Roof coverings

• From which material are shingles made?

  Shingles are bitumen slates. They consist of a stable support with bitumen on both sides and a weather-resistant layer of coloured granules on top. Their composition makes them extremely weather-resistant. So bring on the hailstorms! Because they are pliable, shingles can be used on all types of roof shapes, including round arches

• How do you attach shingles?

  Shingles are easy to nail in place with roof nails. They have a flat wide head, which makes them easy to nail. You drive a nail above each tab incision and at the edge of the shingle. A 3-tab shingle calls for 4 nails per shingle; a 5-tab shingle requires 6 nails. You always nail through 2 shingles.

• What is Roof Glue Shingles used for?

  The shingles are slightly self-adhesive. The sun makes the shingles adhere even better. But we recommend using Roof Glue Shingles for steep slopes or eaves, in very wind-sensitive areas, or in areas that do not face the sun.

• On what type of substrate can I attach shingles?

  They can be installed on a nailable substrate such as plywood or OSB that is 18 mm thick. Your old roofing does not need to be removed. It can serve as an underlay. Mind the length of your roof nails in this case. Longer nails should be used so they penetrate the wooden substrate by at least 1.5 cm to 2 cm.

• How do you finish the ridge?

  It’s best to use rectangular shingles (also called 3-tab or standard shingles) for the ridge. Cut the shingles into 3 separate tabs by cutting out narrow triangles. Bend the individual tabs over the ridge and nail them in place on both sides of the ridge. The next tab overlaps the previous one. Make sure the nails are covered by the next tab. Apply some Roof Glue Shingles to each nail.

• How do I finish the roof edges?

  Roof edges can be finished with wooden moulding or edge trim. Aquaplan’s edge trim is easy to install thanks to the built-in sealant gutter.

• Can shingles also be installed on lightweight roof structures?

  Bitumen shingles are light compared to traditional roofing. This makes them easy to handle and installable on lighter roof constructions. The shingles weigh ±10 kg/m2. A pack of shingles is only 80 cm long and 34 cm wide. They’re very easy to transport in the boot of your car.

• From which material is the Rustic Slate made?

  Rustic Slates are synthetic and made from recycled composite material. This makes them environmentally friendly. Because the material is indestructible, Rustic Slates can withstand all types of weather. So bring on the hailstorms!

• Can it also be installed on lightweight roof structures?

  Rustic Slates are 80% lighter than a natural slate of the same size. This makes them easy to handle and installable on lighter roof constructions. The slates weigh 13 kg/m2.

• How do you attach Rustic Slates?

  Rustic Slates are secured with screws. The round “nail” mark indicates where to screw the Rustic Slates. You use 2 screws per slate.

• On what type of substrate can I attach Rustic Slates?

  They can be installed on a nailable substrate such as plywood or OSB that is 18 mm thick. Your old roofing does not need to be removed. It can serve as an underlay. Mind the length of your screws in this case. Longer screws should be used so they penetrate the wooden substrate by at least 1.5 cm to 2 cm.

• Can I use a pressure washer to clean a roof?

  No, that is not recommended. To clean your roof, simply brush it off or use a leaf vacuum. Atmospheric deposits can be removed with Aquaplan’s Garden Clean Scrub Free.

• Is a flat roof flat?

  A flat roof always has a slight slope. You must always provide drainage so puddles do not remain on your flat roof. A flat roof has a minimum pitch of ±1.15° or a minimum slope of 2%. Make sure your roof slopes at least 2 cm per metre.

• Should an underlay be installed?

  A bitumen roof is a 2-ply system in which an underlay is always laid first, followed by a top layer. This ensures waterproofing. Make sure the top layer is staggered by half a metre with the underlay. Always install the underlay and top layer in the same direction. If you renovate an old roof, the existing roof covering can serve as an underlay. First repair blisters, cracks and tears and fix the remaining dust with a primer.

• In which direction should I install my roofing membranes?

  Always work from the lowest point of the roof slope towards the higher roof section. Lay the roofing membranes on top of each other in scales with an overlap of about 10 cm. Make sure the top layer is staggered by half a metre with the underlay. Always install the underlay and top layer in the same direction.

• How do I glue roofing membranes?

  Pour the cold glue onto the substrate in a zigzag motion. Use a floor squeegee to spread the glue over the entire width of the roofing membrane. You will need about 1 kg per m2. Unroll the roofing membrane over the glue and press down. Make sure some glue protrudes from under the roll onto the seams. This seals the seams and guarantees a waterproof seal. You can sprinkle slate granules on the seams afterwards to give your roof a beautiful finish.

• Will the glue hold?

  A bitumen roofing membrane is a vapour barrier. It takes some time (± 3 weeks) for the glue to dry and reach its full adhesive strength. But don’t worry; the initial adhesive strength is sufficient to ensure that your roofing membranes don’t fly off. When applying a top layer over old roofing membranes, you must use a roofing primer to fix the dust. Otherwise, the adhesive strength of the glue will not be sufficient.

• Can all roofing membranes be glued?

  No. Whether or not a roofing membrane can be glued depends on how the underside is finished. A roofing membrane can only be glued if the underside is finished with a perforated film or sand. Always check whether the purchased roofing membrane can be glued.

• How do I heat weld my roofing membrane?

  Heat welding is also known as torch welding. Always aim a soft flame at the underside of the roofing membrane, never on the substrate. Heat the roofing membrane evenly across its entire width. Form a bead of liquid bitumen in front of the roll, then unroll and press it down. Ensure that a bead of bitumen is formed at the overlap.

