It’s a fact that your roof is one of the most important parts of your house. It is the one thing that provides the building structure, the building occupants and the building contents protection from the elements. Many roofs are in a state of disrepair but homeowners ignore this until the roof gets worse. With regular maintenance and fixing of any problems, you can usually avoid the big problems . Regular maintenance in this way will help extend the life of your roof with the proper flat roof materials.
Selecting the right roof materials for your building
Flat roofs have extra difficulties associated with them. Because they do not slope rainwater does not automatically run down the roof and drain off. It is absolutely vital that flat roofing materials are as water resistant and water tight as possible to prevent serious damage to the roof itself and to the rest of the building and it’s contents. New types of flat roofing material are in utilization and while these offer more in the way of protection they are also more expensive as a general rule. There are still three main types of flat roofing materials that are applied on a regular basis.
Built up flat roof materials
Built up roofing is basically just that. This roofing consists of laying down several layers of tar and water resistant materials and then covered with gravel. This is quite an old technique but the introduction of new waterproof materials has seen the strength and durability of this technique increase. The gravel acts as a good fire resistant layer and can be made to look very attractive. It is usually the cheapest of the flat roofing materials available, however, it is very heavy and may require strengthening of the joists. It is also impractical to use on residential houses that have residents because it smells terribly. The gravel itself can clog gutters and other vital aspects of water drainage.
Modified Bitumen flat roofing
Modified bitumen is another stalwart in the world of flat roofing materials. Once upon a time it was necessary to use torchdown techniques. These techniques involve burning the roll of material onto the roof. However, it is now possible to get adhesive varieties, thus cutting out the potential fire hazard. The mineral surface that is applied to create modified bitumen can be created in light colors, effectively reflecting the heat and sun. This will cut down on your energy bills during the summer months, and any avid (and competent) do it yourself fanatic can install it.
Rubber membrane is another method of coating your flat roof. As far as flat roofing materials go it is durable and resistant to general wear and tear. Leaks are easy to find and repair, but the cost is really quite high. The standard black rubber does not reflect heat and paying for a lighter membrane will cost you more, however, it is quick to fit and will cause little disruption to your house life during the process.
Commercial Roofing Contractor, contact us! (888) 270-ROOF
