Types of Roofing Systems – Page 2

By Andrews Roofing | May 21, 2014

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About EPDM Rubber Roofing

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer rubber is better known as EPDM rubber, and for many years it has been a leading type of single-ply roofing membrane. It is also used in many other applications. The appropriate use for EPDM rubber is on flat or low-slope roofs.

Most rubber roofs are black, but it does come in white to reflect the sun. White EPDM rubber membrane roofing costs a little more than black. This roof system can be mechanically attached or fully adhered and comes in reinforced and non-reinforced. There is also a less common ballasted roof system. Reinforced is used for mechanically attached, and non-reinforced is used for fully-adhered systems. Ask your roofer which one makes the most sense for your roof.

The EPDM rubber sheets come in rolls from five feet up to 50 feet wide. The sheets wider than 10 feet are for fully-adhering only, in most cases. Because covering a roof requires more than one sheet, there are seams in a rubber roof. These seams are primed and an inseam tape is installed to make them water tight. A roofer must be skilled and take extra care in properly seaming the sheets and installing rubber roof flashings.

Rubber roofs should last from 15 to 30 years, and manufacturers like Firestone and Carlisle guarantee them, labor and material or just the membrane. Your roofer should provide a workmanship warranty too. These membranes range in thickness from 45 to 60 to 80 and 90 mils. A mil is one one-thousandth of an inch. The most common thicknesses are 45 and 60 mil.

Contact me with questions anytime at Andrews Roofing, 757-286-7400, or at [email protected].

By Andrews Roofing | January 6, 2014

Tags: flat, hampton roads, hampton roads roofing, low slope, replacement, retro fit, Roof Overlay, Tidewater region, tidewater roofing

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Category: Roof Installation, Roofing Repairs, Types of Roofing Systems

Flat / Low Slope Roof Overlay Replacement as an Option (Retro – Fit)

There are many ways to handle your roof replacement. A lot of commercial and residential flat roof owners know that you can install a new roof over top of an old one. Many old built-up roofs are still out there, and most even have rocks on them. These roofs can be expensive to tear off and dispose of, so for years roofers have been overlaying with “recovery” insulation board and single – ply roof systems such as TPO membrane, E.P.D.M., modified bitumen membrane, and P.V.C. membrane. These roof systems will last about 20 years and then you tear both roof layers off and start over.

Single-Ply roof systems are also roofed over. Building codes only allow for two layers of roofing and we agree with this code. Also, the insulation and roof deck on your existing roof must be dry and in such a certain condition to be roofed over. Some roofs cannot be left in place and roofed over for several reasons, so consult with a roofing professional to see if it is an option.

Special specifications are made by the industry when roofing over, so be sure you can trust and rely on your roofer to do the job correctly. Generally, it is better to tear off the old roof, but in many cases a roof over is a very acceptable option. In fact, based on my experience, the vast majority of one layer flat roofs get a retro-fit treatment.

Call or email me if you want to talk about it. Thanks for reading.

Robert Andrews, II
President/Estimator
Phone: 757-286-7400
Email: [email protected]

By Andrews Roofing | September 4, 2013

Tags: coatings, hampton roads, hampton roads roofing, membrane, roof, Tidewater region, tidewater roofing

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Category: Roof Installation, Roofing Information, Roofing Repairs, Types of Roofing Systems

Roof Coatings

Sometimes you can coat your roof instead of having to actually remove it and replace it with a new one. It can be much more cost effective, and in some cases, it can be better for your home, business or church roof.

Asphalt shingle roofs can’t be coated, but just about all other types of roofs are “coatable.” Of course, your roof must be in a “coatable” condition. We coat mainly metal and single – ply membrane flat or low slope roofs and it works very well on these surfaces. Examples of single – ply roofs are smooth modified bitumen membrane, TPO membrane , P.V.C. membrane, and E.P.D.M.

