Ondulin and corrugated sheets are modern and very popular roofing materials. Each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss below.
After reading this article, you will have a fairly clear idea about them, and it will be easier for you to make a choice than to cover the roof.
Installation of the roof and installation of roofing material is the final stage of construction. Not only the comfort in the house will depend on the quality of the roof, but also a number of other important factors that non-specialists may not even be aware of. Let's take a closer look at the features of these two materials - ondulin and corrugated sheets.
What is ondulin
Ondulin is produced on the basis of cellulose and bitumen with the addition of mineral fillers. Its other names are Euro slate, wavy slate, and bituminous slate. Although ondulin is produced by one company, it has a wide range of colors, good technical parameters and a decent price/quality ratio.
What is corrugated roofing
Corrugated sheets are made from galvanized steel sheets, which are given a wavy profile using rolling equipment for greater rigidity. Sheets of corrugated sheets are coated with an anti-corrosion compound, then a primer, after which polymer is applied to the inside and varnish is applied to the outside.
What is better - ondulin or corrugated sheeting?
Compared to corrugated sheeting, ondulin has greater plasticity, so it is easy to lay in hard-to-reach places and secure to the sheathing. In addition, there is no need to make a continuous sheathing under ondulin, and a roof made from it has better thermal insulation properties and does not “rattle” in the rain. Ondulin is not susceptible to corrosion, in particular rust, it is environmentally friendly and safe for humans.
The disadvantages of ondulin include its low strength, especially at high and low temperatures, a limited choice of colors and the fact that when exposed to sunlight, ondulin fades, and the color of the roof fades after a few years.
Corrugated sheeting also has a number of disadvantages: poor sound insulation - when it rains, the roof will “rattle”; It is difficult to cover roofs of complex configurations, since the corrugated sheets are large and more difficult to cut than ondulin. In addition, in hot weather the roof quickly heats up, and in winter the snow cover freezes to it.
As for the cost and service life of these two materials, there is no significant difference between them, they are light in weight, and roofing work with them is quite simple. By the way, when buying ondulin, you should choose original material with certificates, since there are low-quality fakes on the market.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material in more detail.
Pros and cons of ondulin
Advantages of ondulin:
- low cost;
- ease;
- ease of installation regardless of the season. Ondulin sheets are attached to a wooden sheathing with special nails;
- possibility of installing ondulin on old coating;
- environmental friendliness;
- the thinness and relative softness of the material makes it easy to saw and adjust to the desired size;
- high resistance to aggressive chemicals and fungi.
Disadvantages of ondulin:
- rapid color fading in the sun - during the first years of operation, the color changes noticeably;
- since in the process of laying ondulin quite a lot of joints are formed, any defect can lead to roof leakage;
- roughness, due to which snow can linger on the roof;
- softening when heated and brittleness at low temperatures. Due to these features, any work on the roof during hot and cold seasons can lead to damage to ondulin sheets;
- small selection of colors;
- flammability at high temperatures;
- The guaranteed service life is not so high - 15 years. True, this does not mean that ondulin sheets will last only this period.
Advantages of corrugated sheets:
- relative cheapness;
- high service life. If there is no damage to the protective layer, the corrugated sheet will last up to 50 years;
- versatility - corrugated sheeting can be used for installing various types of roofing on buildings for various purposes;
- ease of installation. There is no need for highly qualified installers and special equipment;
- environmental Safety;
- a small number of joints during installation;
- good corrosion protection and high tightness;
- wide range of colors, aesthetics;
- non-flammability.
Cons of corrugated sheets:
- insufficient sound insulation, increased noise during precipitation;
- possibility of condensation formation;
- on a complex roof there may be problems covering curves and corners.
When choosing between corrugated sheeting and ondulin, you should take into account the advantages and disadvantages of these materials, as well as the specific features of the house being built. In addition, it is important to purchase a high-quality coating, and not a fake - only in this case will it last the period stated by the manufacturer.
When designing a new building, quite often you have to decide on the choice between ondulin and corrugated sheeting as a roofing covering. In order to make the most optimal decision about whether ondulin or corrugated sheet is better, you will need knowledge of the basic characteristics of both materials.
