How can I ensure proper performance from shingles in cold climates?___________________________________________________________________________________________

Proper performance from shingles installed and used in cold weather can be achieved by following the recommendations listed below: make sure that the roof is properly ventilated. Be careful when handling shingles in cold weather. If you are in an area that experiences freezing winter temperatures, eaves protection should be used to reduce water damage from ice dam formation. Use a self-adhesive underlay like IKO’s Armourbase PREMIUM SA. It is easier to work with in cold weather.
Hand seal bitumen roof shingles in cold weather with a mastic containing elastomeric polymers like
IKO SHINGLE STICK.
When applying ridge caps, keep the shingles that are being used as ridge caps in a warm place so that they will be flexible enough to bend. Use caution if walking on a roof in the wintertime.


Can shingles be used in all kinds of climates?   ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes this is definitely one of the most striking benefits of shingles; they can cope with extreme cold weather like in Canada and have proved to be a premium material in hot areas like Africa or South East Asia.
IKO shingles have been successfully used in many different and extreme climates.


Which type of fastener should be used to install bitumen roof shingles: nails or staples? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Nails are the only good method of fixing bitumen roof shingles due to their superior holding strength. Use corrosion resistant nails 25 mm in length with a head diameter of 10 mm. The shaft should be 3 mm in diameter and barbed. Cambridge shingles, hips and ridges require nails 30 mm in length. Do not try to save money on this item. Good nails are essential to ensure correct installation. IKO offers nails that comply with these requirements.

The following fixing tips apply to most IKO shingles: check specific product application instructions for further information.
A minimum of four fasteners per shingle should be used. Correctly place and position fasteners below the sealant strip, but above the cutout on tab shingles, and in the nail line on laminated shingles. The fasteners must be straight and flush with the surface of the shingle, not sunk into the shingle or sticking up at any point. Make sure there is sufficient penetration into the roof deck.


Do I need to peel the plastic tape off the shingles? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

The plastic tape on the back of IKO shingles does not need to be removed. The sole purpose of this tape is to prevent the shingles from sticking together in the package. Once the shingles have been removed from the package and applied on the roof, the plastic tape serves no purpose whatever. The shingle sealing strip, which bonds the shingles together, is located elsewhere on the shingle and will seal succeeding courses of the shingles together on the roof when warmed by the heat of the sun, soon after application. 
 

Can hail affect bitumen roof shingles?
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Compared to other roofing materials like glass, metal and PVC the damage caused to shingles by hail is very small. Nevertheless it is a fact that hail can affect bitumen roof shingles. The damage caused by hail can be classified into two groups: aesthetic damage and functional damage. Aesthetic damage results in slight granule loss and the life of the shingle is usually not affected. Functional damage is characterised by substantial granule loss or cracking or penetration of the shingle. Functional damage may result in short term leaks or a reduction of the life expectancy of the shingle. There are several factors that impact on how roofing shingles perform in hail: Size and density of hail stones: Larger heavy stones will cause more severe damage. Age of the shingles: Newer shingles are more resistant than older shingles, as the bitumen is less brittle and better able to absorb the impact energy. Angle of hail impact: Hail which strikes the roof at a 90° angle is more likely to cause shingle fractures, while hail that strikes the roof obliquely is more likely to result in spots of granule loss. Temperature: Colder temperature will be more likely to cause fractures, as the bitumen will be more brittle than in warmer weather. Roof deck conditions: Solid roof decks on moderately spaced trusses offer better support to the shingle surface in resisting hail damage. Shingles on rotted or flimsy decking can be more easily fractured. 
 
 

Shingle roofers

MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, BURLINGTON, HAMILTON, LONDON, STONEY CREEK, ST. CATHERINES, NIAGARA FALLS, WATERLOO, KITCHENER, ANCASTER, DUNDAS, WATERDOWN, CARLISLE, FREELTON, GRIMSBY, GEORGETOWN, BRAMPTON, 905 AREAS, 416 AREAS, 289 AREAS, TORONTO, ETOBICOKE Roofing. roofers shingles.

What can I do to reduce the potential for shading?
___________________________________________________________________________________________

To reduce the potential for shading, do not mix shingles with different production codes on the same roof. Make sure you follow the application instructions provided on the shingle wrapper or on this website. Apply the shingles starting from the bottom of the roof and move across and up. To minimise the risk of shading, IKO only sells blended shingle colours instead of solid colours. Do not store shingles for long periods of time and certainly not outside.


