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There are actually many different roof units on call in today's market, each with various strong points as well as weak spots. Listed below I am going to describe each body briefly, and after that detail the benefits and drawbacks.

Thermoplastic and PVC- Single ply, could be robotically affixed, entirely adhered or ballasted.

Pros- Superior efficiency in ponding water scenarios. Quite light in weight roofs, in the neighborhood of 30lbs. per 100 sq. ft. Comes in white if an amazing roof is actually wanted, or even in many different colours for aesthetic worries. An additional plus with these roof coverings is that large custom made area sheets can be bought from the manufacturing plant, lessening seams sealed off by the staff on the jobsite. Immune to ozone, algae as well as field joints are actually 3-4 times stronger than EPDM submitted joints. There is additionally a remarkable amount of versatility in the material. As well as because seams could be welded with warm air, there are actually no harmful seethes to deal with. Both 15 as well as two decades manufacturer's warranties available.

Disadvantages- Being solitary ply, they are susceptible to disposed of cigarettes, sudden items lost on the membrane layer, as well as faulty glass coming from containers thrown on roof (this occurs a GREAT DEAL) I usually prevent consumers coming from putting in these forms of devices if the roof possesses a considerable amount of feet visitor traffic or even is actually effortlessly obtainable to unwarranted employees. Before, component shrinking went to opportunities an extreme trouble on Thermoplastic as well as PVC roofings, however modifications in composition and manufacturing has ameliorated this issue. These roofs still reduce as time go on, though certainly not relevant of breakdown as before.

Income- Terrific roofings, particularly on roofing systems that pond water greatly, as long as the roof is generally obtainable merely to accredited employees.

Asphalt Modified Bitumen- This roof is what a ton of folks phone a rubber roof, when it resides in fact comprised mostly of asphalt. It can be found in 3 ft. large rolls as well as is typically torched down with an open blaze, though they may be administered along with hot air welders in certain conditions at the same time.

Pros- In my point of view, the greatest toughness of these roofings is how properly they resist outdoors anxieties. They deal with foot visitor traffic far better than every other membrane, and are actually hard to penetrate, particularly if they have a granulated surface. These rooftops are actually therefore difficult in fact, that the majority of insurer won't even recognize hail storm damages as they perform on other rooftops (I have actually directly seen tweaked roof coverings completely pummeled with hail storm as well as emerge fully intact).

Disadvantages- The most obvious downside with these systems is actually that there is actually a seam every three feets, which makes for a Great Deal Of seams. If you possess a thorough workers along with a skilled foreman who will certainly make certain that every seam on the roof is three-way checked out, you'll perhaps be fine with 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 click here 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 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.