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How to Choose Flat Roof Materials

April 14, 2011 By admin

Your roof is one of the most important structural elements of your home. It protects you from the elements, prevents heating from escaping, and provides various other benefits. However, while protecting against the elements this means that it must also face a combination of weather conditions from ice to rain and snow to sun. Where the typically sloped roof offers natural drainage options for rainwater, the flat roof can offer difficulties in this area.

Choosing Flat Roof Materials

There are a number of options available when it comes to choosing flat roof materials. There are basically three main types of flat roof material available which are designed to provide the needs of all homeowners and residents – built up materials, bitumen, and rubber roofing materials.

Built Up Roofing

Built up roofing materials is an attempt to provide a barrier against the water by essentially plugging the roof with as many different layers as possible. Layers of tar and water resistant materials are laid and the whole concoction is finally covered with gravel. This is an old technique of roof covering and it does require regular maintenance – the gravel, especially, will tend to need weeding and replacing to keep your roof looking its best and offering any kind of protection against the weather.

Bitumen

Bitumen is another long serving, time honoured solution. Bitumen does offer the advantage that it is fairly easy to install although you should always use a professional installation service to ensure that you get the best possible results as doing it yourself may lead to gaps, holes, or shrinkage over time. Some of the more expensive bitumen materials offer greater UV resistance and are better at preserving heat within the home than the traditional material.

Rubber

Rubber is the strongest of the flat roof materials. It is extremely strong and difficult to break. Any damage is easily found and quickly rectified while the materials is resistant to all weather conditions from sun to rain and snow to ice. While the initial cost is quite high, good rubber roofing systems include 20 year guarantees and the minimal maintenance and repairs required mean that it will typically prove to be the most cost effective solution in the long run.

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How To Fix Leaking Roofs

February 22, 2011 By admin

Extensions and other flat roof properties can suffer badly from leaks and other problems. With a flat roof these are commonly caused by a build up of rainwater or snow but they also be caused by an erosion of the roofing membrane because of the sun’s UV rays. Another possibility is that there is large build up of leaves or other debris that has collected, causing water and other elements to collect in some of the more prone areas. Replacing leaking roofs with a rubber roofing system can help to prevent damage inside the property and stop further damage to the building itself.

Sloped Roofs

Sloped roofs have a natural means to combat rainwater. The rain lands on the roof, runs down the slope, and is then transported away by the gutter so that it cannot collect on the roof and cause damage. However, flat roofs and roofs with only a slight slope do not offer these same advantages.

Flat Roofs

When it rains on a flat roof the water may collect in puddles and this alone can cause damage to the structure of the roof. It may also cause the roofing membrane or cover to rot away over time especially if the problem is left without being treated. Finding a roofing membrane that is resistant to this problem, therefore, is important.

Rubber Roofing Membrane

Rubber roofing membrane is weather resistant. It will not erode due to rain, snow, frost, or the sun’s UV rays and it will continue to offer protection throughout the year. It also looks good with a classic slate grey colour so that it does not need covering once it has been installed. If you are suffering from leaking roof problems then you should consider having a rubber roofing system added.

Beating Leaking Roof Problems

Leaking roof problems can cause a lot of financial damage to the roof itself and to the property inside. Items in the house may become damaged and damp may find its way into the walls only serving to make the problem even worse and the repairs even more expensive. Rubber roofing systems do not endure the same leaking roof problems as less effective flat roof systems.

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The Benefits Of EPDM Roofing Systems

February 16, 2011 By admin

When it comes to roofing an extension or other flat roofed building, finding the right membrane material is an important choice. The wrong materials may only last for a very limited time and may incur damage as a result of rain, frost, snow, or heavy rain. Standard roofing materials may also require extra covering which can blow free or roll into guttering causing the gutters to leak down walls causing more problems. If you are suffering from leaking roofs or if you’re having a new flat roof installed then you should consider EPDM roofing.

What Is EPDM?

