Benefits And Drawbacks Of Several Roof Systems

There are various Visit Website distinctive roof systems available in today's marketplace, every with numerous strengths and weaknesses. Below I will describe each and every program briefly, then list the benefits and drawbacks.

Thermoplastic and PVC- Single ply, is usually mechanically attached, fully adhered or ballasted.

Pros- Superior performance in ponding water circumstances. Extremely lightweight roofs, within the neighborhood of 30lbs. per one hundred sq. ft. Comes in white if a cool roof is desired, or in various unique colors for aesthetic issues. A further plus with these roofs is that substantial custom created field sheets may be ordered from the factory, minimizing seams sealed by the crew around the jobsite. Resistant to ozone, algae and field seams are 3-4 instances stronger than EPDM filed seams. There is also a tremendous volume of flexibility in the material. And due to the fact seams can be welded with hot air, there are actually no noxious fumes to handle. Both 15 and 20 year warranties obtainable.

Cons- Being single ply, they are vulnerable to discarded cigarettes, sharp objects dropped around the membrane, and broken glass from bottles thrown on roof (this takes place quite a bit) I normally discourage clients from installing these types of systems in the event the roof includes a great deal of foot site visitors or is conveniently accessible to unauthorized personnel. In the past, material shrinkage was at instances a severe problem on Thermoplastic and PVC roofs, but changes in composition and manufacturing has ameliorated this problem. These roofs nonetheless shrink more than time, though not to the point of failure as previously.

Bottom line- Terrific roofs, specially on roofs that pond water heavily, provided that the roof is frequently accessible only to authorized personnel.

Asphalt Modified Bitumen- This roof is what lots of people contact a rubber roof, when it truly is actually composed mainly of asphalt. It comes in 3 ft. wide rolls and is generally torched down with an open flame, though they can be applied with hot air welders in certain circumstances also.

Pros- In my opinion, the biggest strength of these roofs is how well they stand as much as outside stresses. They handle foot targeted traffic better than any other membrane, and are hard to puncture, especially if they've a granulated surface. These roofs are so difficult the truth is, that most insurance coverage businesses won't even recognize hail harm as they do on other roofs (I've personally seen modified roofs definitely pummeled with hail and come out entirely undamaged)

Cons- Probably the most glaring disadvantage with these systems is the fact that there is a seam each three feet, which tends to make for any Lot of seams. If you have a diligent crew with a competent foreman who will ensure that just about every seam on the roof is triple checked, you'll in all probability be fine with this technique. If not, you are able to be quite positive you will find yourself with leaks pretty quickly, properly prior to the warranty expires in my practical experience. And massive ponding regions of water on these systems will degrade the material prematurely.

Bottom line- Using a very good, knowledgeable crew this could be a fantastic roof on a building that doesn't pond water excessively. And when you've got a building using a lot of rooftop foot targeted traffic, this is possibly the only approach to go.

Foam roofs- This method is applied having a substantial 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 as outlined by the suppliers, To not modified bitumen.

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

Cons- Full disclosure, I've limited knowledge with these roofs right here in NE Illinois. We don't install them, but I've been on 9-10 buildings with this program, and all of them leaked badly, in a couple of cases inside months of being installed. Leaks are extremely difficult to track down and tough to fix even when identified, as repair materials don't adhere to this surface really nicely.

Bottom line- Primarily based on my admittedly limited practical experience with this program, I would not advise my customers to go this route when a new roof is required.

EPDM Rubber- Rubber roofs could be totally adhered, mechanically fastened or weighed down with ballast (Riverbed gravel or pavers) They may be versatile, acceptable for a lot of installations and have a extended track record.