Ondulin
To make ondulin (or flexible slate), ordinary cellulose cardboard is used, where bitumen and heat-resistant resins act as impregnation. Giving the desired color is achieved using mineral dyes.
As for the name of the material, this was the name of the French company that was the first to produce flexible slate 50 years ago. If we talk about our country, then acquaintance with ondulin occurred approximately in the 90s of the 20th century.
Profiled sheet
The coating is made on the basis of corrugated steel sheet. Its waves have a height of 20-80 mm, which allows the material to be given a high level of transverse rigidity. To protect the metal surface from moisture, a single-layer or multi-layer anti-corrosion coating is used.
It can be made from:
- Zinc. Galvanized profiled sheets are most often used to create temporary fences and roofs in warehouse and industrial buildings. The unpopularity of the material in private housing construction is explained by the fact that it is produced in only one color.
- Polymer. To improve performance characteristics, galvanized profiled sheets in this case are additionally coated with a polymer layer. This increases their mechanical strength, ability to resist corrosion and decorative effectiveness.
Comparison of two materials - pros and cons
Cost - which is cheaper
The first task that one has to face when choosing between two roofing options is to determine what is cheaper - ondulin or corrugated sheeting. As of March 2017, a comparison of prices leads to the fact that ondulin is approximately 30% cheaper.
It remains to be seen whether the higher price of profiled sheets is justified by their performance characteristics.
Service life of corrugated sheets and ondulin
Next, it is important to determine which coating lasts longer, ondulin or corrugated sheet. Manufacturers of flexible slate usually provide a guarantee for their product of 40 years or more. As for the profiled sheet, the service life is indicated somewhat longer - 50 years. In any case, both coatings can provide the roof with fairly durable operation.
However, you should know some nuances:
- Some varieties of ondulin can effectively withstand moisture for only 15 years, and only if the installation technology is followed.
- Some time after installation, ondulin fades under the influence of sunlight, but this does not reduce the service life of ondulin.
- The actual durability of the profiled sheet is greatly influenced by the thickness of the protective zinc layer. In an effort to win a competitive race, this is where many corrugated sheeting manufacturers often try to save money.
- When cutting corrugated sheets with an abrasive tool, you should keep in mind that in this case its corrosion protection is violated. This can cause rust along the cut line.
Therefore, it is not possible to determine which is better for the roof - ondulin or corrugated sheeting, by comparing their service life. There is approximate equality here, since this indicator is influenced by many additional factors.
Strength characteristics - which is better for the roof
It is very important how the roof will be affected by snow load or high wind. If there are other outbuildings or trees on the site, then there is always a risk of a piece of neighbor’s siding or a tree branch flying onto the roof.
The popular brand of flexible slate “Smart” has the following characteristics:
- The maximum permissible snow load is up to 960 kg/m2.
- The maximum permissible wind speed is 175 km/h.
The accompanying documentation for profiled sheets does not provide such information.
- Winds with a speed of more than 117 km/h are called hurricane winds. It is capable of causing large-scale destruction, damaging houses and uprooting trees.
- The snow load on roofs in our country usually does not exceed 600 kg/m2. Onduline roofs are always pitched, and the seams are usually not waterproofed.
At first glance, flexible slate wins here.
But one should refrain from hasty conclusions:
- Steel sheets are an order of magnitude stronger than bitumen-impregnated cardboard. For example, ondulin fences can only keep out small pets. As for fences made of profiled sheets, such structures do an excellent job of their duties, having good anti-vandal characteristics.
- The ability to withstand snow and gusts of wind indicated for flexible slate is also characteristic of profiled sheeting. The main thing is that in both cases a continuous sheathing is used.
- During severe frosts, ondulin becomes fragile. And if some heavy object falls on such a roof, it can cause irreparable damage. In the case of corrugated sheeting, everything is usually limited to a small dent. The pros and cons of a corrugated roof make it a winner in terms of strength.
Transportation
Next, you need to compare ondulin and corrugated sheeting according to the features of its transportation from the place of storage or purchase to the construction site. This criterion is directly dependent on the size of the sheets and their weight: the lower the weight, the more convenient the transportation.
Here metal products are inferior to ondulin:
- The weight of flexible slate measuring 195x95 cm is 6 kg.