EPDM, or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer is a rubber material that is often used in the making of flat roof membrane. It is a strong and durable material that is not only resistant to general wear and tear but is resilient to weather conditions as well. It is strong enough that people can walk on it once it is installed on the roof and modern Fleeceback EPDM roofing membrane has been proven to have a 50 year life expectancy.

Flat Roofs And Drainage

Flat roofs do not offer the natural drainage solution that sloped roofs do. Water and other precipitate is able to collect, often in large pools or piles, on the roof and eventually this can leak through other roofing membrane materials. The damage from these leaks can be costly and left unchecked the problem is only likely to get worse rather than better.

Flexible Strength

EPDM is a flexible material so that it can be stretched to fit the area it is covering. As well as being flexible it still retains its strength so will not tear when birds land on it or even if people walk on it. Very little ongoing maintenance is required to ensure that the EPDM retains its strength and with such a long life expectancy this makes it a cost effective solution too.

EPDM Roof Membrane

When looking for a flat roofing solution, EPDM is often the material of choice because of its strength and resilient nature. Resistant to all weather conditions including the sun and snow, it will not discolour or warp with age either.

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The Advantages of Using EPDM Rubber for Your Roof

November 21, 2010 By admin

EPDM rubber is a very versatile and durable material that has a huge range of different purposes and applications. EPDM stands for Ethylene Propylene Diene M, in which the M refers to a class of rubbers that contain a saturated chain of the polymethylene type. What that means in simple terms is that EPDM rubber has fantastic heat, ozone, and weather resistance. It is also a great electrical insulator.

EPDM sheeting is often used as a liner for back yard water ponds and other man-made water features. The rubber does not leach chemicals, and so would not harm any fish living in these ponds. EPDM roofing material is one of the most common applications of this rubber product, although it can be used in garden hoses, washers, belts, electrical insulation, seals and speaker cone surrounds.

EPDM rubber is also often the main substance used in the weather seals of vehicles, such as door seals, window seals, and hood seals. This is due to the great weatherproof properties of this type of rubber.

One of the advantages of EPDM roofing materials is that they are completely waterproof. A roof built with EPDM roofing materials is also environmentally friendly, because the rubber does not pollute the rainwater that collects on the roof. In fact, with an EPDM roof you can safely direct this water to use it for personal sanitation or hygiene and further reduce your impact on the environment.

EPDM roofing materials have been proven to last up to 50 years, if properly maintained. They are resistant to all types of weather, and they do not split or crack, as other tar and sand roof surfaces are known to do. The flexibility of the rubber allows the roof surface to bend along with the structure, where more hard and brittle materials simply crack or tear. EPDM roofing rubber is also resistant to ultra violet and ozone, and will not be damaged by prolonged exposure to bright sunlight. It can be used in steep pitched roofs as well as flat roofs, however its waterproof qualities make it particularly appropriate to use on a flat roof.

EPDM rubber has a lengthy proven track record; it has been in use for more than 40 years in diverse conditions. Outfitting your roof with quality materials is an investment, which will pay off in the future because you will not have to spend as much money on roof repairs or on replacing your roof sooner that you would wish to. Flexible and versatile, EPDM rubber is a material with much strength, which you can rely on to keep your family safe and dry.

Filed Under: EPDM, Flat Roof Articles, Flat Roofs Tagged With: , , ,

Flat Roof Construction

November 6, 2010 By admin

Flat roofs are basically built with beams traversing the opening between 2 walls which are then covered with sheet timber or another type of material. If you make use of timber, a further waterproof covering is necessary. Flat roof construction therefore involves a different approach than for example an A-frame structure.

The combined weight of the beams and coverings and the extent of the span form the basis of your calculations when it comes to the number and size of beams you will need. In areas with heavy snowfalls, special requirements have to be met, since the additional weight of the snow necessitate further reinforcing of the structure.

A flat roof normally has a slope of between zero and ten percent. This is not a difficult type of roof to construct – it’s basically a case of making sure the roof rafters are installed at the correct slope. Once the rafters have been placed, you can proceed to put the ceiling material in place and after that the roofing materials themselves.

