retains heat better, but roof insulation is still required.
3. The cost of metal tiles is very high. Ondulin is much cheaper, although it has to be changed more often, it can be laid on top of the old layer. The metal tile during repair needs to be removed and replaced.

against

Which is better, ondulin or corrugated board?

Decking - corrugated (profiled) steel sheet coated with zinc or aluzinc, as well as polymers on both sides. This material is also used as a modern roofing material. Its protective coating system is approximately the same as that of a metal tile. Let's try to compare it with ondulin.

Advantages of corrugated board in comparison with ondulin:

1. The professional flooring of different firms is a little cheaper than high quality metal tiles. However, in comparison with ondulin, it loses significantly in this indicator.
2. The service life of corrugated board is the same as that of metal tiles, and reaches 50 years if protective coatings not damaged. Ondulin can last at best 40 years, which means that it is inferior in this indicator.
3. Decking is an almost universal roof covering. It is suitable for various types roofs. However, such a roof weighs about the same as a metal tile. It should be noted that the corrugated board is mounted in sheets of large sizes, trying to cut it less. This is both good and bad: fewer joints, higher labor productivity, but working with long sheets is harder. It is much easier to work with light ondulin sheets. It is necessary to cut sheets of corrugated board in the same way as metal tiles special tools, protecting sections from corrosion, and ondulin is well cut with a knife and is not subject to corrosion.
4. Fire resistance. According to this indicator, ondulin, of course, is inferior to corrugated board, as well as metal tiles.

Minuses:

1. Soundproofing. Decking is the same "loud" roofing material as metal tiles. Eliminate this drawback in the same way - a lining of fibrous insulation.
2. Decking is difficult to use if the roof has a complex shape. Ondulin is a more elastic material. It is easy to bend along the wave with a bend radius of 5 m or more, so it has an advantage here.

against

Which is better, Slate or Ondulin.

Well-known since Soviet times, slate is still a popular roofing material. Its advantages and disadvantages are known to us very well. Let's try and compare it with ondulin.

Slate properties when compared with ondulin:

1. Price. Slate is the cheapest roofing material after roofing material. In this, ondulin, of course, is inferior to him, although not by much.
2. Ease of installation. Slate is one of the heaviest materials. In this he is hopelessly inferior to almost all materials. In addition, slate is very fragile. Holes for nails for its fastening have to be drilled, otherwise it will crack when punched with a nail. It is necessary to cut slate sheets with a grinder with a cutting wheel for working with stone, be sure to water it with water so that dust does not form. All this complicates its installation. There are no such problems with ondulin. It is cut with a knife and nailed.
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Advantages and disadvantages can be found in almost all known types of roofing materials. The choice of a particular roof covering will depend more on the aesthetic appeal of the options under consideration. Slate and ondulin are similar in appearance, but differ in technical characteristics. What qualitative differences should be considered when choosing a roofing material for a private house?

Advantages and disadvantages of ondulin and slate

Slate has proven to be a reliable and durable material. It is quite affordable and easy to install. During operation, slate sheets fade, but this phenomenon does not affect the technical characteristics. The disadvantages of slate include the large weight of one sheet, its fragility, unattractive appearance. The biggest disadvantage of slate is the large weight of one sheet. Therefore, the installation of the roof alone will not be possible.

Ondulin not so long ago appeared on our market. The basis of this material is cellulose impregnated with chemical solutions and coated with bitumen. Unlike asbestos, these substances are not hazardous to the environment and human health. In Europe, ondulin is considered an environmentally friendly roofing material. Also, the pluses include the lighter weight of ondulin, special plasticity, tightness, good soundproofing qualities, low thermal conductivity, attractive appearance.

Technical characteristics of ondulin and slate

On the market you can find several options for ondulin colors. Slate is only available in gray color, but it can be painted by yourself with a special facade paint. At a cost, slate sheets are cheaper than ondulin, but given the cost of decor, the savings turn into additional costs. Although gray is combined with many other colors. To preserve the appearance, the slate roof can be treated with a special antiseptic composition.

When choosing roofing materials, of course, their quality should be taken into account. Ondulin production can be located in different countries. Therefore, materials differ significantly in their characteristics. The highest quality ondulin is French or Belgian. The slate available on the market is mainly Russian-made. Slate sheets can be purchased directly from the manufacturer, at the factory you trust.

As you can see, each roofing material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Decide what is more important: reliability and durability or improved attractive appearance your roof? When choosing, consider the possibility self-assembly. Also consider your finances, which will have to be spent on maintaining the aesthetic appearance of your roof.

Today, the building materials market is replete with a variety of products in all sectors of construction. Time moves forward and manufacturers come to the rescue the latest technology that allow you to produce something new and modern. Innovations in the production of roofing materials are no exception. However, with the advent of something new, there are also new questions, which material to choose or which one is more reliable. So, regarding roofing material, you can often hear the question “” or “Ondulin or slate: which is better?”. These are the questions we will try to answer today in this article. And also, we will try to consider all the “PROS” and “AGAINST” of each of these roofing materials.

1. Slate: its properties and characteristics

Figure 1. The image of a slate roof

In order to answer the question which is better - slate or ondulin, first consider such a roofing material as slate. Slate, for several decades, has been rightfully considered one of the most widely known and exploited roofing materials in the CIS countries. However, in construction circles it is believed that this is still an economy class material that is not applicable in construction. luxury houses. It is cheap and extremely easy to install, and it is also quite durable if you take good care of it. The main material from which slate is made is asbestos. In general, there are many various kinds slate, differing in thickness, sheet size, number of waves (for example, without wave, seven and eight wave) and color. There are two main types of slate:

1. 1. Flat slate - It is relatively rare, as it is used more as finishing material for walls;
2. 2. Wave slate - The most popular type of slate today, which is very easy to find in any rural area.

