Today, ondulin is considered one of the most popular roofing materials. Many people are interested in all the information about ondulin: what it is made of, what characteristics and service life it has, how it affects people's health, etc. The interest of the owners of country houses is quite understandable, because modern roofing should differ not only in an attractive appearance, but also in durability, environmental friendliness and budget. Does ondulin meet all these qualities?
Features of ondulin
You can answer this question only by familiarizing yourself with the composition of this modern roofing material. It is the composition of ondulin that gives it unique performance qualities that guarantee a service life of at least 50 years. Due to the fact that asbestos is not included in the mixture, ondulin is more environmentally friendly than slate, but also durable. Despite the fact that the difference between the two materials is noticeable even to a non-specialist, ondulin received a second name - euroslate. This is largely due to its undeniable advantages over other roofing materials:
- The ability of low water absorption, in which a special microclimate is formed in the space under the roof, which does not change even when climatic conditions change.
- The presence of resistance to precipitation in the form of snow and rain, as well as other weather phenomena.
- Protection against damage by fungi and mold and exposure to aggressive chemicals (alkalis, acids, industrial gases, etc.).
- Use in the manufacture of environmentally friendly raw materials.
In addition, ondulin is easy to install: it cuts well, does not break, and does not require the use of special tools. Even a beginner can successfully cope with the installation of the coating.
Back to index
The composition of the material and the stages of its manufacture
The main raw material from which euroslate is made is ordinary waste paper. Waste paper and cardboard are processed into pulp, which undergoes special preparation before molding. Then resins, pigments and fillers are added to the composition. Already finished formed sheets are impregnated with purified bitumen. All of the listed components at the preparation stage undergo thorough checks for compliance with environmental friendliness and quality. Ondulin manufacturing technology has several stages:
- The first stage is characterized by the cleaning of waste paper from debris and its transformation into pulp. It is this mass that will become the basis of the future roofing material.
- At the second stage, the resulting mass is mixed with additives and enters the conveyor, where special machines give it the desired shape. Then the sheets of ondulin are dried.
- During the third stage, the dried sheets are cut to size and impregnated with bitumen under pressure and high temperatures.
- At the fourth stage, ondulin is stained. The properties of the raw materials from which the material is made allow it to be dyed in 4 primary colors - black, green, red and brown. Painted sheets are re-treated with bitumen.
- The last stage involves the packaging of ondulin, in which a film is wound on it that protects the sheets from various kinds of damage.
It takes about 45 minutes for roofing to complete all stages, from waste paper cleaning to packaging.
Back to index
The physical and mechanical properties inherent in ondulin make it a material that has no analogues in the roofing market.
In particular:
- The level of destruction of the roof from ondulin is equal to 960 kg / m 2, while not the sheet itself is destroyed, but the crate under it;
- Ondulin completely retains its shape and characteristics at the maximum allowable temperature exposure;
- When the temperature regime changes, the thermal conductivity of the material remains almost unchanged: at a temperature of +35 ° C - 0.19 W / m * K, at + 40 ° C - 0.195 W / m * K, at + 50 ° C - 0.2 W / m*K;
- The sound insulation index is 40 dB;
- The waviness, structure and other features of the appearance of ondulin are preserved during 25 cycles of freezing and thawing.
The main technical parameters of the material are as follows:
- sheet length - 200 cm;
- width - 95 cm;
- thickness - 3 mm;
- waviness level - 36 mm.
With significant dimensions, an ondulin sheet weighs no more than 6.5 kg, which facilitates the process of transportation and installation.
To cover the roof of any private house, its owner will use only high-quality materials. The durability of the entire building will largely depend on this. The modern industry offers a large selection of roofing material. For example, ondulin. And what is it, and what types can be found on the construction market? This will be discussed in the article.
What it is
Before understanding the variety of options offered by the manufacturer, it is worth understanding what kind of roofing material it is. So, ondulin is a modern type of roofing material. But it differs from the latter in its numerous advantages. Ondulin, as well as roofing material, is made of several layers. It contains the following components:
- cellulose fiber;
- mineral fillers;
- thermosetting resin;
- distilled bitumen.
