By Jude Njoku

A global leader in the manufacture and supply of asphaltic and bituminous waterproofing products, Messrs IKO in collaboration with its Nigerian partner, Messrs Seven Stars Manufacturing Limited, has introduced a new shingle into the Nigerian market.

Known as Armourshield, the multi-coloured shingle is said to be unique in design and allows people to create buildings that are unique to them.

Presenting the new shingles in Lagos last week, IKO’s Commercial Country Manager Russia who doubles as the Account Manager for Africa, Mr. Eddy De Peuter said Armourshield comes in special colours which discerning property investors can use to create something unique to them in their neighbourhoods.

“From the technical point of view, Armourshield has a lot of advantages. It is unbelievably flexible when compared with other roofing sheets. There is no restriction for the bitumen shingles to be put on the roof. The only restriction is that you should have a slope of 15 degrees which is very low, almost very close to a flat roof while other roof materials would require a bigger slope or pitch to hold water infiltration,” he said.

He listed the raw materials used in the production of Armourshield as oxidized bitumen, glass fibre inlay and on top of the shingle are high-end quality granules made from rocks.

Mr De Peuter explained that because Armoushield has bitumen, it sticks within a period of two -three hours. “The installation of Armourshield is quicker than those of its competitors; the sheets stick to each other within two-three hours. This implies that everything is closed. The roof is closed up without extra expenses , without extra labour or accessories for installation. No insect can enter the house nor birds live under the roofs.

“Also, mosquitoes cannot come in because the roof is closed up. A house roofed with Armourshield shingles is very well insulated to prevent heat. You can go up to 90 degrees without having water infiltration,” he said.

Other advantages of the new shingles, according to Mr. De Peuter, include the fact that it is ecologically friendly,  durable and light weight.

“Armourshield shingles are ecologically friendly; you can drink the water or use it for other households purposes. There are no dangerous or harmful chemical addictives,” he said.

Continuing, the IKO chieftain said: “The average weight of bitumen shingles is between 9-12 kilograms per square metre. Armourshield weighs 9.2 kg and because of its light weight and flexibility, you cannot damage it during transportation.

In other words, you can load as many as you want and this means that you are not likely to incur unnecessary costs”.
On durability, e said the shingles can last up to 50 years on a roof without losing its aesthetic beauty and potency.

De Peuter disclosed that the company will commence the production of another shingle to be called Skyline in May this year. The new shingle is a mix of the Armourshield and Cambridge (Cambridge is a double layer shingle produced by the company).

Also speaking at the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Seven Stars Manufacturing Limited, Mr Hyman Okay Ilonze said IKO has trained installers of its shingles in six states -Anambra, Kano, Enugu, Rivers and Abuja.

He regretted the influx of substandard roofing materials into the Nigerian market, especially those imported by dubious Nigerians from China but assured that IKO shingles have no adulterated brands in the Nigerian market.