My gutter is filled with granules. Is there a problem with my shingles? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Not necessarily. An excessive amount of granules are applied during the shingle manufacturing process to ensure that the bitumen on the roofing sheet is completely covered. It is important to completely cover the sheet with granules so that the bitumen is not exposed to ultraviolet light.

In accordance to the EN 544 the value of the loss of granules may not exceed 2,5g (test procedure EN 12039).
But IKO does it better than that. IKO’s own maximum limited value is 1,2 g !!!


What is colour fading? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Colour fading is a general phenomenon that strikes every kind of exposed roofing material; this happens under the action of ultra violet rays.

To reduce the negative effects of this phenomenon, IKO has developed its own ceramic-coated granules. IKO mines and crushes its own mineral granules and subsequently fuses pigments to the granule surface by a ceramic-coating process. This gives you the benefit that fading through time will be slowed down, certainly in comparison with some other materials or other shingles.


How can I get samples of IKO products? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Your roofing distributor will have sample boards showing the various IKO products and product colours.


What is a drip edge and how is it applied? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Drip edges are used for water

shedding at the eaves and rakes and for preventing wood materials from rotting. It is important that the drip edge is "made of a corrosive-resistant material“. The drip edge should be applied beneath the underlay or eaves protection along the eaves and over the underlay on the rakes. 


Where should I start installing shingles on the roof? On the top of the roof or on the lowest point?___________________________________________________________________________________________

You should always start on the lowest point and ensure that you move across and up. If you want to visualise this method, surf to our application film on line. You can also download and print their application guide.


Do I need many accessories for my shingle roof?___________________________________________________________________________________________

One of the main advantages of shingles is that you do not need many accessories: hips and ridges can be cut from shingles; the starter strip can also be made from shingles. The only separate accessories are vents, underlay, nails and mastic.


What are low slope roofs?___________________________________________________________________________________________

Roofs that have slopes 20° or less are considered to be low slope roofs. One of the benefits of IKO shingles is that they can be applied on slopes down to 15°. You should however be aware that shingles applied on low slope have an increased exposure to sunlight and other weather conditions. Generally, our Shield bitumen roof shingles are best suited to low slope roofs, because the self-adhesive underside prevents wind driven rain getting underneath the shingle tabs.

Shingle roofing contractors for repair and service

MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, BURLINGTON, HAMILTON, LONDON, STONEY CREEK, ST. CATHERINES, NIAGARA FALLS, WATERLOO, KITCHENER, ANCASTER, DUNDAS, WATERDOWN, CARLISLE, FREELTON, GRIMSBY, GEORGETOWN, BRAMPTON, 905 AREAS, 416 AREAS, 289 AREAS, TORONTO, ETOBICOKE Roofing. roofers shingles.

How can I reduce some of the potential disadvantages associated with low slope roofs? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Low slope roofs are more susceptible on the one hand to water entry due to ice dams and on the other hand to wind-driven rain. Therefore, the key to a successful low slope roof is to increase the water shedding properties of the roof system. Rain and melting snow do not run off quickly on low slope roofs. As a result, the potential for ice dams is increased. IKO recommends three ways to reduce these risks:
1) By providing adequate ventilation the formation of ice dams can be decreased.
2) For the underlay a self-adhesive modified bitumen membrane like   Armourbase Premium SA
    is the best option.
3) Finally, we strongly recommend the use   'Shield' bitumen roof shingles,
    as the self-adhesive underside prevents wind driven rain getting underneath the shingle tabs.


I want to shingle my roof. How many shingles will I need?___________________________________________________________________________________________

By using the IKO roof estimator or by using calculations you can estimate the number of shingles that will be needed to complete the job. Many roof types can be classified into simple geometric shapes such as squares, rectangles, trapezoids and triangles. To determine how many shingles will be needed you must calculate the area of the roof. This is done by figuring out what geometric shapes make up your roof, calculating the area of the individual shapes, then adding up all the areas to give you the total area of the roof. The area required is then divided by the area each bundle covers. Don't forget to add allowances for hips and ridges, starter strips, etc. A good approximation is to order an extra 10-15%. Your IKO distributor and roofer will also help you to calculate your exact needs in a professional manner.