Before you start building, you will of course need a building plan that has been drawn up by a qualified person and has been approved by your local council. If you want to building something simple, like a shed, a blueprint purchased off the Internet might work fine. For a house that is not the best way to go. If you are going to spend a million dollars on a house it doesn’t make much sense to try and save money on the buildings plans and thereby risk the whole project.

Your next step is to get together all the tools and materials you will need. Your local building warehouse will be able to assist you with this. Most of them have computer programs that will calculate the materials needed to build the structure if you give them all the necessary information.

The position of the building is very important. You don’t want to build anything where there is a problem with water runoff. A tree that is too close to a wall can cause problems in future and also result in a room that gets no sun in winter. A flat roof structure can get very hot in summer though, so it’s not necessarily a bad idea to built it in the shade of a large tree. Good quality insulation material between the ceiling and the roof itself is always a good idea for such a structure.

If you are building a structure that’s more than 20 square meters in size, it will need to have a permanent foundation. Remove the soil and replace with gravel. This is the best way to ensure proper drainage in future. Use solid concrete blocks or bricks for the foundation, not hollow concrete blocks. Hollow blocks will in all likelihood not be able to carry the weight of the walls and roof.

Although flat roof construction is not a very complicated form of building, you might still find it a huge challenge if you have no experience of building. In this case it’s better to employ a professional builder to oversee the construction process.

We found this great article over at http://www.flatroofconstruction.org



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Why Use Rubber Flat Roof System?

October 13, 2010 By admin

Having a flat roof is not suitable for all building types but if you do your research you will see that there are practical solutions available which help make flat roofs a viable choice for lots of buildings.  Sometimes a flat roof is the only sensible option so what sort of flat roof should you go for? As with any project you undertake it is a matter of looking up information on the topic to ensure that you know as much as you can about it and make the right choice.

A lot of the time people assume that a flat roof will have a shorter life expectancy because of the way that they are built. We know that sloped roofs drain off water quickly and easily which helps to keep them in tip top condition. By this assumption the flat roof systems are not as good because they do not drain this water away in the same way and so puddles can form and leaks could start. However this is not true and if you look at the right flat roof system, it’s not a problem at all. For example some of the best rubber roof systems have a life expectancy of over 50 years, proving that just because it is a flat roof doesn’t mean that it won’t give you value for money. These have a much thicker membrane with lining that wont tear, split or crack.

These systems have a number of other benefits such as extreme weather and ozone resistance. This is one of the main worries when it comes to fitting a new roof so is something that you should look out for.

Don’t worry if you are not an expert in this field because the roofing contractor that you hire to help with your project should be able to look at what you want to achieve and recommend something for you. You must ensure that the EPDM rubber roof is fitted correctly by an approved contractor, otherwise the durability and leak free qualities could be at risk. That said there are lots of resources online that can help with roofing options, giving you the pros and cons of the different systems helping you to decide which is best for you. Doing your research is vital but is also something that you probably don’t want to spend too much time on. This is why looking up advice and information online is ideal because it is so quick and easy to find what you are looking for.

Filed Under: EPDM, Flat Roof Articles, Flat Roofs Tagged With: , , , ,

What are Warm and Cold Roofs?

October 10, 2010 By admin

When talking about flat roofing and in particular the repair or maintenance you will undoubtedly be asked “what type of roof is it, warm or cold?” by a roofing contractor. Most residential flat roof owners won’t have a clue, so this article is to help you understand the two types.

The construction of the roof deck and the ceiling has a crucial effect on the how well the waterproofing material works on top. Within the building industry the terms Warm Roof and Cold Roof are used to describe the two different types of flat roofs.

Warm Roof

This type of flat roof construction has the roof insulation above the roof deck or framework.  This tends to keep the deck ‘WARM’ and is usually the best construction for domestic properties, particularly in colder climates. Warm roofs are better insulated and can reduce heating costs as well as having the desirable green element. A typical warm roof is shown below.

