BENEFITS OF FLAT ROOFS
Flat roofs, or low sloped roofs, are roofs that have very little slope or pitch. The pitch of a flat roof is usually no more than 10°. The benefits of flat roofs include:
- More cost-efficient that pitched roofs because of smaller surface space.
- Less material needed.
- Maximizes room space above and below the roof.
- Life of Flat roof is usually 10 or more years if properly maintained.
FLAT ROOF SIGNS OF DETERIORATION
Like all roofs, however, flat roofs at some point will show signs of deterioration. Normal signs of wear and tear include:
- Standing water on your roof after it rains.
- Roof is sunken in in areas or has lost its pitch.
- Holes in roof, especially around pipes.
- Sealant around pipe collars have been damaged.
- Water leaking into house or building.
TYPES OF FLAT ROOF MATERIALS
When considering repairing or replacing a flat roof, it’s important to hire a qualified Birmingham, Alabama Roof Contractor to determine what types of materials should be used. Such considerations include the following:
- Built Up Roofing (BUR) – Gravel and tar roofs. Simply put, these roofs are layers of plies consisting of bitumen materials (asphalt, coal tar, or other adhesive) with a topping of gravel or other materials. These roofs are very durable. The downside is they are extremely heavy causing special attention to structure reinforcement.
- PVC Single-Ply – PVC membranes are a single layer of thermoplastic material. PVC Single-Ply is one of the more popular options because of the material’s strength and durability, water resistance, and energy efficiency.
- EPDM – EPDM is essentially a rubber roof. The main advantage of EPDM versus PVC is it’s lower cost. However, EPDM is not as strong and durable as PVC. It is also less energy efficient, thereby driving up energy costs for the building owner.
- TPO – TPO is another single-ply material that chemically bonds rubber, ethylene, propylene, and other filler materials. It’s a popular option because it offers the best of PVC and EPDM in one package. It’s closer to EPDM in cost but offers the strength, durability and energy efficiency of PVC.
- Modified Bitumen – Whereas, PVC, EPDM and TPO are single ply materials, modified bitumen is another multi-layered approach. The benefit is that the multi-layers offer additional protection to the roof in case of a potentially damaging impact with a sharp or heavy object.
No matter what option you choose, it’s important to work with an Alabama Roofing Contractor that has the expertise to guide you in your decision and has the experience to do the job in the most cost-efficient way. Above All Roofing, in Birmingham, Alabama, has the expertise, knowledge and experience to help you sort through all your flat-roof options.
For a free flat roof inspection and estimate, call Above All Roofing today!
