The click here Diaries

There are several roof bodies available in today's market, each along with various advantages and also weak points. Listed below I will certainly illustrate each system briefly, and after that list the advantages and disadvantages.

Thermoplastic and PVC- Solitary ply, may be mechanically affixed, fully stuck or even ballasted.

Pros- Superior functionality in ponding water situations. Quite lightweight roofings, round 30lbs. per one hundred sq. ft. Can be found in white if a great roof is wanted, or even in a number of various colors for visual problems. Another plus with these rooftops is that huge custom made industry sheets could be gotten from the manufacturing facility, minimizing seams sealed off due to the team on the jobsite. Insusceptible to ozone, algae and also field joints are actually 3-4 times stronger than EPDM submitted seams. There is likewise an enormous amount of adaptability in the material. As well as given that joints can be soldered along with hot air, there are no toxic seethes to handle. Each 15 and twenty years warranties on call.

Drawbacks- Being singular ply, they are susceptible to discarded cigarettes, sudden things lost on the membrane, and also busted glass coming from bottles thrown on roof (this takes place a LOT) I commonly discourage clients from mounting these forms of units if the roof has a considerable amount of foot website traffic or even is easily accessible to unapproved staffs. In the past, product contraction went to times an intense concern on Thermoplastic and PVC roof coverings, but improvements in composition as well as manufacturing has mitigated this problem. These rooftops still diminish in time, though certainly not relevant of failure as in the past.

Income- Fantastic roofs, specifically on roofings that pond water heavily, so long as the roof is actually commonly available simply to accredited personnel.

Asphalt Altered Bitumen- This roof is what a bunch of folks phone a rubber roof, when it resides in fact composed mainly of asphalt. It comes in 3 ft. broad rolls as well as is actually often torched cognizant an open blaze, though they may be administered along with hot air welders in certain problems also.

Pros- In my viewpoint, the most significant toughness of these roofings is actually exactly how properly they resist outdoors worries. They take care of feet visitor traffic far better than some other membrane, and are actually difficult to puncture, especially if they have a granulated surface. These roofs are so tough in fact, that most insurance companies won't even realize hail storm harm as they carry out on various other rooftops (I have actually individually observed changed roof coverings completely pounded along with hailstorm as well as appear totally undamaged).

Cons- The most glaring disadvantage along with these devices is actually that there is actually a joint every three feet, which makes for a Great Deal Of seams. If you possess an attentive workers along with a seasoned supervisor that will definitely make sure that every joint on the roof is actually three-way examined, you'll possibly be actually great using this body. Otherwise, you could be pretty sure you will end up with leaks fairly soon, well before the warranty expires in my experience. And large ponding areas of water on these systems will degrade the material prematurely.

Bottom line- With a good, experienced crew this can be a good roof on a building that does not pond water excessively. And if you have a building with a lot of rooftop foot traffic, this is probably the only way to go.

Foam roofs- This system is applied with a large spray unit, spraying two liquid components (isocyanate and resin) When the liquids are mixed together, they expand 20-30 times and will adhere to concrete, wood, steel and most existing roof systems, but according to the manufacturers, NOT to modified bitumen.

Pros- When complete, the roof is monolithic with no seams, fully adhered and has insulating properties.

Cons- Full disclosure, I have limited experience with these roofs here in NE Illinois. We don't install them, but I have been on 9-10 buildings with this system, and all of them leaked badly, in a couple of cases within months of being installed. Leaks are very difficult to track down and difficult to fix even when found, as repair materials don't adhere to this surface very well.

Bottom line- Based on my admittedly limited experience with this system, I would not advise my clients to go this route when a new roof is needed.

EPDM Rubber- Rubber roofs can be fully adhered, mechanically fastened or weighed down with ballast (Riverbed gravel or pavers) They are versatile, appropriate for many installations and have a long track record.

Pros- Rubber roofs are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and repair. They are available in large sheets to minimize the number of field seams, and there is quite bit of flexibility in the membrane.

Cons- Field seams on these roofs are Website not as strong as Thermoplastic roofs. Flashings and roof edges tend to wear out more quickly than the remainder of the roof. Shrinkage over long periods can be dramatic in some applications.

Bottom line- Can be a good investment for a building owner, but all of the circumstances of a given installation must be carefully weighed. And good workmanship on the install is vital.

Spray applied roofing- These are not technically re-roofs, they are considered coatings. Some companies refer to them as "re-plys", as you are essentially adding a ply to the existing roof surface. There are numerous manufacturers offering various products with different compositions and specification, too numerous to go into fully here. If an existing roof is experiencing leaks but has not advanced to the point of outright failure, them may be good candidates for this solution.

Pros- Can be extremely cost effective, especially on roofs that have a lot of projections and rooftop HVAC units. The material is pure white, which in some cases (especially on metal roofs) can dramatically reduce AC cooling costs. As this is considered to be roof repairs rather than a new roof, there are tax advantages as well.

Cons- The existing roof must still be in somewhat decent condition. If applied to a roof that has already failed, your money will basically be wasted. Also, since this material is sprayed on, any cars within 100 ft or so must be moved during the application process, as this material will be extremely difficult if not impossible to remove from a car's finish. Some manufacturers do not warranty this material if there is ANY ponding water on the roof. Can not be applied to a roof with an existing gravel ballast.

Bottom line- This solution may save a building owner a lot of money, if the existing roof is in good enough condition to accept the coating. Excellent solution for metal roofs in particular.

As you can see, there are many different solutions to your flat roofing needs. It is vital however to choose a roofer who will recommend the best system for your particular roof and circumstances, and not the best solution for his wallet. Be sure you understand why a roofer is recommending a particular system for your project, and which system will be the best investment for you.