How much ventilation do I need on my roof? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

It is essential to allow excess heat and water vapour, which are automatically generated by human presence, to escape the roof system through proper ventilation. Therefore, air must be able to circulate freely between insulation and the nailable roof deck, from the eaves to the ridges. On roof slopes 15°- 25° min. net free ventilation area is 33 cm2, on 25°- 85° min. net free ventilation area is 16 cm2 for each 1 m2 of insulated ceiling area, always divided evenly between the eaves and the ridge. For further information, see the section dedicated to this technique.


Are IKO shingles required to have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

As shingles are not classified as hazardous, they do not require MSDS.


Do shingles contain asbestos and are they detrimental for health?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
 
The answer is very short: NO!


How are shingles made? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Shingles are made in a continuous web process. Large rolls of glass mat are fed into a dry looper, which serves as an accumulator. The glass mat moves to the coater. At the coater, coating bitumen is applied to the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet. Mineral stabilizers are added to the coating that improves the shingle's fire resistance and weathering characteristics. Next, granules are applied to the top surface of coating. Granules are ceramically coloured crushed rock; the granules give the shingle its colour, but more importantly protect the coating from ultraviolet light. Anti-block surfacing is then applied to the back of the sheet to prevent it from sticking to the machine and to other shingles when packaged. A plastic tape tape is also applied to the back of the sheet to prevent the sealing strips from sticking to the next shingle in the package. The granules are then pressed into the topcoating. Once the sheet is cooled, sealing strips are applied. The sealing strips allow one shingle to bond to the overlying shingle on a roof and thus prevent wind uplift. The roofing sheet is then measured and cut into shingles. The shingles are wrapped into bundles and stored in the warehouse until they are ready to be shipped to the appropriate location.


What can I do about ice dams? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Ice dams are the results of continuous freezing and thawing of snow due to escaping heat from the house or from gutters being backed up with frozen slush. This can happen to most kinds of roofing material; if it occurs, water may be driven under the roof, which may cause ceiling, wall, insulation and gutter damage. Ice dams can be prevented by:
1) Installing a vapour barrier above the home's warm space.
2) Insulating the attic floor.
3) Ventilating the attic.

A good way of preventing leakage due to ice dams is to use Armourbase Premium SA.


Can I use a shovel to remove snow and ice from my shingles? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

We do not recommend it because you can damage the shingles with your shovel.


What type of roof decking should I use underneath my shingle? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

The roof deck must be smooth, firm, dry and securely fastened. The deck should be made of good quality plywood, sheathing boards or structural panels (wafer or strand board: OSB). Wooden boards should be no more 15 cm wide, in order to prevent too much distortion. All wood products must be properly conditioned to be at moisture equilibrium. Decking should be installed in a staggered manner and sufficiently supported. Failure to use proper decking material or to provide a rigid deck surface can result in deck movement, which can damage the shingles.
The type, grade, thickness and installation of materials used for roof decks should conform to the requirements of local building codes.


Are shingles just as fireproof as other roof materials? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Shingles conform to DIN 4107/part 7 and are therefore resistant against spread of flame. In every country where IKO sells its shingles, IKO complies with the local norms.


Is it true that bitumen roof shingles are less noisy in case of rain? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

When you compare shingles with most other roofing materials, the noise produced during rain or hail on a roof with shingles is the lowest. 


Are shingles resistant to strong winds?___________________________________________________________________________________________

Shingles offer a particularly good resistance to wind. The risk of blow offs is very limited. This was evidenced for instance during the big storms in 2000 in France where most roofs were damaged while shingle roofs still stood up.
IKO  has been extensively tested in wind tunnels and has shown a resistance to winds
up to 220 km/h.


Am I limited in the shape of my roof? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

No, not at all. Bitumen roof shingles can be applied on the most difficult roof shapes and architects like to work with shingles because it gives them a lot of designer freedom. With an enormous range of styles, bitumen roof shingles can match almost every type of architectural design and achieve virtually any desired effect.


Where can I see roofs covered with shingles? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Bitumen roof shingles are the leading choice for residential roofing in North America because they provide quality, durability, versatility and economy. It is estimated that in North America more than 5 million homes are covered with shingles every year. 80% of the houses are roofed with bitumen roof shingles. Bitumen roof shingles offer consumers the broadest array of colours, shapes, and textures available. In Europe, shingles are also used more and more every year for residential housing but also light weight roofs like sheds, cabins, car ports, outdoor Jacuzzis …