- high level of moisture resistance. Thanks to a special impregnation, ondulin is almost one hundred percent waterproof;
- the material is resistant to almost any external influence. Ondulin consists of resin, bitumen and mineral fillers. All these components easily endure acidic and alkaline environments. Also, your roof covering will not be afraid of industrial gases, which are quite a lot in the city;
- light weight. A standard sheet of ondulin weighs not much more than six kilograms. This feature facilitates installation work and makes it possible to make the composition of the truss system less massive;
- the material is easy to process. The composition of ondulin makes it easy to bend, fold and cut the sheet. This also affects the speed and ease of installation of the roof covering;
- little noise. During rain, the sounds of falling drops will not be heard inside the house. In addition, ondulin will serve as obstacles and street noise.
- First of all, count the number of waves. The standard ondulin has ten of them, the mini version has eight of them. If the number is different, then it is a fake;
- check the dimensions of the sheet itself with those stated in the documents. Deviations are not allowed;
- to choose the right material, pay attention to its surface. It should not have bituminous stains;
- it is desirable to compare several sheets from the same batch. They should not differ in color, even by half a tone.
The material is made using modern technologies. Impregnation is carried out in several stages, using various vacuum chambers. After such processing, ondulin is painted to give it an attractive appearance.
For the first time, such a production technology was used by the French company Onduline. It was her products that began to be called ondulin. The name gradually took root, and now the entire Euroslate is called that way. 
Advantages and disadvantages
What is ondulin - a cellulose fiber impregnated with bitumen and other components. Why is this material so popular? What are the advantages of this type of roofing? Here, experts can note the following advantages of ondulin:
Do not forget about the appearance. Ondulin is available in a wide range of colors. The composition of this roofing material cannot boast of expensive components, hence another plus is low cost. 
But there are also some disadvantages. First, not a high level of strength. Ondulin is mainly laid on a continuous crate, read more:. But even in this case, you need to walk on the roof with caution. Secondly, after a couple of years (of course, without proper care and under certain natural conditions), moss and fungi may appear on such a coating.
Another disadvantage is the rapid loss of color. But here a lot depends on the manufacturer, if an analogue of ondulin is chosen, then the color is lost after a year or two. With the purchase of quality material, this will not happen.
Of course, do not forget that ondulin burns. The material consists of organic matter, which is highly flammable. But this feature, when used correctly, will not become a hindrance. The same applies to . If the care is correct, then the roof will last twenty years without problems. 
Related video:
Varieties of material
And what types of ondulin can be found on the construction market? What is their difference from each other? The production of ondulin is, as mentioned earlier, the task of one French company. Other types of such roofing material for roofs can be considered analogues. Ondulin itself is available in two versions, namely:
Both options have the same composition. The difference is only in . In addition, euroslate made in the form of slate sheets is used on flat roofs. If the roof has a complex shape, then it is better to purchase material in the form of tiles.
It was the branded ondulin in the form of slate sheets that received the widest distribution. In this case, we are talking about a material with the following parameters: width 95 centimeters, length 200 centimeters, thickness 3 millimeters. The sheet has ten waves with a step of 95 millimeters and a height of each 36 mm.
Today you can find some varieties of the original ondulin. The manufacturer offers customers such varieties as:
Which option to choose is up to the developers themselves. Here you need to look at the configuration of the roof and a number of other factors. But it is worth remembering one thing, namely, another feature of this type of soft roof is that all varieties of ondulin can be combined on one roof. This is possible, even despite the different sizes and number of waves on the sheets. 
What to look for when buying
And how to choose ondulin? What should you pay attention to in the first place, so as not to acquire a fake. Here experts will advise the following:
To choose high-quality material, it is better to make a purchase from a well-established seller. Even if it will be a little more expensive. It is better to overpay when buying than to spend money on repairs in the future due to a leaking roof. It is also impossible to choose ondulin without reading the certificates and other documentation. Feel free to ask the seller for them. 
Analogues
In the construction market, you can find other varieties of ondulin, or rather its analogues. We will name only the most famous of them:
Other versions of this roofing material are also available. But in any case, euroslate or ondulin is lightweight and easy to install.
Often, when choosing building materials, you can find names that do not carry an informative connotation, such as ondulin. What it is and why it is needed, we will consider in the article.
Hwhat is ondulin?
This building material was developed in France by the Ondulin company. What it is, you can understand if you give a more detailed description. Ondulin is a slate-like sheet made from components such as: distilled bitumen, cellulose fiber, mineral fillers and resin. The production of this is based on the use of the latest technologies, while the canvases are processed with a bitumen composition in two stages, after which they are painted with acrylic paints. The advantages of ondulin include its following characteristics:
- light weight canvas;
- resistance to various influences (moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet rays, oil products and others);
- environmental friendliness;
- resistance to mold and mildew growth;
- low cost and ease of installation.
