BUILT-UP
Built-Up Roof: a roof consisting of multiple plies of roof felts laminated together with bitumen. Built-up roof material can consist of bitumen-saturated felt, coated felt, polyester felt or other fabrics. A surfacing is generally applied and can be asphalt, aggregate (gravel or slag), emulsion or a granule-surfaced cap sheet.
This section was written simply to give people an idea of what a Built-Up Roof (B.U.R. for short) is and how it’s put together. The materials and information listed here are not comprehensive nor do they represent all types of built-up roof materials available.
Built-Up Roofing is one of the oldest and most reliable ways of installing a new roof. It was first known as composition roofing and started in the 1840's. B.U.R.’s come in two basic types, asphalt and coal tar, and three basic components – (1) the waterproofing component, (2) the reinforcing component, and (3) the surfacing component which is used to protect the other components from the elements.
EPDM
EPDM has been in use on roofs in the USA since the 1960's and is one of the most common types of low-slope roofing materials. It is fairly clean to work with when compared to conventional built-up roofs. There aren't the odors and fumes that accompany built-up roofs which appeals to many property owners and managers. EPDM is a rubber material whose principal components consist of the compounds ethylene and propylene. A flexible rubber matrix forms when a small amount of diene is added to the mix. EPDM is available reinforced or un-reinforced with both commonly used; it's also available in either a cured (vulcanized) or uncured (non-vulcanized) state. Vulcanized EPDM is the most common with non-vulcanized often used for flashing purposes.
TPO
TPOs are relatively new materials and they have been heralded because of their numerous advantages over other materials. In fact, they offer the benefits of both EPDM and PVC, without sharing their drawbacks. Theoretically TPOs are naturally UV and heat resistant while also remaining heat-weld able as they age. Additionally, TPOs are resistant to a wide variety of chemicals, are environmentally friendly and recyclable. On the other hand the longer TPOs are in the real world of environmental exposure the more they are purported to be showing the typical signs of surface degradation, IE: the loss of millage and sheet shrinkage, both of which are very normal for a roofing material.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofing's attributes are impressive. Durable and long lasting, a metal roof requires little maintenance and can be retrofitted over many existing roofs it is available in a wide range of colors and styles, and is fire resistant. A standing seam roof is constructed of many interlocking panels that run vertically from the roof's ridge to the eave. The interlocking seam where two panels join together is raised above the roof's flat surface, allowing water to run off without seeping between panel. Standing seam roofs can easily last the life of a home or Commercial building.
Residential Roofing Options
The residential roofing industry in recent years has developed an extremely wide variety of shingle roof appearances. Shingle material is still dominated by asphalt products but over the years, the manufacturers have developed new designs that can closely approximate the appearance of other, more expensive roofing materials such as slate or hand split cedar shakes. Another major change is that asphalt shingles today are predominantly reinforced with fiberglass, not the paper felt which was popular 10 - 15 years ago. This has allowed shingles to become somewhat lighter and more durable.
Alltech takes pride in sorting out what we feel will offer you the best performance for the best price. Hopefully, the following information will help you feel comfortable with your roofing decisions.
Metal roofing materials have come a long way and have become much more popular in recent years. They are attractive, light weight, durable and fire resistant. There are many types of options for metal roofing but the main two are aluminum and steel. Each has their own benefits depending on its application.
Aluminum is strong, durable and light weight. These are the same properties that makes aluminum a popular choice in the aerospace industry. And if its good enough for NASA then its excellent as a roofing material. Due to its being very light weight roofing with aluminum does not require the structure's roof to be reinforced which can be a problem when using other heavier materials such as tile or slate. Another major benefit to using aluminum is its resistance to rust and corrosion. This can be a very important advantage for those building is coastal areas that will be subjected to salt spray. And lastly because aluminum is more malleable than steel it can more easily be formed into various designs and shapes.
Steel is another option for a metal roof. But steel itself is not known for its corrosion resistance and will start to rust quite quickly. Therefore the steel that is used as a roofing material is galvanized. This means that the steel is given a protective coated of either zinc or zinc/aluminum to give it the rust and corrosion protection needed for use in roofing. For use in areas of high winds steel can be a better option than other metal roofing materials because of its higher resistance to wind uplift. Galvanized steel roofing is also available in a variety of finishings. It can be painted, aggregate-coated, or with a mill or bare finish. It will also never crack or peel when exposed to sun and weather making a long lasting material.
For home owners looking to save on cooling costs in the summer metal roofs can do just that. With a tradition asphalt shingle heat from the sun can be absorbed into the home heating it up throughout the day. A metal roof will tend to reflect the radiant heat away that would normally collect in the home's attic. Depending on where you live you could save about 40% on your cooling costs.
The biggest stumbling block most home owners have with metal roofing is the cost as it is more expensive than other available roofing options and yes, if you plan on moving in a few years then a metal roof may not be cost effective. But if you are planning on living in your home for a long period of time a metal roof can actually be cheaper. That's because a metal roof can last as long as fifty years or more and requires very little maintenance. In the same time period an asphalt roof may need replacement 2-4 times.
A properly and professionally installed metal roofing, whichever type you choose, will give you decades of protection and beauty to your home. Add to it the energy cost savings and you have a winning combination..
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