Ondura (if I understand it) is a corrugated roofing material that is basically cardboad saturated with asphalt and coated with resin and color. It sounds good, but I wonder if anyone out there has had any experience with it. I'm considering it for the house I'm building.

-- Sam Norris (snorris@dnr.state.wv.us), April 01, 2000

Answers

I have used it (on someone else's roof) and found it to be a good product. Reasonably easy to install (you can probably do it yourself) and looks like a good good. I do not, however, have advice from an owner's view, nor it's longevity, although the latter is touted to be very good. Jump in folks - who has it? - how do you like it? Sam needs help! Good luck Sam.

Brad

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 01, 2000.

We used it on a workshop/garage about 15+ years ago, and moved away from that place 11 years ago, so I don't know how it is doing now. A hail storm the second summer punched holes in it, and it was awkward to install, as it wasn't as stiff as metal roofing, so it was hard to keep the width of the sheets the same as I was nailig it down. I wouldn't use it again- I like metal roofing better, even though the larger sheets of metal have sharp edges and are a bit harder to install.

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), April 03, 2000.

I have it on the chicken tractor--only a year old so far but it is water-tight. Jim said it all in the previous answer--if hail can pierce it than it is definetly not good roofing material !!!

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), April 04, 2000.

I'm wondering if Jim and I are talking about the same thing! Onduline (trade name) that I used was much stiffer than metal roofing I have used. It's (I'm guessing here, it was 3 or 4 years ago) about 3/16" thick, corrugated, and what I used was a nominal 2' x 8'. Comes in a bunch of colors. Maybe Ondura is a different, perhaps competing, product. If hail can penetrate Onduline, I figure that same hail would likely penetrate metal roofing, assuming both are not installed over more than stringers, ie, not a solid roof beneath. I actually would be more likely to use metal roofing myself (over a wooden roof) but that's a personal opinion. Ask who in your area has used it, and see what they think. In any case, good luck!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 06, 2000.

We installed ondura on our home 5 years ago, so far no problems.Its very important to follow manufactures instructions, nailing sequence, store flat and dry proper support etc.The only hassle for install was using 2" pvc pipe as support while you on top of the material.The flexible sheets enable you to stretch or squeeze the sheets if your roof is out of square.Onduline and Ondura are the same product a fiberglass/asphalt composite with a bonded acrylic paint finished. We have'nt had any hail damage.we re satisfied with this product.

-- D. Huston (dksigns@greenapple.com), April 09, 2000.