Sloping roofs are more common in North America; however flat roofs are fast gaining in popularity due to the various benefits they offer homeowners. Flat roofs are not entirely flat, in fact, they look horizontal or nearly horizontal, but they do have a slight slope of usually 10 degrees, to drain of the water and snow. Flat roofs have been around for centuries and the old technology of using asphalt compounds to deflect water was being used until thirty years ago.

Traditionally, gravel and tar was the preferred material and it was sufficient to prevent leakages so long as water was not allowed to sit and accumulate on the roofs. This system had its limitations in colder climates, as ice dams would block the flow of water resulting in pooling of water on the roofs and home owners had to deal with leaks very often.

With the advances made in rubber technology especially synthetic rubber technology coupled with the explosion in the polymer industry, newer products for roofing began to appear about 40 years ago. The use of these products enabled homeowners to be unconcerned about rains and snow. Today flat roofs are made from different materials and substances such as Asphalt built up roof or BUR, Hypalon Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (synthetic rubber), TPO-Thermoplastic Polyolefin, EPDM-Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, PVC-Polyvinyl Chloride, and Modified Bitumen.

One common feature of all flat roofs is that they always have a coating over some sort of base. Flat roofs require regular inspection and preventive maintenance to extend their life. Modern architecture would not be the same without flat roofs. Residential buildings are more suited for flat roofs as compared to industrial or commercial buildings. This is because flat roof becomes unstable with increase in size leading to higher maintenance expenses.

Life of a flat roof depends on the material used in its construction and the frequency of preventive maintenance. It is recommended that flat roofs be inspected once in a year. Cleaning and clearing of debris from the drains is carried out regularly to prevent water logging and easy draining. Roof coating, which is responsible for waterproofing, degrades due to the ultra violet rays and hence needs preservation. Poor maintenance of flashings material used around objects that protrude from a roof such as chimney is the main cause of leakages in flat roofs.

Owning a flat roof has many advantages such as:

Flat roofs are more accessible making it easier to inspect and clean.

Adds to usable space. If strong enough, it can be used as a terrace garden or as an outdoor amenity. Flat roofs also reduce dead space that is common feature of sloping roofs.

Cost of construction is significantly lower than traditional sloping roofs, resulting in substantial savings that can be set aside for future contingencies or diverted to other home improvement projects.

Cheaper second floors can be built on homes already having a flat roof.

Flat roofs not only reduce initial cost but also add value to your homes

However it is wise to consider a few disadvantages of flat roofs:

Flat roof coatings are not everlasting

Consistent maintenance is required

Not all buildings are suitable for flat roofs

If you’re unsure as to whether flat roof is ideal for your home, it is advisable to consult roofing experts before taking a decision.

The missions of underlayments/underlays/undertile membranes

Roof underlayments are thin, pliable waterproofing membranes/foils, placed under the roofing materials with a main mission to reinforce and complement their waterproofing role.

It’s logical! There are so many gaps, seams, discontinuities among the roofing elements that a continuous waterproofing layer is absolutely needed to assist the protection of the roof from weather elements.

Thus, roof underlayments/underlays/undertile membranes can be considered as a second line of defense against water penetration in the not rare case that the first line of defense a.k.a. the roofing materials won’t succeed to intercept water.

So the main mission of these membrane has to do with waterproofing.

But there are a lot more.

Let’s check them hereunder:

1) Underlayments give a temporary protection to the roof against inclement weather during the construction phase.

They should have a UV resistance of more than 4 months to accommodate for delays due to bad weather, lack of materials or workers and other unforeseen occurrences.

2) Underlayments/undertile membranes constitute nowadays an integral part of the roofing system.

They are widely considered to be a crucial part of the roof ensemble.

3) Underlayments protect attics from the infiltration of powder snow, dust and soot.

4) For discontinued support a.k.a. lack of roof sheathing or sarking, undertile membranes discourage the intrusion of birds and by insects.

5) Roof underlays gather the penetrating through roofing materials water and drive it to the gutters in the unfortunate incidence of a breakage or uplift.

6) Underlayments can prolong the life of the roof system by protecting them against waterproofing problems arising from ice dam formation. Best type underlayment for this reason are the SBS based, self adhesive, asphaltic membranes.

Ice dams pertain to severely cold climates. Ice dams are ice ridges forming near the roof eaves preventing the drainage of melting snow from the roof.

7) Undertile membranes help to equalize upward and downward pressures on the roofing materials. By reducing the pressure differences they will also reduce the wind uplift forces pulling at the roof materials.

Roof underlays will permit the use of lower slope. The better the quality the lower the slope which of course will have also to conform to the local regulations. SBS, self adhesive asphalt membranes are safest for the lowest slopes.