Cold Roof

In contrast to this many older residential flat roofs will have the waterproofing laid directly onto the roof deck, with the insulation placed above the ceiling. This is why the deck is then terms ‘COLD’ and therefore a Cold Roof.

What’s the main difference?

The differences really come into play when in colder climates such as found in the winter months of the UK. In colder weather, cold roofs are at risk to condensation build up, which can cause the roof materials to corrode and distort. To combat this it is important that the roof has enough through-ventilation. This has to be provided to each space above the insulation. Often this is hard to achieve depending on the way the property is built such as when the roof abuts the wall of a house.  The warm roofs do need this ventilation and so have a better chance at a longer lifespan depending on how it was built and with what materials.

So while cold roofs are not regularly endorsed for the climatic conditions like in Scotland, according to the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations, warm roofs are recommended instead by roofing contractors. On the whole in the UK, the Warm roof is strongly recommended.

Conclusion

Just because you have an existing cold roof it doesn’t mean you need to rush out and get a warm roof. As long as there is adequate insulation and more importantly, ventilation, the roof should be fine. What material is being used for the waterproofing and how it is fitted will have much more of an effect.

So now you know that there are two different types of roofs, warm and cold, what they are and what the differences are. To help you remember when you investigate your own:

Insulation ABOVE the deck = Warm Roof

Insulation BELOW the deck = Cold Roof

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What to Look For – Repair Roof Problems Before They Turn Into Leaks

October 1, 2010 By admin

Signs are important facts to consider in order for us to know a certain problem or a certain solution. Through signs we can be able to determine the problem before it comes into reality. Just like our problem in our roofs. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” So as it is to our roofs. It is much better if we can determine the signs of roof leaks before it turn into reality.

If we can determine the signs to look for into our roofs before it turns into leaks it would be very helpful to us. Imagine that you don’t need to be disturbed by leaking waters from roof holes while you are enjoying your favorite television show or while you are resting in your bedroom with your love one. If you already made the preventive measures to avoid roof leaks, then you would enjoy the rest of your days during the wet seasons or winter.

You should know the signs what to look for to repair your roof problems.

These signs are shown for example in the shingles of your roof. First sign would be is to look for missing shingles or curling in your roof. Missing shingles or part of your roof will tell you that your roof might be in trouble. Just like in our body parts or in the parts of any appliances, if its part is missing then it will.not be functioning that well. It might have a problem; so, as in the case of our roofs. That is why all the parts of the roof has an important function.

Second sign would be the discoloration of the roof. You can well know that the roof will give in the near future through the change of its color. Color is an important factor that will tell if your roof is still good or not. It gives you the sign that your roofs might be in trouble. Just like when a person is sick or not you can tell it by looking the color of his face. It is the same with the things like the roof in our houses.

Third sign you should look for is developing algae or moss in your roof. Algae or other plants that are developing in your roof weaken the roof. These algae or plants take root that is why it breaks the roof easily. Just like in other appliances if alien things attached, into it then for sure it will have a trouble.

Fourth and last sign: you should look for breaks in your roof. These breaks would tell you of the possible hole that might occur on your roof. Breaks are the beginning of the possible holes that causes leaks during the rainy seasons. Repairing these breaks would prevent leaks in the future.

These are the signs that will help us in determining the probable roof leaks in our houses. So it is important for us to look for these signs to prevent roof leaks.

Just imagine you will not be disturbed by your day to day activities if your roofs are not leaking. So it’s better to prevent it than to regret it when leaks already comes and you could not fix it because it is raining outside. Again, “prevention is better than cure.” So, look for this necessary signs.

Richard Dean F. Basa

EPDM Suppliers

RubberBond are EPDM suppliers for residential & commercial flat roofs. Their product RubberBond FleeceBack™ manufactured by Carlsile-Syntec USA, who pioneered EPDM roofing membranes some 50 years ago,  has established a record of superior product durability and long-term weather resistance with their flat roofing products.

