Flat Roofing Design and Material Guide

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS  Design and Material Guide.  Industrial and Commercial Flat Roof Options.  How to Increase the Longevity of a Flat Roof.  Insulation and Vapor Retarders.  Roof Maintenance.  Flat Roof Repair versus Replacement.  Repair.  Replacement.  Coating.  Information on warranties.

3. DESIGN AND MATERIAL GUIDE Despite the negative picture held by flat roofs, more commercial, residential and industrial buildings with flat roofing systems are erected with each passing day. Some are completely horizontal while some feature a slight pitch to help with water drainage. In the past, flat roofs were constructed using a ton of layers to ensure durability and practicability. Now, the layers have greatly reduced, thanks to waterproofing technology. With proper construction and careful material selection, flat roofing could be the best thing that happened to your industrial or commercial unit. If you are wondering if this type of roofing is practical, here is a quick overview of some of the benefits of flat roofs. 1. Extra space Unlike a pitched roof, a flat roof gives you the option of using it as extra storage space. You can add a design element such as a garden, patio or make it an elegant vegetative roof. Solar panels or AC vents can also be easily installed on a flat roof. This is a great advantage especially since most commercial buildings have limited spaces.

4. 3. Cost A flat roofing system is the most affordable option to install, repair, and maintain. You will certainly need a few repairs over the course of time but even these are relatively cheap and infrequent. Installation, repair and maintenance are also not extremely labor intensive. There’s also the comforting fact that you won’t need decorative elements to make the roof look aesthetically sound. 3. Easy access and maintenance The absence of slopes and flat surfaces make flat roofs relatively easy to access. With a basic ladder (or none at all), you should be on your way to the top, and fast. This translates to easy inspection, maintenance and repairs on the roof itself and other components such as sidings and gutters. There are a ton of repair costs that can be avoided just by the relative ease of access. 4. Durability Design materials used in flat roofing systems last for anything between 30 and 50 years. They are water, fire, and wind resistant and have solid tar and gravel base structures. With the right insulation system and proper inspection and maintenance, flat roofs can last for ages.

5. INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL FLAT ROOF OPTIONS Roofing solutions differ in magnitude, design, location, cost and other factors. Top commercial flat roofing companies helps customers compare and contrast the available options on the table. These are the options for industrial and commercial buildings. 1. Built-up roof systems (BUR) Also referred to as “Hot-Tar-and-gravel” or “4-ply roofing”, BUR system is the most common flat roof. The system is composed of saturated asphalt paper layers and hot liquid asphalt or coal tar. The number of layers used depends on the unique project and the contractor but it can be as many as 12 layers of paper. Asphalt or coal tar is heated with propane gas and directed to the roof. Asphalt or coal tar acts as an adhesive over the paper layers forming a rather thick membrane that is the roof. Once the membrane has been completed, a thin asphalt layer is mopped over the roof and the insulation material spread over it. BUR systems can last for decades but they are costly. The material tends to become too dry to the point of cracking as a result of evaporation, leading to water leaks. Installation is also quite labor-intensive not to mention the requirement for too many materials. With the right procedures and expert installation, Deluxe Roofing systems offer maximum protection for commercial and industrial buildings. Our roofs contain base sheets, felts and bulk asphalt for robust protection.

6. 2. Metal panel roof systems Metal panel roof systems find use in slow slope applications particularly factories and warehouses. The panels can span to a height of four feet. A sealant is employed in between seams and joints that overlap to combat leaking while bolts are used to fasten the roof to the metal rafters. The panels are great water barriers that completely prevent water leaks if carefully installed. 3. Modified bitumen membranes Modified bitumen roofing can also be referred to as a “2 or 3-ply system.” It consists of a rubber membrane manufactured from reinforced fabrics coated with asphalt and added modifiers responsible for its elastic properties. Some modifiers used today include atactic polypropylene (APP) and styrene butadiene (SBS). Apart from the modifiers, a series of reinforcements like polyester, fiberglass, scrims, and mats) are employed. The membrane is often attached using an adhering base sheet or ballast. Modified bitumen roofing is quick to install, easy to maintain and is cost-efficient. 4. Single-Ply membranes TPO, EPDM and PVC fall into this category. Basically, these are thin, single ply synthetic membranes that are manufactured in sheets. They come in rolls of between 8 and 20 feet wide. Adhesives are utilized to attach the roof membranes to the perfectly cleaned substrate. These flat roofs are prone to degradation from UV rays; therefore, a self-adhering cover tape is often used on the seams. Single ply roofing systems are flexible, durable and relatively strong. They find use in many projects because of their versatility, and practicability.