- Corrugated sheeting has a standard width of 120 cm, but the length can be up to 6 m. The weight of a linear meter of the lightest type of material with a thickness of 0.4 mm is about 4 kg.
Installation
As for installation work, the advantage is given to the material whose sheets are large in size. This makes it possible to reduce the number of joints while increasing the speed of work. The considerable length of the profiled sheets allows in many cases to completely cover the roof slopes without using longitudinal overlaps.
Metal products have a couple more advantages:
- Cheap sheathing. To cover the roof with profiled sheets, sheathing is installed in increments of 30 cm. With an increase in the thickness of the metal and the height of the profile wave, the permissible pitch of the sheathing also increases. The frame for ondulin must be solid, with virtually no gaps: this implies high costs for its sheathing. This criterion can be attributed to the comparison mentioned above, which is cheaper - ondulin or corrugated sheet.
- Self-tapping screws can be installed at the bottom of the wave: due to the use of rubber press washers, the connections are airtight. To fasten ondulin, it is allowed to use only roofing nails, and the place where they are driven can only be at the top of the wave. This type of fastening is not as durable.
Noise level
Results
Each person, having compared ondulin and corrugated sheeting, will be able to come to certain conclusions. If the strength of the roof covering is considered a priority, then profiled sheets have an advantage. At the same time, ondulin has its advantages, the main ones being the lightness of the material and the ease of its installation.
The final stage of general construction work is the construction of the roof, including the installation of the roof. There can be many options: slate, metal, sheet, roll, soft, flexible, slate, self-leveling and many others. Both the price and appearance, as well as the level of installation complexity, vary. Quite popular and inexpensive coatings include ondulin and corrugated sheets. This article will help you determine the advantages and disadvantages of these materials.
Appearance
Corrugated sheet (corrugated sheet)
It looks like a profiled sheet made of galvanized steel. It has an additional polymer layer on the inside and a varnish layer on the outside.
The profile can be:
- Trapezoidal.
- Rectangular.
- Wavy.
The length reaches 12 m, the width varies from 0.95 to 1.85 m, and the weight is up to 8 kg/m2. Its thickness is usually from 0.4 to 1.5 mm. There are more than 100 different shades on the market.
Ondulin (Euroslate, Aqualin)
It is made of cellulose impregnated with a bitumen mixture and additionally coated with polymer paint. It has the appearance of a wavy leaf. Standard sheet dimensions: 2x0.95 m, and weight less than 7 kg. Its thickness is usually 1.5 - 3 mm. About 10 color shades can be found on sale.
Installation
Installation of corrugated sheets possible only if the roof slope is greater than or equal to 10°. Lay it overlapping and secure it with self-tapping screws. Installation over previously installed roll roofing is possible. Placed on a sparse type sheathing. At least two workers are required for installation.
Ondulin is laid at a slope of 6°. If it exceeds 10°, then it is possible to install not a continuous sheathing, but in increments of 45-60 cm, directly depending on the angle. Fastening is carried out using special nails. Even one person can install it. Neither the first nor the second material requires significant installation skills.
Application area
Mainly used as a coating for various outbuildings, industrial enterprises, car washes, shops.
Used as a covering for bathhouses, garages, sheds, dachas and country cottages. Convenient as a covering for roofs of complex configurations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The common positive properties of both materials are a long service life (more than 10 years), environmental friendliness, affordability, and relatively low weight.
Ondulin advantages
- hygiene;
- ease of installation and transportation;
- water resistance and resistance to chemical influences;
- ease of cutting;
- high noise insulation and heat insulation properties;
- plasticity and flexibility of the material.
Profiled sheeting advantages
- great durability, its service life can reach 50 years;
- versatility (in addition to roofing, the material is also used for wall cladding and for the construction of fences);
- resistance to corrosion and natural factors;
- high bending strength;
- wide selection of colors and shapes;
- good appearance;
- ease of installation and a small number of joints during installation.
Disadvantages of ondulin
- high fire hazard (burns at a temperature of 110°C);
- fading under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
- on hot days it softens and a strong smell of bitumen appears, on cold days it becomes brittle;
- small selection of shades;
- a large number of joints during installation, which contributes to the occurrence of leaks due to poor-quality installation;
- not the highest strength;
- roughness that makes it difficult for snow to slide off;
- moss germination may occur;
- When choosing ondulin, you should definitely be careful and check the certificates for the material, since the number of fakes that are not durable is very large.