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Roofing Tips For the Winter Season

September 29, 2010 By admin

Preparation for the changing seasons involves a lot of work. In Spring, that means packing away the long johns, breaking out the gardening tools, putting in extra gym hours to prep for swim season, and tackling the infamous spring cleaning. When Fall rolls around, the long johns resurface, we surrender to that comforting layer of “holiday weight” (what are bulky sweaters for?), we quietly cry over the loss of long, sunny days, and we moodily begin winter-proofing our cars and homes to ward off the snow-filled months to follow.

When winter approaches, the condition of our roofs is pretty easy to overlook in the hullabaloo of new tires, snow mats, antifreeze rationing, and new wardrobes comprised solely of fleece. But investing in a good roof plays a large part in protecting everything underneath that roof which we hold dear: our children, family heirlooms, pet sea monkeys, vintage Beatles albums etc. Here are some things to keep in mind about roof maintenance, whether you’re trying to protect grandma’s quilts or your favorite Fab Four vinyl.

Most roofs under 5-years-old should be in pretty good shape, but these simple tasks can sufficiently maintain a healthy roof for approaching winter:

  • keep the roof surface clear of debris
  • clean out the gutters regularly
  • check for leaks, rust and rot
  • trim overhanging tree branches or shrubbery
  • replace damaged shingles

While these preventative methods will ensure you the most mileage out of a good roof, if you’re building a new home or in need of serious roof repair, a roofing contractor is often the best bet. A roof that’s over 15-years-old and suffering from heavy leakage and other damage might require a brand new roof installation. While it can certainly save money to tackle the job yourself, a rookie mistake could subject you to further costs down the road, and then you couldn’t afford those cool, new ear-warmers that everyone’s rocking at work.

When purchasing new roofing for your house, you’ll want to do some cost analysis based on three main criteria: roofing material, the area size of the roof, and removal of the existing roof.

Some common roofing materials include:

  • copper
  • fiberglass
  • metal
  • rubber
  • galvanized steel

Once you’ve picked out your material, measured the area, and gotten an honest roofing cost assessment from a reputable contractor, you should have a pretty good handle on how much you’ll shell out to maintain your “home sweet home” until the day you and your pension can run away to Fiji…and banish unflattering, fleece vests for good.

EPDM Suppliers

RubberBond are EPDM suppliers for residential & commercial flat roofs. Their product RubberBond FleeceBack™ manufactured by Carlsile-Syntec USA, who pioneered EPDM roofing membranes some 50 years ago,  has established a record of superior product durability and long-term weather resistance with their flat roofing products.

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Tips For Making Your Roof Last

September 28, 2010 By admin

Your roof is one of the most important elements of your home. It shields your home from the elements and keeps it watertight. With so much riding on the strength of your roof, it’s important to make sure you maintain your roof so that it will last a long time. The average roof with light asphalt shingles, a steep slope, and east/west facing direction should last for almost 25 years. If not maintained carefully, that number can nearly be cut in half. A roof without a steep slope, with dark asphalt shingles, and located in a north/south facing direction can expect about 15 years.

The best way to take care of your roof is to maintain a regular cleaning schedule. It should be inspected at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The transitional seasons are a great time to get up on the roof and make sure everything is as it should be. It’s also important during these times to clean out any debris that may have gathered in the gutters and downspouts. Because your roof functions as a drainage system for moisture runoff, that drainage system including gutters and downspouts should be free of any debris so that no moisture will collect on your roof and cause rotting and leaking. Any overhanging trees causing debris pileup should be trimmed. Also, make sure to look for any balding shingles or damaged flashing. These are small things that can cause big problems if damaged. Properly maintaining your roof should ensure a long roof lifespan.

Chouinard Brothers Roofing ( http://www.chouinardbros.com/ ) is one of the best roofing Toronto companies has to offer.

EPDM Suppliers

RubberBond are EPDM suppliers for residential & commercial flat roofs. Their product RubberBond FleeceBack™ manufactured by Carlsile-Syntec USA, who pioneered EPDM roofing membranes some 50 years ago,  has established a record of superior product durability and long-term weather resistance with their flat roofing products.

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