This, it was discussed above) is conditionally divided into types:
- Matte canvas, which is characterized by a rough surface. The disadvantage of this type is the accumulation of small debris and dust.
- The glossy sheet has a smooth and bright surface. One of the negative properties of this coating is the smoothness, due to which the snow comes off the roof in layers, so the installation of special devices is recommended. Also, flammability and fading in the sun can be called as disadvantages of this roofing raw material.
Installation of ondulin
Ondulin roofing material is easy to assemble. The order of work consists of the following stages:
- Execution of the crate. For this, it is recommended to use bars measuring 40 x 60 mm. At the same time, the step between them depends on the value at an angle of 10-15 °, a value of no more than 45 cm is used, and with a slope of more than 15 ° - up to 61 cm. The bars are fixed using self-tapping screws about 8 cm.
- Laying markup. You can use a pencil and To fit the sheets, use a hacksaw and lubricate the cuts with oil to avoid the blade getting stuck.
- How These works are recommended to be carried out starting from the windward side. At the same time, at the corner joint, it is better to create an overlap of no more than 3 sheets. To do this, the second row begins with a canvas cut into two longitudinal parts.
- The material is fastened with nails (20 pieces per sheet).
- Making a ridge element, spike, apron and other accessories. These parts can be purchased complete with roofing material.
- The joints with the valley, cornice, etc. can be pasted over with a special tape, which will create additional waterproofing.
Ondulin (what it is, we already understood) has excellent qualities, its use as a roofing is widespread. This is due not only to an affordable price, but also to a long service life, ease of installation and other properties.
Many people, even those who are far from the construction industry, know that ondulin is a type of roofing material. But not everyone knows about the properties and characteristics of the material. It is clear that in everyday life this information may not be in great demand, but for those who are planning to build a house, a garage, a bathhouse or repair a roof, it will not hurt to collect more information about roofing. Let's figure out what ondulin is and note all its main advantages, not forgetting to mention its inherent disadvantages.
The market for roofing materials today surprises with its range. There you can find both traditional materials that have been used for decades, and novelties that have been invented recently.
As a rule, non-professionals begin to be interested in information about roofing materials only if they plan to carry out any construction, repair the roof of a house or other building. So, ondulin - what is it? What does ondulin look like and what are its properties?
A bit of history
Ondulin is a roofing material that was first put into production back in 1944 in France. Then the manufacturing company OFIS SA opened the first small factory for the production of this material, but the new product was so successful that the company began to rapidly increase production volumes, gradually opening more and more branches in different countries of the world.
To date, it is produced not only in Europe, but also in Asia and America. Ondulin began to appear on our market about 20 years ago, but due to its high performance, it quickly gained popularity. Ondulin is especially widely used by private developers, since the material is easy to process and install.
General information
So, ondulin is a fairly strong and durable material for roofing.
Advice! The manufacturer gives a guarantee for 15 years of operation, but in practice the service life is much longer - 30-50 years.
Consider what roofing sheets are made of. This material looks like slate, but asbestos is included in the slate, which is considered environmentally unsafe. There is no asbestos in the composition of ondulin. What is ondulin made from? In its composition:
- cellulose fibers;
- bituminous compositions;
- resin hardeners;
- mineral components;
- dyes needed to give a certain color.
Advice! Thus, the composition of ondulin does not include materials that are classified as environmentally hazardous.
Specifications
Ondulin, regardless of the place of production, is produced according to uniform standards. Here are its main specifications:
- sheet dimensions: length 2 meters, width - 0.95 meters;
- material sheet thickness - 3 mm;
- the material has a wavy surface, there are 10 waves on one sheet, the height of each wave is 3.6 cm.
Material Properties
Ondulin is a coating that is highly resistant to both chemical and mechanical stress. Its main advantages: moisture resistance and resistance to solvents, solutions of acids, alkalis, oils and other substances.
Operating temperature range: from minus 60 to plus 110 degrees. However, in the heat it acquires greater plasticity, and in the cold it becomes brittle. Therefore, there are restrictions on the air temperature for the installation of ondulin, it is recommended to work at an outdoor temperature from 0 to plus 30 degrees. Such restrictions are significant disadvantages of the use of the material.
Advice! In case of emergency, it is allowed to install ondulin at temperatures up to -5 degrees, however, in this case, great care will be required in handling the material. At lower temperatures, installation is strictly prohibited.