Cons of corrugated sheeting
- very low sound insulation properties;
- rapid heating/freezing depending on street temperatures;
- Condensation may occur due to installation errors.
conclusions
more durable, much more fire-resistant, fewer joints remain during installation, since the sheets can be up to six meters long, and retains its attractive appearance longer. But at the same time it is very “noisy” and requires laying an additional layer of vapor barrier.
has high noise and heat insulation, is very easy to lay and cut, but has low fire resistance, is fragile and requires mandatory periodic cleaning.
Despite the number of shortcomings, both corrugated sheeting and ondulin are materials of fairly high quality. The price for both types of roofing is relatively low and approximately equal. Even professionals have differing opinions on which material is better. Therefore, when choosing a coating, it is necessary to take into account all the parameters and features of the building, including its purpose, number of floors, climatic zone of the building, as well as the desired appearance of the building.
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The roofing material must be reliable, moisture-repellent and have a beautiful appearance. It is desirable that it can be easily laid, and if necessary, it is possible to replace only one deformed section, and not the entire roof.
Modern roofing materials such as ondulin and corrugated sheets meet these requirements. The question often arises, which one is better to choose; without familiarizing yourself with their advantages and disadvantages, it is difficult to understand. To make the choice easier, we will provide a comprehensive answer to this question.
Pros and cons of corrugated sheets
It is a sheet of metal that has increased rigidity. It is based on sheets of galvanized steel, the wave-shaped profile of which is made on rolling equipment. Its sheets are coated with a protective anti-corrosion compound, followed by a layer of primer. Varnish is applied to the outside of the material, and polymer is applied to the inside.
The rigidity of the corrugated sheet is ensured by trapezoidal ribs. The material is used not only for roofs, but also for arranging fences and walls of buildings.
It has found such a wide range of applications due to its positive aspects:
- Light weight, facilitating installation work.
- Affordable price.
- Durability. If the protective layer remains intact during its stay on the roof, the material can last for half a century.
- Environmentally friendly.
- A small number of material joints ensures high tightness of the entire roof.
- Wide range of colors.
- High fire safety. Corrugated sheeting is not flammable and does not support fire.
- Protection from rot and corrosion.
- Versatility. Corrugated sheeting can be mounted on roofs of any complexity and slope. It is used for buildings for various purposes.
- Beautiful appearance.
Information from the article will help you understand how Monterrey metal tiles are fastened and how to do it correctly:
Information will help you understand what Monterrey classic metal tiles are and how to choose them correctly.
The disadvantages of corrugated sheets include:
- Formation of condensation on the surface of the material.
- Low degree of sound insulation, which threatens the presence of noise during precipitation.
- Roofs with curves and complex angles can cause problems.
In the video - which is better: ondulin or corrugated sheeting:
Pros and cons of ondulin
This material is also called Euro slate; it quickly won its admirers; many prefer it because of its aesthetic appearance. A roof covered with it looks attractive; its wavy sheets, imitating classic slate, add harmony. It was invented more than 50 years ago for residential buildings; it is used to cover canopies, gazebos, and private cottages. It makes any building look solid.
Its production uses cellulose fibers, which are pressed and then impregnated with bitumen. Afterwards, the manufactured sheets are given a wavy shape. They are covered with paint and resin on top.
Due to the small thickness of the sheet, this material is relatively lightweight, which makes it easier to transport and lift to the roof of the building. In addition, due to this, ondulin can be cut with a regular hacksaw; it bends perfectly, so it can be used for roofing surfaces of any complexity.
Due to its positive properties, ondulin can compete even with tiles; its strengths include:
Like any other material, ondulin has its downsides:
What's better?
Each of the materials considered is good for roofing, even with its drawbacks. The choice of one of them is primarily based on the preferences of the owner of the house. But there are several nuances of these materials, if you compare them according to certain characteristics.
Ondulin can only be used for roofs, while corrugated sheeting has a more diverse application. A roof and a fence made from it in its native color will look very interesting in one area. But what is better is ondulin or metal tiles, this information will help you understand in detail. But what is better to cover the roof with corrugated sheets or metal tiles?