9) Of utmost interest for the roofs is the attribute of many new generation synthetic underlayments/untertile membrane to breathe. This very fact opens new roads and gives more possibilities for the roof configuration. Unventilated warm roof underlayments are nowadays a quite common practice.

Breathable underlayments will be the focus of another article in this website. But beware: breathable membranes hide many traps, are not certainly the panacea and demand very specific knowledge.

10) Roof underlays are essential for waterproofing round various penetrations. Of course for the right result, appropriate techniques and necessary accessories should be used.

11) Some sophisticated underlayments serve also as radiant barriers.

These materials need to be water vapor permeable. They are very effective in hot climates. Their purpose is to reflect back the incoming radiant heat. The first applications in Greece have shown miraculous effects for the hot season!

Underlayments are produced in various widths, weights and kinds, but we can classify them in two broad categories:

a) Bituminous underlayments

b) Synthetic underlayments.

These different kinds will be the focus of a forthcoming article.

Chris Strogilis

http://maconwaterproofing.blogspot.com

With the UK experiencing some terrible winter weather, many people have been affected in many different ways and one problem that has caused a lot of people problems is roof leaks caused by ice dams and poor roof insulation.

Ice dams are formed by a build up of snow on your roof. Because the temperature outside is below freezing and the temperature inside is above freezing the warm roof melts the snow from the bottom up as the melted snow gets to the edge of the roof it refreezes as ice and as more melted snow water continues to run down the roof it just keeps freezing behind and on top of the previously frozen run off, forming a bigger and bigger ice dam.

This is going to cause you problems as the snow water that gets into the cracks in your roof will expand when it freezes and when it melts, you’re faced with gaps in your roof for the elements to get in through.

One of the best ways to combat leaking roofs and snow ingress is by having polyurethane spray foam insulation installed. Polyurethane insulation is a treatment for stabilisation of roof structures. The insulating spray foam is applied directly to the underside of the slates and tiles, covering the battens, but not the joists, rafters or purlins.

RoofSURE are one such company that are qualified to install polyurethane spray foam. The spray foam conforms to BS476 part 7 to give a class 1 surface flame spread. RoofSURE are members of the BUFCA (British Urethane Foam Contractors Association), who are there to ensure that the highest standards of quality and service are provided from its members. The BUFCA applies the strictest quality control on the activities of its membership, in the interest of clients and the industry at large.

As well as preventing snow from getting into your roof and eliminating leaks, polyurethane spray foam also stops slipping slates and tiles, strengthens the existing roof structure, stops excessive fuel bills and best of all, it costs less than a new roof.

If this cold weather has caused problems for your roof, contact RoofSURE and see how their polyurethane spray foam can make your roof problems a thing of the past.

Everyone wish to have his/her own house. Purchasing your dream home is main goal of life as it is a most important investment. But big investments need guard. You need proper maintenance and protection to treasure this investment. If you are not providing proper maintenance then it will ultimately result in premature failure, unexpected and preventable expenses. To keep your home your dream home, you need proper repairing. Roof repair is also a part of keep your home safe. One house hold development that can seem freighting and expensive is the idea of doing your own repairs. Whether you have major damages to your roof or just need new gutters and shingles, mending your own roof is a repellent job.

There are few things you can do to improve the longevity of your roof. If you have few loose shingles, or gutters that are on their way to needing replacement. You can catch them early. Preventive maintenance can keep you from paying a lot for paying bigger roof repairs later. If you notice any drooping between your rafters, it could mean that your roof decking will need replacing. Water damage is the noticeable sign that reproofing is in your future and could indicate an existing leak or be a sign of insufficient roof ventilation. You must check your upper floor after a rainy day to be sure there are no marks or wet spot from previously unseen leaks.

It is very important to examine your roof at least twice a year, in order to stop any invisible harm from becoming a ruin. You are to follow few basic things to keep your roof safe. After extreme weather conditions, roof repair is generally required. If you don’t have your roof maintained regularly, you need roof repairs. There are different types of roof repairs such as general emergency repairs, flashing repairs, storm and wind damage repairs, replacement of damaged tiles and shingles, and many other things. If your roof need repair, it should be dealt as quick as possible.

Every type of roofing requires varied ways of repairs. Flat roof repairs are more frequently required then other repairs because they are influenced and affected by climate change. Some simple repairs can prevent leaks and improves the longevity of the roof. For good roof repair, you are supposed to take the service of the roofing contractors. As they know the procedure of keeping the age of the roof long. If your roof needs some big repairing then you must contact to any contractor.