As noted earlier, slate roofing is reliable and durable with timely inspection and repair. It is believed that the amount of money spent on the installation and subsequent maintenance of such a roof is much less than the amount that will need to be paid for a roof, for example, made of metal or tiles.

In general, in order for the slate roof to last as long as possible, it is recommended to paint it with a special roofing paint. Painting slate will give an aesthetic and complete look to the roof, as well as add additional protective functions to it and, accordingly, extend its service life. Now, on the construction market, you can find ready-made painted slate of different colors, but it costs much more, and the paint can be scratched during transportation and installation. Therefore, if you need to save money, then it is better to paint the slate yourself, the main thing is to strictly follow the technology, otherwise the paint may burst and look very ugly. Painting must be done dry and not hot weather so that the surface of the sheets is dry and not hot.

And so, to answer our question “ What is better slate or ondulin”It is necessary to consider in more detail its positive and negative qualities.

Video on the topic "Slate or ondulin: slate and a roof from it":

Slate benefits:

• Durability - this material has been produced for more than a decade, which allows you to “live” verify its durability, and not just on paper, and warranty period manufacturer.
• Low cost of the material - this material is suitable for those who are financially constrained;
• It does not heat up and is frost-resistant - a slate roof does not heat up like an iron roof and tolerates winter and frost very well (does not exfoliate);
• UV-resistant - able to long years be in the open sun. It may turn black over time, for which it is recommended to paint it;
• Does not burn - since it is based on asbestos;
• Well suppresses noise (for example, rain noise), in comparison with metal roofing materials, such as corrugated board or metal tiles;
• Does not conduct electricity - slate is not afraid of lightning and static electricity, which can form on the surface of metal roofing materials;
• Does not rust - because it does not contain metals
• Easy to install and maintain;

Slate Disadvantages:

• The material that makes up the slate - asbestos dust - is harmful substance for our body;
• Heavy material;
• Needs periodic preventive inspection and repair (for example, painting)
• Over time, it becomes brittle and covered with moss (needs to be primed);

When processing such material, it is necessary to use protective equipment that prevents the penetration of the material into the respiratory tract and the mucous membrane of the eyes. It is for this reason that in America and European countries the use of asbestos in building materials. Keep this in mind when considering whether ondulin or slate is better.

2. Ondulin: its properties and characteristics

Figure 2. Ondulin roof sample

But it is impossible to say for sure which is better, slate or ondulin, without considering all the advantages and disadvantages of the second material, namely ondulin.

Ondulin is a roofing material based on cellulose (bituminous fiber), which is impregnated with special technical compounds, and covered with bitumen on top. It also includes rubber, mineral pigments and other fillers. In appearance, it is similar to slate, perhaps that is why it is compared with it. This type of roofing material is quite young in our country, but it has been used in Europe for many decades and has managed to fall in love with our consumers.

Video on the topic "Slate or ondulin: checking ondulin for resistance to fire":

Benefits of ondulin:

• Very light material - Due to its lightness, this material is very often laid on top of old roofing material, such as slate, without additional reinforcement of the roof frame;
• It is very easy to install - even one person can handle it, although it is much more comfortable to work together;
• Very flexible and plastic material (it easily bends along the waves), which allows it to be used even on uneven roof surfaces;
• tightness of the ondulin roof;
• in the process of driving nails into the roof, molten bitumen is released, which reliably seals the cracks;
• excellent soundproofing qualities of the material;
• ondulin has a low thermal conductivity, which can significantly save on thermal insulation materials;
• ondulin roof practically does not heat up in the sun, which in turn reduces the formation of condensate under the roof;
• the material is not subject to rot, damage by microorganisms and fungi;
• wide range of colors, attractive appearance;
• the material can be used on roofs of any complexity and shape.

Although this material does not have many shortcomings, they still exist, and they are worth mentioning. So, the negative aspects of using ondulin as a roofing material include:

• Over time, its color fades in the sun, and not evenly, leaving dark and light spots on its surface;
• Although this material is durable, but under the influence of the sun, the surface of ondulin becomes soft (after all, it contains bitumen, which begins to melt at high temperatures);
• Unlike slate, ondulin is not resistant to fire, or rather, its surface does not burn, but if you set fire to an ondulin sheet from the end, it starts to burn well and, as a result, the entire roof will be on fire;

3. Draw conclusions

Figure 3. Painted cipher

We tried to show all the main positive and negative sides of both slate and ondulin, I think now everyone will be able to answer for themselves which is better - slate or ondulin. True, it should be noted that depending on the country of the manufacturer, the quality of its product may differ. If slate is no longer produced in European countries, then the best ondulin is ondulin from France (of course, because it was there that it was first invented and produced) and, for example, Belgium.

Now, before you go to the market and buy slate or ondulin, just answer a few questions for yourself, namely:

1. What is more priority for you, Beauty or reliability (long service life);
2. The possibility of laying the roofing yourself in the shortest possible time without the need to have any special construction tools or buy cheap material and hire a special team for its installation;
3. Cheap, nondescript (without additional processing), but reliable and resistant to fire, or beautiful, conspicuous from afar, environmentally friendly, but less durable over time and not resistant to fire;

As already mentioned, an ondulin roof will turn out at a price much more expensive than a slate one, but this, apparently, is the price for its environmental friendliness of the material. However, slate needs to be more carefully looked after, regularly painted and inspected.