Hybrid roof tiles - a technological bridge

After describing in detail what is the specificity of a modular product, it's time for an introductory presentation hybrid metal roof tiles, i.e. system sheets with improved properties compared to ordinary conventional metal roof tiles. This is described in detail in article about the genesis of modular metal roof tiles.

Hybrid roof tiles belong to the group of system products, i.e. those in which features and solutions are used that affect the correct folding of sheets, durability and aesthetics of assembly.

Hybrid - a combination of techniques and possibilities

The first reason for introducing hybrid metal roof tiles to the offer was to offer you a technically perfect product with a wide availability of variants. While modular metal roof tiles are offered in a limited range of variants, hybrid ones are available almost in the full edition of our offer.

The second reason for the initiation of hybrids was to offer a system product not only in a sheet model, but cut to the desired size.

Sales models

The sheet model, i.e. sheets with an effective length of 70 cm corresponding to two modules of 2 x 35 cm, are the domain of modular metal roof tiles. However, invariably among roofers, as well as among investors themselves, there are arguments why longer sheets are preferable.
System hybrid metal roof tiles are offered both in the sheet model and in the custom-made model.

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Centro and Horizon metal roof tiles are produced in two models - made-to-measure and sheets of fixed length. The investment conditions or the investor's preferences determine the model of the ordered product.

Perfect length adjustment

When discussing the aspect of covering the roof with sheets cut to size, the issue of adjusting to the length of the rafters should be mentioned. In the case of conventional metal roof tiles, the length of the sheet is regulated by the length of the so-called pen, i.e. the last "incomplete module".

The "incomplete module" has disadvantages because:

non-embossed metal roof tile tends to change its overall width (it expands); therefore, when folding the sheets at the ridge, the capping is not accurate because the sheet is simply wider;
lack of embossing makes the surface of the sheet metal tile on the tongue flaccid; therefore, we do not have a stable ground to which the roofer screws the ridge flashing, which in turn will negatively affect the appearance of the roof finials;
lack of embossing forces the installation of an additional overhang above the last batten; it's extra work and material that needs to be paid for.

In the case of hybrid metal roofing tiles, we have introduced the unique Bratex Flexi-End solution, which solves the troublesome problem of sheets of ordinary metal roofing tiles cut to size for most roofs.
The Bratex Flexi-End solution is to adjust the length of the sheet using the length of the last full module, not the pen. The length of the tongue in the hybrid metal roof tile is always constant and amounts to 2,5 cm.

Adjustable length of the last module, which is always embossed with a 25 mm long tip (so-called tongue)

Our machines and software allow the production of sheets in which all modules have the same length, and only the last one is variable, depending on the order. Thanks to this possibility, the hybrid metal roof tile becomes an even more versatile and refined product. Below is a comparison of two sheets of the same length - a hybrid and a conventional roof tile.

The hybrid sheet metal roof tile allows you to adjust the length of the sheet to the length of the rafters to finish the roof systemically, without cutting. There are complex roofs where it is not possible to use the Bratex Felxi-End solution and then it is recommended to order sheets with the same length of 35 cm modules, which the roofer cuts on site.

Dimension range

Cutting sheets to size in the case of conventional metal roofing tiles brings one more inconvenience - the list of available lengths includes the so-called dead ranges that the machine is unable to perform, as a rule, it is 10-12 cm.

What if the length of the roof is just in the "dead range" of 10 cm? Then the sheet is lengthened (additional sheet metal cost), the roofer cuts it on the spot, the last stabilizing embossing is often lost and we return to the starting point of this topic, i.e. the unstable end of the sheet.

In the case of hybrid metal roof tiles, there are no "dead zones" - we produce them in a full range of dimensions within the maximum length, which is presented in the table below.

Maximum sheet length

Conventional roof tiles are produced as long as possible. The reason is that the joints of ordinary metal roof tiles are a place exposed to capillary suction of water, which is the subject of article about modular metal roof tiles part 1. The maximum length usually oscillates in the range of 7-8 m, i.e. about 35-40 kg per sheet. Handling such a long sheet, i.e. unloading at the construction site, moving and taking it to the roof, exposes the sheet to a number of damages. This is not about scratches, because these can be protected with mortar paint, but about damage to the edges, breaks on the eaves and stretching of the profile. Sheets that are not transported to the patches in a safe way look worse later, and the joins are quite noticeable.

On the other hand, hybrid metal roof tiles are products in which the problems of ordinary metal roof tiles have been solved, so the connections of these sheets on the roof are systemic and that is why they can be safely and effectively connected. In order to keep the feature of a custom-made metal roof tile and reduce the risk of damage, hybrid metal roof tiles are produced up to 4 meters long, i.e. up to 20 kg per sheet. Over two times lighter, the sheet is easy to handle and the risk of breaking at the eaves is negligible.

Convenience of operation

The end of the sheet (the so-called tongue) of the hybrid metal roof tile in the custom-made model is always 2,5 cm long. You may wonder "why so long" since the sheet model has a tongue length of only 7 mm. To meet the expectations of contractors, we introduced the Bratex Easy-Lift solution.

Factory-punched two holes at the end of the sheet (on the so-called tongue) enable professional pulling with ropes to the roof and prevent risky piercing of the sheet.

It is in this tongue that two holes are punched, which are used to insert a hook to pull the sheet onto the roof slope using two lines. This is a great help for contractors who have to either punch holes with a nail or screw in a farmer screw for other metal roof tiles, and usually it is done with the use of one cable for a sheet weighing up to 40 kg. The risk of breaking the cable or breaking the sheet is considerable. That is why two holes are punched in the sheets of hybrid metal roof tiles, on the left and right side, which forces contractors to use two hooks.