Ondura Roofing Tiles

Ondura is a corrugated asphalt roofing line owned by Onduline North America, Inc. Ondura sheets and tiles can be used for a range of architecture including homes, garages, sheds, gazebos, boat houses, barns, and cabins. Operating out of Fredericksburg, Virginia, the company manufactures and distributes asphalt roofing that it claims is easy to install and weather-resistant.

Corporate History

The origin of corrugated asphalt roofing came from the production of cellulose-bitumen based roofing materials in France around 1944. The company now known as Ondura was the first American manufacturer of the product and opened its factory in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1976. Production began on January 14, 1977, and the company has remained in Fredericksburg ever since. Over the years, corporate ownership has changed several times.

In 2010, the ownership of the company changed again and became part of Onduline North America, Inc.: a company that has been around for over 70 years. Headquartered in Paris, France, the company sells and distributes roofing material worldwide with 10 production sites and 45 subsidiaries.

Credentialing

While Ondura does not offer contractor certification for roofing installation, the company claims that the roofing can be installed with basic, everyday tools and minimal skills. They provide installation guides, installation tips, a painting guide, warranty information, and a guide for estimating materials for installers or construction crews.

According to Ondura, when installing the corrugated asphalt roofing sheets or shingles, the installer will need a hammer or screwdriver, a utility knife, a saw (circular or hand saw), measuring tape, string, a pencil or marker, and protective eyewear. Homeowners must account for overlap when estimating the amount of materials needed for installation to acquire adequate roofing coverage.

Furthermore, Ondura recommends that installers exercise the utmost precaution when working on roofing. The company recommends properly securing ladders, using a safety harness, avoiding installation on windy days, and avoiding walking on the corrugated sheets when they are slippery.

Product Lines

Ondura manufactures two main sizes of corrugated sheets labeled Ondura and Ondura-9. All of the sheets are manufactured with a tough organic fiber core filled with an asphalt core that provides a weather protection barrier.

Ondura sheets are 48 inches wide by 79 inches long and weigh 18 lbs. per sheet. Because of the need for 4 inches of overlap during installation, the actual sheet coverage is 44 inches wide and 72 inches long. There are 12 corrugations per sheet. Likewise, Ondura tiles are 48 inches wide but 19.75 inches tall, and 24 tiles can cover 100 square feet of roof. Ondura tiles and sheets come in eight baked-on colors including red, brown, green, tan, blue, gray, white, and black.

Differing from the regular Ondura sheets, the Ondura-9 have nine corrugations, are 36 inches wide by 79 inches long, and weigh 14 lbs. per sheet. Because of the necessary overlap, the actual sheet coverage is 32 inches wide by 72 inches long. These sheets come in four baked-on colors including red, brown, green, and black.

Ondura steel nails are essential for the installation of the corrugated sheets. These nails are galvanized, ring shanked, and each have a rubber washer that creates a tighter seal surrounding the nail. They can be purchased from Ondura in the same color as the corrugated sheets and are available in a 3-inch size for typical installation or a 4-inch size for installation over insulation material.

The ridge caps are another important part of the roofing installation. Available in the same colors and materials as the corrugated asphalt sheets, the ridge caps add a finishing touch to the roofing and provide necessary protection from weather damage. The ridge caps measuring 12.5 inches are used on residential homes or sheds, while the ridge caps measuring 19.25 inches are used for more commercial or agricultural buildings.

Environmental Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Ondura as an Environmentally Preferred Product. Furthermore, Onduline North America claims that sustainability is an integral part of their mission and business plans. The company asserts that it needs to make sustainable changes at every level to improve the lives of customers and customers’ neighborhoods.

Contacting Ondura

Warranty

Ondura roofing is covered under a lifetime limited warranty. If there is a defect in the material or workmanship of the roofing, Onduline will replace the defective material with new material upon receiving the homeowner’s Warranty Certificate and proof of purchase. This warranty does not include the color coating of the sheets.

The color coating is warranted separately and covers 10 years of use from the date of installation. In the first three years of use, Ondura will supply free paint and labor to recoat the corrugated asphalt sheets. After those first three years, Onduline will supply 70 percent of the paint and labor expense to recoat the roofing. Over the next few years, the company’s liability will continue to decrease from that allowance of 70 percent. Furthermore, Onduline is not responsible for ordinary color fading, chips, or cracks, and it is mostly concerned about substantial loss of adhesion between the coating and Ondura roofing.

Homeowners must fill out the warranty registration form shortly after purchase of Ondura roofing in order to receive the warranty.