On the video, what is cheaper ondulin or corrugated sheeting:
Ondulin differs from corrugated sheeting in its greater plasticity, so it is better to prefer it for complex roof structures; it is excellent for fastening in various hard-to-reach places. There is no need to make a continuous sheathing underneath it, as is the case with corrugated sheeting; it has higher heat and sound insulation properties. But galvanized material is not subject to combustion and ultraviolet radiation, it is more airtight, but is susceptible to corrosion at the attachment points.
The cost and service life of ondulin and corrugated sheets are the same, the weight of their sheets is practically the same.
When choosing between these two roofing materials, the main thing is to take into account the features of the structure being built, the degree of complexity of its roof, the presence of an attic floor in the house and the structures located near it. Durability and performance properties are guaranteed only by high-quality materials, so when purchasing them you need to check for a certificate.
Technical and technological progress have done their job in the field of roofing materials. Slate and natural tiles, popular in the middle of the last century, have today given way to more efficient materials. In modern construction of individual and low-rise housing, roofing sheets such as ondulin, corrugated sheets or metal tiles are very popular. Each of them has its own characteristics, positive and negative aspects, depending on the conditions of use.
Ondulin, corrugated sheets and metal tiles - comparison table
Most developers, having reached the point of erecting a roof, prefer corrugated sheeting, which best characterizes them as the most versatile and popular materials for roofing. How do they attract consumers? To understand this, you need to understand what they are and what physical and operational characteristics they have that allow them to be used as a roofing material.
Ondulin, device and characteristics
Ondulin is a modern version of slate, which is also known as “euro-slate” due to its external similarity to its famous predecessor. It also has a wavy leaf shape, but is made from organic fibers impregnated with bitumen at high temperature and under high pressure. Due to this manufacturing technology, ondulin acquires the necessary strength and water-repellent properties.
Unlike slate, ondulin does not contain asbestos and other environmentally harmful substances. During the production process, mineral dyes are added to it, so it can have a wide choice of colors. The most common 4 colors are red, green, brown and black. Since the coloring process is carried out before impregnation with resin, the color of the sheets is resistant to external influences, but under prolonged exposure to sunlight it can gradually fade and become less saturated.
If slate does not bend and immediately breaks under significant bending forces, then ondulin is a flexible material, allows bending within certain limits and has elasticity, which allows it to be successfully used for covering roofs with complex terrain and repairing old roofs. The strength of ondulin sheets is quite high and can withstand loads of up to 960 kgf/m2.
It is produced in sheets measuring 2 x 0.95 m or 2 x 1.25 m with a thickness of 3 mm. The weight of one sheet is in the range of 6-8.4 kg, while a sheet of asbestos-cement slate weighs 25 kg. The wavy curves of the sheet have a height of 36mm. Ondulin has good heat and noise insulation properties; the noise of rain or hail is attenuated by 40 dB. The material is also resistant to thermal influences, it retains its physical properties up to a temperature of 1100C and can withstand up to 25 freezing and thawing cycles.
Video: Ondulin or corrugated sheets: advantages and disadvantages
The main pros and cons of ondulin
The advantages of the material include:
- low cost;
- light weight;
- ease of installation and processing of sheets;
- durability of the material;
- environmental Safety;
- flexibility and elasticity of the material, allowing it to be used to cover curved slopes;
- lack of oxidation and resistance to rotting, fungal formation, and the action of aggressive chemicals;
- heat and sound insulation qualities.
- ability to support combustion;
- color change due to sun exposure;
- softening and hardening of ondulin under the influence of temperature, which does not allow repairs to be carried out in hot summers or frosty winters;
- a rough surface that makes it difficult for snow to roll off spontaneously and requires the formation of a large roof slope;
- low rigidity of the material, sheets under the influence of high mechanical load can sag and deform, so the sheathing should be frequent and with a large slope.
Features of ondulin installation
Due to the fact that ondulin is lightweight, flexible and can be sawed with a regular hacksaw, installation of sheets does not cause any particular difficulties. Wider sheets should be used on the roof to reduce the number of joints and overlaps. The sheets are fastened to the metal sheathing with self-tapping screws, and to the wooden sheathing with roofing nails with a special rubber gasket that ensures the tightness of the holes and the required thermal gap.
