Flat Roofing
It’s
a fact that your roof is one of the most important parts of your house and
is the one thing that provides the building structure, the building
occupants and the building contents with protection from the elements. Many
roofs are in a state of disrepair but homeowners ignore this until the roof
gets worse or until the weather gets worse. With regular maintenance and the
early identification and fixing of any problems you can usually avoid the
big problems that have equally big price tags attached to them. Regular
maintenance in this way will also help extend the life of your roof.
Selecting flat roofing materials.
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 being used 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 used on a regular basis on new and
older houses.
Built up flat roofing materials.
Built up roofing is basically just that. Built up 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 are
being lived in 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 that involved
burning the roll of material onto the roof, however it is now possible to
get adhesive varieties, thus cutting out the potential fire hazard that is
sometimes associated. The mineral surface that is used 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
it can even be installed by any avid (and competent) do it yourself fanatic.
Rubber membrane.
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.
