When Will a Roofing Contractor
Use a Roof Membrane?
Membrane is a system which is designed to decrease leaks and pooling which are associated with other materials for roofing. It is mostly used on roofs which are flat or only have a slight slope.
More and more
are noticing this type of system is slowly replacing the more traditional asphalt roof which can be seen on homes and businesses today.
There are three kinds of membrane, which are thermoplastic,
thermoset, and modified bitumen.
Thermoset are sheets of rubber which a placed across the top of a roof ensuring their seams overlap. The are then heated, which melts the rubber layers together. Due to the rubber used, the heat makes the sheets create a chemical bond, which makes the seams strong enough. The rubber is from 45 to 60 mils, which makes it almost impenetrable when it comes down to leaks.
Thermoplastic are very similar to thermoset; however, they are made of PVC instead of rubber. These sheets do not bond when heated but will create a tight seal which prevents water from entering the seams. These systems are not as expensive as the thermoset, but they do need more maintenance and repairs.
Modified bitumen is the cheapest system and is most commonly used by a roofing contractor
for residential homes. Rubber compounds, plus other modifiers are combined with traditional asphalt roofing, this is then heated with a torch so it melts to form a tight seal. New modified bitumen is installed without heat. The compounds are applied on the sheets whilst in the factory, thus allowing the roofer to lay the self-adhesive sheets, making sure to overlap the seams to make a watertight seal.
There are many important advantages with using a membrane roofing system over traditional methods. A standard asphalt roof will leak due to its construction. If the seams are not sealed tightly, water will penetrate a home. Membrane roofing is nearly seamless, thus leading to less leaks.
Call Arcade Roofing & Home Improvement, a trustworthy roofing contractor
based in Brooklyn, NY and get the most out of your next project.