Ondulin is able to withstand significant snow loads, but this statement is true only if the crate was correctly built during the installation of the roof. How aesthetically pleasing is this cover?
You can create quite elegant roofs using ondulin - a photo of the roofs will make sure of this. The material is available in several color options, you can purchase a red, brown, black or green coating option. Moreover, brown and red are the most popular colors among consumers.
Advice! Not only monochrome, but also multi-colored roof coverings can be assembled from ondulin by combining sheets of material of different colors in certain combinations.
Areas of use
Ondulin sheets are widely used in private construction. It is purchased to cover the roofs of cottages, private houses, baths, garages and any other outbuildings. It is very convenient to use it for roof repairs, since the material is quite light and easy to use.
Ondulin can be laid simply on top of slate or metal roofing, laying does not create additional load on the rafters. Thus, to carry out roof repairs, it will not be necessary to dismantle the old roof and open the interior, exposing them to the risk of bad weather.
The ease of installation and the aesthetics of ondulin made this material in demand for roofing cafes, shopping pavilions, for creating various canopies and awnings. Sheets of material are highly flexible, so they can be used to cover roofs with complex shapes.
For example, if it has arched elements. The manufacturer offers not only sheets, but also various additional elements, with the help of which a gable, a valley, a roof ridge are formed. To isolate the junction points, Onduflash tape is used. As a result, the tong and other elements are reliably protected from moisture penetration.
In addition, ondulin sheets can be used to cover various vertical surfaces. With this roofing you can create a waterproof screen. But for the construction of fences and fences, ondulin should not be used, since in the cold this material becomes quite fragile, and in the heat it acquires increased plasticity.
Main advantages
What advantages distinguish ondulin from a number of other roofing materials? Here are the main advantages of this coverage:
- Low level of water absorption. Onduline roofing does not let a drop of water into the under-roof space, which contributes to the preservation of roof structures.
- Ondulin coating can be used under different climatic conditions, because it can easily withstand the effects of precipitation, including hail, strong winds, and temperature changes.
- Biological resistance. Ondulin roofing is not affected by bacteria and fungi, mold does not grow on it, wood-boring insects do not start, etc.
- The material is not destroyed by various chemicals - industrial gases, solutions of acids, alkalis, etc.
- Environmental friendliness. For production, cellulose fibers are used, which are extracted from the most ordinary waste paper. The material itself does not emit any harmful and hazardous substances, rainwater that flows from the onduline roof is quite suitable for watering plants and other technical needs.
- Ease of installation. Any person who has the skills to work with a hacksaw and a hammer can cover the roof with ondulin sheets. Before starting work, you will need to carefully study the instructions for laying the material and see how the craftsmen lay this coating on the video.
So, ondulin is a reliable high-quality material, which, due to its qualities, is widely used in private construction. However, it is necessary to take into account the inherent disadvantages of the material, so as not to be disappointed in the choice made.
When the walls of the new house are raised, it remains only to buy roofing material. Materials compete in terms of design possibilities, technical features, fastening techniques, color scheme and cost. There are many proposals, but usually the dilemma between metal tiles, ondulin and soft tiles is solved.
Today these are three coatings that are popular among Russians, but now we will talk about euroslate - ondulin. If you're smart, then ondulin is a trademark, not the name of the type of roof. It sounds right - a wavy sheet with a bituminous base. And if earlier it was out of competition, now there are many alternatives.
Technical components of the material
The wavy profile is made from:
- Purified bitumen.
- cellulose fibres.
- impregnated with polymer resin.
Painted natural pigment and is available in 4 colors. The palette of brown-reds, blacks and greens isn't exactly luxurious, but the consumer has plenty to choose from.
Technical indicators:
- profile sheet size -200×95;
- wave height and thickness - 36 mm and 3 mm;
- sheet area - 1.6 m;
- weight - 6 kg (slate sheet - 26 kg);
- malleable in work and elastic in structure.
Its lightness allows to cover any buildings, since ondulin does not exert a significant load on the rafters.