Video: Installation of Ondulin - video instructions
The sheets are laid in an overlap with an overlap of 10-20 cm in height and in one wave in width. To ensure high quality ondulin roofing and a long service life (up to 50 years), it is important to comply with special requirements for laying sheets:
- installation should be carried out at a temperature not lower than -50C and not higher than +30C;
- during installation, do not step on the laid sheets; in extreme cases, step on the protruding ridges with soft shoes;
- The roof slope must be at least 120 with a sheathing pitch of no more than 45 cm. With a slope of more than 150, the pitch of the sheathing can be increased to 60 cm;
- the consumption of nails per 1 sheet should be 20 pieces, which will ensure wind resistance of the roof;
- strictly observe the linearity of the joints vertically and horizontally, ensuring even laying of the sheets.
Corrugated sheeting, device and characteristics
Roofing corrugated sheeting is a thin metal sheet with a corrugated surface. The sheet profile can be sinusoidal, rounded or trapezoidal. The latter type of sheets with asymmetrical protrusions and profile recesses is most popular in roofing. In this case, the profile height can be from 20 to 158 mm, and the sheet thickness is 0.5-1.5 mm.
To protect against corrosion, the surface of the sheet is galvanized and can have a multi-colored polymer coating, which, in addition to protective properties, also provides an aesthetic design. In terms of strength and load-bearing capacity, corrugated sheeting has the best performance among all roofing materials. The good flexibility of the sheet along the wavy surface allows it to be used in roofs of various configurations.
Corrugated sheets for roofing are produced in widths from 600 to 1100 mm and in measured lengths from 3 to 12 m, a multiple of 25 cm. The sheets have a light weight of 5-16 kg/m2 depending on the thickness. The small thickness makes it easy to process the sheets with metal-cutting tools and fasten them using self-tapping screws. The profile structure provides high rigidity of the material in the transverse direction and high load-bearing capacity.
The main advantages and disadvantages of corrugated sheets
Structure of corrugated sheets
The advantages of profile metal sheets are:
- affordable cost and material savings;
- high strength and load-bearing capacity;
- absolute waterproofness;
- large sheet dimensions and a small number of joints in roof installation;
- light weight and easy installation;
- fire and environmental safety;
- low susceptibility to corrosion and long service life (up to 50 years);
- wide variety of colors.
The disadvantages of corrugated sheets are:
- the practical absence of heat and sound insulation, the implementation of which requires the installation of special insulation under the corrugated sheet;
- the formation of condensation on the inner surface of the sheets, to prevent which requires the use of a steam and waterproofing layer with a ventilated gap;
- large dimensions of the sheets lead to problems when covering roofs of different profile configurations; in addition, difficulties arise in joining flat surfaces of slopes with different slopes due to the shape of the profile;
- strong heating of the roof under the influence of sunlight in summer and freezing of snow to the surface of the sheets in winter.
Video: Installation of corrugated roofing
Installation features
The use of corrugated sheeting requires laying a roofing pie underneath it, which is necessary for heat and sound insulation, as well as combating the formation of condensation and getting the floor wet. The pie consists of a waterproofing film and insulation, laid with a small air gap between the film and the sheathing. The gap provides natural ventilation and evaporation of condensate.
The sheathing strips can be fixed in increments of 1 to 4 m, depending on the thickness of the sheet. For slopes up to 12m long it is convenient to use solid sheets. For longer slopes, the sheets are overlapped up to 20 cm. If the roof slope is less than 120, then the joints should be sealed with sealant to prevent moisture from penetrating into the cracks due to the capillary effect and rapid corrosion of the metal. The sheets are attached to the sheathing with self-tapping screws and a rubber washer in the amount of 5-7 pieces/m2.
Thus, it is clear to answer the question of which is better - ondulin or corrugated sheeting , impossible. Both materials have approximately comparable prices per square meter, are lightweight, easy to install, and have a long service life. But each of them has its own disadvantages and may not be applicable in special climatic conditions. The choice of roofing material should be approached individually, depending on the parameters of a particular building and its purpose.