• Can all roofing membranes be heat welded?

  No. Whether or not a roofing membrane can be heat welded depends on how the underside is finished. A roofing membrane can only be heat welded if the underside is finished with a film. Sometimes this film is perforated. The film will melt when exposed to heat and act as an adhesive. Always check whether the purchased roofing membrane can be heat welded.

• Is heat welding better than gluing?

  Once you have mastered the art of heat welding, it is the preferred application method. But if you are not used to heat welding, it is easy to use too much heat and damage the roofing membrane. You also need to be careful and take fire safety into account.

• Is there an underside and top to a corrugated plate?

  Yes. It’s very important that you lay the corrugated sheets with the correct side up to ensure a waterproof seal. The side with the Aquaplan logo on it is the top. The Aquaplan logo is covered at the overlap with the ridge cap or another corrugated sheet. When installed correctly, no logos are visible on your roof. For the black corrugated sheet, the top is the shiniest side.

• Which nails should I use to attach the corrugated sheets?

  Always use Topline nails. They are specially designed with a PVC cover to protect the nail and guarantee a waterproof seal. Each corrugated sheet colour has matching nails in a similar colour.

• How many nails do I need to use?

  Drive a nail in the top of all waves that overlap and all waves on the lower purlin. On the other purlins, nail the corrugated sheet every 2 waves. This amounts to about 20 nails per corrugated sheet at 4 purlins per sheet. The smaller the distance between purlins, the more nails you will need.

• How do I nail the sheets?

  It’s important that you nail vertically through the top of the corrugation. Where 2 corrugated sheets overlap, nail at an angle. Always nail the second wave and the second to last wave before nailing the other waves.

• How do I lay the corrugated sheets?

  Always work from the eaves towards the ridge and against the prevailing wind direction. The lower the roof pitch, the smaller the purlin distance and the larger the overlap of the corrugated sheets. For a pitch of 7° to 10°, use an overlap of 2 waves on the long side of the corrugated sheet and an overlap of 20 cm on the short side. For higher pitches, an overlap of 1 wave on the long side and an overlap of ±15 cm on the short side is sufficient.

• What is the best way to repair a crack in my corrugated sheet?

  The most budget-friendly way to repair a crack is to use a new corrugated sheet. You can cut the corrugated sheet to size and save the rest of it for later. Be sure to slide the new sheet under the higher corrugated sheet or ridge to ensure a waterproof seal. Remove the corresponding nails and nail them back in place afterwards.

• Why do water droplets form underneath the corrugated sheet?

  If you put a car in an enclosed space covered with corrugated sheets, but there is no waterproof layer, the heat from the car will rise and condense as it cools. These droplets adhere to the underside of the corrugated sheets and may drop. This might result in brown spots. We strongly recommend installing a waterproof layer (a vapour barrier) when condensation may occur or if the roof is insulated. In this case, always ensure sufficient ventilation.

• Do you need to saw the Aqua Tile tile roofing sheets to size?

  The Aqua Tile concept is a modular roof tile concept that does not require you to cut the sheets. The sheets fit any rectangular roof and can be overlapped both vertically and horizontally, so there is no need to cut or trim them. If the roof has a sloping side, you can cut the Aqua Tile sheet using a handsaw.

• Can the Aqua Tile concept also be used on a pent or mono-pitched roof?

  Yes, you can use the tile roofing sheets on a pent or mono-pitched roof. Finish the sides with verge caps. Ensure a 5 cm overhang at the bottom. Finish the top with ridge caps.

• Do these tile roofing sheets produce a lot of noise when it rains?

  No. The tile roofing sheets are covered with a special coating and stone granulate that dampens noise.

• How are the tile roofing sheets fastened?

  Special Aqua Tile screws are available for fastening the tile roofing sheets. These screws are fitted with an EPDM washer to guarantee a waterproof seal. They also come in different colours. Each sheet colour has a matching screw so they don’t stand out and blend in with the sheets.

• How are the ridge caps attached to the tile roofing sheets?

  The ridge caps must only be attached to the tile roofing sheets.

• How do I shorten the Aqua Tile Metal tile roofing sheet?

  The Aqua Tile concept is a modular roof tile concept. The sheets fit any rectangular roof and can be overlapped both vertically and horizontally, so there is no need to cut or trim them.

• Can I install Aqua Tile sheets on XPS insulation fastened to the roof timbers?

  In principle, yes. You have to make sure that the screws are anchored in the roof timbers. The longest Aqua Tile screws are 35 mm long. If this is not long enough to accommodate the thickness of the XPS, you should use other screws. Be sure to use screws with an EPDM washer to guarantee a waterproof seal.

• Is a waterproof layer needed or not?

  We always recommend a waterproof layer, but it’s not required if the pitch is at least 10°. Please note: a pitch of 10° corresponds to a slope of 18%. If you are unsure whether your pitch is sufficient, it is always best to install a waterproof layer.

• Can Aqua Tile be fastened directly to OSB?

  We recommend installing the tile roofing sheets directly onto solid OSB boards. If the pitch is at least 10°, a waterproof layer is not required, but it is recommended. Please note: a pitch of 10° corresponds to a slope of 18%.

• Does my old roofing need to be removed first?

  No, you don’t need to remove an existing roof covering such as shingles or bitumen roofing membranes. The substrate must be nailable. If the existing roof covering is nailable, you don’t need to remove it.