Coating a metal roof is usually more cost effective than replacing it because metal roofs are a premium roof system and, in some cases, are old with historic architectural designs that you may want to preserve. You can simply prep it and use a fibrated coating such as aluminum coating or asphalt coating to stop minor leaks and maintain the roof. This application can also dress it up a bit for aesthetic reasons. If you really want something nice, we can apply an acrylic / elastomeric coating system, which may or may not include fabric, and even get you a real warranty! This is like roof “membrane in a can.” They do come in colors, of course, and most localities do not require a building permit for coatings, which keeps costs down.

We can apply the same types of coatings to single – ply roofs. We make sure there is no moisture in the flat roof or standing on the surface (ponding water) in a case where a coating would be feasible.

Believe it or not, one can even use some coatings as, “stand alone roof systems,” where the coating is applied right over the plywood roof sheathing. One advantage, under these circumstances, is that coatings do not blow off and they are extremely light weight, making it alright to overlay an old roof.

High end premium coatings come with 10 and 15 year water tight warranties from the manufacturer and are renewable in most cases. The manufacturer would come out, inspect the roof when it is near the end of its warranty period, tell you what to do to maintain the roof coating system, and renew it for another 10 years even!

If you are interested in coating your roof, ask a roofing professional if it will work for you.

Thanks for reading. Call or email with anytime with any questions because I have not included everything here. I’m really not that good of a writer so … just the facts!

Robert Andrews, II

Andrews Roofing Company, Inc.

757-286-7400

[email protected]

www.andrewsroofing.com

By Andrews Roofing | March 19, 2013

Tags: aluminum, copper, hampton roads, hampton roads roofing, metal, roof, Seam, Standing, steal, Tidewater region, tidewater roofing

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Category: Roofing Information, Roofing Innovations, Types of Roofing Systems

Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Well, these aren’t for every building or every building owner, but they
are one of the most high quality roof systems you can install. Also,
they are becoming more popular partly because of the rising cost of
petroleum causing fiberglass asphalt shingle roof prices to climb over
the last several years. A standing seam metal roof can seriously
enhance the structural integrity and look of your home or business.
It comes in steel, aluminum, copper, and stainless steel, to name a
few.

All of these are at least a 50 year roof and are to be considered
a lifetime roof system. Why? Because they are made of metal, for one
thing. Metal of course is rigid and strong so it does not damage
easily and can give you a very high wind rating. In most cases it is
screwed down with hidden fasteners so the elements never get to these
screws and cause corrosion. You can use as many screws as you want to
make it very wind worthy.

The technicians are metal roof mechanics and sheet metal mechanics who are highly specialized so they know how to custom fabricate and install every roof as per the particular building design. They are among the most technical workers in all of construction, and aren’t scared of heights either.

Coil metal or flat sheets are run through a roof panel machine for different lengths, widths, and profiles custom to the shape and measurements of the building. Then they are installed. Some standing seam metal roofs [copper mostly] are hand crafted without a machine for historic buildings. These roofs don’t leak if put on right. Not just anyone can do it either, so please be sure you pick a roofing contractor who has the men, equipment in their sheet metal shop, and knowledge for the job. Most roofers don’t even do standing seam metal roofs. It is too complicated. See the roofs they have done and see their equipment too.

Although standing seam metal roofs are put on many commercial and residential buildings, as the main roof system they are also used to accent other types of roofs like shingles, tile, shakes, and slate roofs. Many times, bay windows, return roofs and bird walk roofs have metal on them. Some shopping centers have them on the front canopy to draw the eye of tenants and customers. Beach houses and cottages use them for wind resistance and high end aesthetics. High rise buildings and church steeples have them because their owners never want to replace their roofs after original construction. They are too high! There are many 16 ounce copper roofs way up in the air that are rarely seen or touched in Hampton Roads. Downtown Portsmouth and Norfolk, Suffolk, and Williamsburg are full of them. The old tin roofs we remove are usually 100 plus years of age and today’s metal is better.

