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The Different Roofing Materials used for Flatroofs, their Advantages and Disadvantages
By Sara Jenkins
The roof has had many different
innovations in regards to the materials used
to make them. Different designs through the
years have made it a necessity to find newer,
lightweight and more durable roofing
materials. Add this up to other elements such
as location, weather and natural elements and
you have the requirement for different types
of roofing materials.
There are two
kinds of design for the roof. There is the
Sloping or pitched and then there is the
flatroof. Many architects and builders
recommend the pitched or sloped because they
are easier to maintain and install. Usually,
flatroofs are used when pitched roofs cannot
be. What must be watched out for is water
infiltration when it is not regularly
maintained and routinely repaired for
damages.
For an effective flat roof,
it should provide a waterproof casing for the
building. Usually, Flatroofing materials form
one or two layers of water resistant
materials. These materials should be long
lasting and cost-effective. Flatroofs should
be perfectly aligned so as to redirect the
water to the gutters, drains and downspouts
to avoid buildup. Below are some of the
roofing materials used for flat roofs, each
will consist of their upside and downside,
also the lifespan of the flatroof roofing
materials.
One of the newest flatroof
roofing materials available in the market
that has been getting high praises is the
Thermoplastic Polyolefin Roofing Membranes or
the TPO. The TPO is regarded as the
new-generation of single-ply roofing
materials. Even though its single ply, it
consists of three components or layers that
make up its entirety. It has a structural
deck or the outer skin; in the middle you
will find the thermal insulation barrier,
then a waterproofing skin is what adheres to
the roof. Its materials are very efficient in
the task at hand, they can be reusable if
installed properly or applied with water or
pebbles. TPO is very durable and has low
toxicity. TPO though is not recyclable since
it has petrochemical in it. Since TPO has
been around for only ten years, life span
cannot be calculated yet.
Another
flatroof roofing material is the Elastomeric
membranes or EPDM. They are usually used for
industrial, institutional and commercial
buildings. EPDM is also a singly ply roofing
material made from ethylene propylene rubber.
EPDM can be installed by either ballasting,
mechanical fastening or full adherence. If
ballasted or mechanically applied, EPDM can
be reusable; they are also durable with an
average lifespan of 20 plus years. One
problem with EPDM is that they have been
known to shrink in some circumstances.
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC roof
membranes have the distinction of having the
longest track record of usage among any
thermo plastic roofing membranes. They have
been in use since the start of the 1960s.
Even with the emergence of other flatroof
roofing materials, PVC is still employed by
many. PVCs offer many inherent features such
as, can be produced in different colors, it
has high resistance to perforation and
impact, and resistant also to fire exposure.
It has great flexibility and tolerance to
extreme temperatures. The problem with PVC is
that they are not reusable and unrecyclable.
The average span of PVC flatroof roofing
material is twenty-five years and some.
One of the most durable flatroof
roofing material and has been use for a long
time is the mastic asphalt. Mastic asphalt is
the most durable waterproofing membrane on
the market. It is very durable and flexible
as well. Mastic asphalt is recyclable,
non-toxic, and odorless and can withstand
extreme temperatures. They can also last for
over 60 years.
Depending on the
location, use and budget of your structure,
each and everyone of these flatroof roofing
material can benefit you. Talk it over with
your designer, engineer, architect and
builders and find out which one would best
suit your structure.
About the Author: Online entrepreneur
Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others
and their needs to succeed in life by
offering free payroll tips everyday. To learn
more about her free roofing tips, and to sign
up for her FREE Roofing articles and FREE
bonus how-to books and resources, visit www.RoofingUp.com
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