Advantages and disadvantages of ondulin
First about the pros:
In order not to upset the balance in nature, it's time to note the shortcomings of Euroslate:
- the profile does not like temperature changes, although it is adapted for any constant values, in the heat the sheets become soft and a characteristic smell of bitumen appears;
- in the case of an incorrect crate, under a load of snow, damage to the coating is permissible - the profile breaks quickly in the cold, which means that its density and structural rigidity change under load and ultraviolet light;
- narrow color range;
- appearance is not very pretty;
- recycling is carried out for money;
- accumulates a lot of dust between waves;
- if the angle of inclination of the roof is not observed, water can enter under the roof;
- the problem with the end and other strips, not only are they not sold as a set, but it is also difficult to reproduce them from a homogeneous material on order;
- too much consumption of centimeters when combined with the previous edge of the profile;
- at 230 degrees, the material ignites, smokes heavily, for this reason, in buildings with high safety requirements (kindergarten), special cuts are included in the roofing technology, in addition, ondulin must be laid on a non-combustible base.
We distinguish a fake
Stores often offer fake products therefore, the sheets should be examined as carefully as possible. To make sure of the factory origin will help:
Regarding material calculation for coverage, it was noted that it is allowed to carry out an operation with numbers on your own or, when entering parameters into a computer program, it will do it for you and tell you the required number of sheets. If we are going to take the calculator into our own hands, it is useful to know the calculation formula: divide the required area by 1.5. The resulting figure is the required number of sheets.
If we compare the quality characteristics and price range and euroslate, then buying the first version will cost at twotimes higher. The price of the second roofing material starts from 320 - 410 rubles and depends on the conditions of the store.
Mounting principle
With the stated warranty for ondulin at the age of 15, operation reaches up to 40 years. Tiles are also marked with such a service life and their durability is determined installation quality.
The attached instructions provide a diagram - this makes it possible to really evaluate your strengths. If you're leaning towards doing the process yourself, here are some tips.
- Remember that the material nailed from the kit - 20 pieces per sheet. There is no need to save, otherwise the sheets will fly away in a storm.
- Sheets fit in summer in dry weather.
- The degree of slope of the slope will determine the size.
- We move carefully through the sheets, stepping between the ridges. Otherwise, the entire coverage will go in “waves”.
- Profile placed exactly and does not stretch along the edge (ondulin has such a feature).
- Follow the instructions regarding overhang length above the cornice and the width of the coincidence of the extreme waves. This is taken into account in the design calculation. Remove the sheet and put it otherwise will not work - it is deformed.
- It is recommended to lay the second row with ½ overlap of the previous sheet to form a wide overlapped area.
What do people write
Of course, the opinion of those who have encountered in practice with a coating of ondulin is of interest. Reviews are very diverse:
I will add my opinion, because for several years now there has been ondulin on the roof and there is installation experience. I'll start with the cons - with an overhang from the eaves of 10 cm profile floating in the heat on one standard sheet there are many nails that need to be hammered into waves, like in slate. But unlike hard sheets, due to the soft structure, ondulin does not rest on nails, but rather hangs on them and, as a result, in the heat, the roof slightly slides down by half a millimeter per year.
Real ondulin is much more expensive if you compare the price of the products of factories in Belgium and France. In our markets quality material few. Pay attention to the wrong side of the sheet, where the date of issue and the imported word “ONDULINE HR” should be stamped. Also, make sure that the skate is exclusively of this size - the skate is 2 * 0.50 and 2 * 0.95. Others just won't fit.
Sergey Nikolaevich, Moscow
The roof is like a roof, it has already been standing for 4 years. Maybe the view is not very presentable, but the rain does not knock on the head. If the sheets are nailed correctly, it will stand for a hundred years.
Vladimir, Moscow
I work in construction and I know what I'm talking about. The whole thing - in the correct crate. Level the surface, and take a step smaller than for slate. Don't forget to buy additional trims, tape, aprons and everything that is not included in the package. Also keep in mind the angle of the slope, because in the valleys snow can usually accumulate and the ondulin gets wet. If you are too lazy to fill nails, consider that the whole process is in vain. Moroka, but what to do. It is the details that hit the pocket and affect the appearance.
Igor, Moscow
Installation and transportation are easy and the length is comfortable for work - only 2 m, if necessary, it can be rolled up. This perfect material for do-it-yourself projects: build a gazebo or build a farm building in the yard.
Genadiy, Krasnodar
What type of coverage to buy decide on your own. All roofing materials are good in their own way, as are the accompanying lists of pros and cons. To begin with, collect complete information about the options of interest and analyze from the standpoint of rationality. An unbiased choice based on reasoned facts in favor of any of the profiles will encourage you to buy. In a word - count the "for" and "against" and the resulting advantage will be decisive.