The main thing is that if you put a metal roof on your home or business, it will perform very well and will be the last one you ever install, no matter how old you are.

Robert Andrews ll [email protected]

By Andrews Roofing | January 16, 2013

Tags: ecostar, hampton roads, hampton roads roofing, inspector, majestic slate, recycled rubber and plastic, roof, slate, synthetic, Tidewater region, tidewater roofing

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Category: Roof Installation, Types of Roofing Systems

Synthetic Slate Roofs

I’m telling you, I really like this stuff.
We prefer the EcoStar brand, Majestic Slate. It looks like slate, is less expensive and weighs less. We have tried several brands over the years and stopped looking after the first time we did one of these. It is high quality and looks great. We have never seen it leak.

Our men had to get on job training by the EcoStar inspector to certify us as a Gold Star Applicator, which makes us able to get a 50 year workmanship and material EcoStar Gold Star warranty. They send an inspector to pass the job after completion. Their specs are tight. No wonder they don’t leak! Also, it comes with up to a 100 m.p.h. wind warranty. We must shuffle and flex all tiles before installation to avoid color issues. It makes for a slow process, but the results are very pleasing. We use stainless steel 1-1/2″ ring shank nails. It is the best and comes in 11 colors, which can actually be mixed to your liking.

These tiles are made 80% of recycled rubber and plastic. We use all EcoStar products when installing one so that warranty issues are clear and we provide a 10 year workmanship warranty too. Go to our gallery here on our site or go to ecostarLLC.COM to see some nice looking roofs. Lesser warranties are also available. Metal or copper valleys and flashings, special underlayments, and ice shield are used so they last as long as the roof.

THANKS to all! Good day.

Robert Andrews II [email protected]

By Andrews Roofing | December 11, 2012

Tags: Firestone, Genflex, hampton roads, hampton roads roofing, membrane, roof, Tidewater region, tidewater roofing, TPO, warranty

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Category: Roof Installation, Roofing Information, Types of Roofing Systems

The Best Warranty: Single-ply Membrane Roof Warranty

The best warranty in the construction industry is a single-ply membrane roof warranty (TPO or thermopolyolefin , E.P.D.M., P.V.C., Modified Bitumen).

Firestone Building Products is leading in this area with their “edge to edge” roof warranty which covers all the roofing accessory products installed (membrane, roof insulation such as poly – iso board, fasteners, flashings, metal drip edge or coping or gravel stop, etc. These are on commercial flat or low slope roofs with positive drainage.

Of course one can get just a material or a membrane only warranty, ( residential or commercial) accompanied by the roofing contractor’s labor warranty, but I am speaking of a workmanship (labor) and material warranty by a multi-billion dollar company. Firestone even inspects the roof to be sure it is installed as per their specifications. A contractor must be certified by them to obtain one of these warranties which means you are sure you have picked a good roofer. Any roofer can get a material warranty. Only the best are Firestone certified.

These warranties are non pro-rated, have a no dollar limit, and are available in duration of 5, 10, 15. 20, 25 and 30 year increments. Yes, they can guaranty a roof against leaks and other defects for 30 years! They do this because they know their roof system will perform and last.

You know what non pro-rated means. No dollar limit means that 29 years from now, on a 30 year roof, inflation doesn’t matter. If a repair costs 20 times more than it does now, they still have to provide material and labor to do it. And most of the time these warranty repairs are made in just a few days because we make them for Firestone and Genflex Roofing Systems and they pay us to do so.

I would say that these roof system warranties may even be the best in any industry and not just in roofing or construction. Can you get one like it on a car or a microwave oven? Nope. I don’t think so.

Robert Andrews ll , President Andrews Roofing [email protected]

Category: Types of Roofing Systems

About EPDM Rubber Roofing

Flat / Low Slope Roof Overlay Replacement as an Option (Retro – Fit)

Roof Coatings

Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Synthetic Slate Roofs

The Best Warranty: Single-ply Membrane Roof Warranty

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