Low Slope Roofing
History in the United States:
Composition or what we now know as
built-up roofing was introduced in the United
States in 1840 utilizing pine tar instead of
coal tar or asphalt as the adhesive. Prior to
that time low slope or "flat" roofs were
waterproofed with metals such as; tin plate,
copper, lead and zinc. The use of coal tar
bitumen began in 1847 and was followed by a type
of asphalt bitumen within a few years. Coal tar
and asphalt composition roofs were the dominant
systems installed on larger non-residential
projects for the next 100 plus years until the
invention single ply membranes. One of the
earliest single ply roof installations was a
neoprene rubber and aluminum system installed on
the Ingalls Hockey Arena on the Yale University
campus in New Haven, Connecticut. This
particular installation, while pioneering, was
fraught with problems primarily due to the
deterioration of the neoprene in the ultraviolet
rays of the sun. Single ply roof systems
including; EPDM, TPO, PVC and modified bitumen
now have the majority of the market over
conventional built-up roofing. The latest
industry trends are toward integrated solar,
green roofs and vegetative roofs.
Maintenance: Lack of
proper maintenance is likely the number one
cause of premature roof failure. Time and time
again owners have complained that "flat roofs
don't work". The fact is they work just fine if
properly designed, installed and maintained. A
flat roof should be inspected at least once a
year by a qualified inspector. Defects should be
documented and properly repaired to industry
standards. If the roofs are easily accessible
then they should be walked twice a year and at
that time the drains and gutters should be
cleared.
Design and planning:
Things to consider when replacing your flat
roof; building use and occupancy, location,
owner's requirements, deck, building codes,
maintainability, warranty, cost, slope,
sustainability and future additions. Proper
design, installation and maintenance will have a
direct impact on life cycle cost.
Environmental impact:
Terms such as; green-tech, sustainability,
reflectivity, cool roofing, urban heat island
effect and volatile organic compounds are
driving major changes in the low slope roofing
industry. A roof system that was once expected
to keep the occupants, structure and contents
dry can now be expected to save energy, control
water run-off, produce electricity, reduce heat
emission, provide a recreation area, have a
reduced impact on the environment and be
aesthetically pleasing.
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