7. HOW TO INCREASE THE LONGEVITY OF A FLAT ROOF Flat roofing systems need a regular inspection to rule out any leaks, damages, and impairments. Building experts suggest a thorough inspection done twice a year or after a heavy rain accompanied by a storm. Top commercial flat roofing companies are equipped with a deep understanding of safety and precaution techniques. We suggest the following checklist when carrying out the inspection. • Give it duration of 48 hours after a heavy downpour to perform the inspection and cleaning. Under normal circumstances, the water should have evaporated by this time. If the water still sits on the roof, you want to check on the drainage system for a possible malfunctioning. • To find out the root cause of the water ponding, remove all debris from the roof including leaves, tree branches, loose debris, and gravel. • Inspect skylights and chimney flashings. If you find rust and any cracks, you may want to have them repaired. • Inspect the protection usually located at the top (in most cases a gravel or a certain mineral blend) to ascertain whether the grains are sparse or intact. The gravel should not only protect the roofing membrane from leaks but also offer sun and fire protection as well. If the grains leave a bald patch, the asphalt material beneath might become to dry and crack. Eventually, the layers will start to allow leaking. • Look out for any puncturing, damage, wrinkling or rips of the membrane. This will require lost of concentration especially if the gravel is extremely sparse. • Have all the damages repaired with immediate action.

8. INSULATION AND VAPOR RETARDERS Insulation is an integral part of flat roofing. Its primary purpose is to conserve energy, ultimately bringing down the heating and cooling expenses. Contractors employ effective insulating materials made to reduce the heat flow in or out of a building. Depending on the roofing system in question, the material of insulation is installed either above or below the roofing membrane. Examples of such materials include polyisocyanurate, expanded/extruded polystyrene, rigid/semi-rigid boards, fiberglass, and fiberboard. Deluxe Roofing employs rigid foam board insulation technology through the use of polyisocyanurate (polysio). It has a relatively high thermal performance making it our product of choice for our clients.

9. Insulation may be an important design element in flat roofing but it increases the likelihood of entrapped water on the roof assembly. Water condensation caused by water vapor drive can result in deadly leaks on the strongest buildings. To combat this, a vapor retarder (or a vapor barrier) is utilized. This is a foil or plastic sheet used to prevent moisture challenges and enhance comfort and energy efficiency. Water vapor is often caused by everyday activities such as bathing, doing laundry, cooking etc. A good vapor retarder doesn’t allow moisture to pass through it. Some excellent materials used as vapor retarders include the following; • Aluminum foil • Paper-blacked aluminum • Metalized film • Vapor retarder paints • Elastomeric coatings • Exterior grade plywood • Glass and metal • Asphalt-coated Kraft paper

10. ROOF MAINTENANCE Roof maintenance should be all-rounded but there are certain areas that require extra care and attention. 1. Seams A seam refers to the meeting point between two pieces of material. This could be two membrane sheets, two metal pieces and so on. They are at risk of leaks despite them being sealed. 2. Penetrations Industrial and commercial flat roofing systems often include functionalities such as skylights, A/C units, plumbing vents, and air vents. When designing a roofing material for a certain project, contractors need to put this into consideration. This means finding a way to cut the material to accommodate this. Just like seams, such penetrations can be a source of leaks. 2. Flashings Flashings refer to pieces of metal installed in specific roof joints. The objective of installing flashings is to further protect the roof from leaks through the joints. To ensure the damage doesn’t reach the roof membrane, the flashings need to be maintained at perfect working conditions.

11. FLAT ROOF REPAIR VERSUS REPLACEMENT Deluxe Roofing commercial and industrial roof systems don’t require a lot of repairs especially if well maintained. However, problems are bound to come up over time. When this happens, you can repair the roof, carry out roof coating or replace it altogether. Here’s a guide to help you when you meet this predicament.

12. REPAIR This works best if the roof issues are minimal. For instance, when dealing with a challenge of a minor damage on a membrane that has been in use for a relatively short period of time and which is still in excellent shape. Repair is also great for a roof with good insulation. The beauty with flat roof repairs is that they are very affordable compared to replacement.

13. REPLACEMENT Sometimes, the damage on the flat roof is too extensive to repair. An example is a situation where the roof has gone through too many repairs. The rule of thumb here is to replace a roof whose damage extends beyond 25%. You also need to replace damaged and wet insulation lest they cause leaks in the near future. Industrial and commercial roof replacements may be costly but they offer solutions for the long haul. Thanks to new and better technologies that keep emerging by the day, a replacement will more likely bring down energy and maintenance costs. They will also give you the peace of mind you deserve.

14. COATING Coating is not an emergency response to a problem but a preventive action instead. It extends the roof’s shelf life by beefing up the existing leak prevention system. Employ a reflective coating to help reflect sunlight and heat from the building thereby creating a cooling effect and ultimately enhancing its comfort. This also reduces your energy costs. Like many other areas of your flat roof, the coating will also require constant inspections and repairs to rid it of any trapped moisture and ensure optimal functioning.

15. INFORMATION ON WARRANTIES Commercial and industrial roofing systems feature warranties (mostly 10 years). The exact coverage depends on the manufacturer. Before you purchase a flat roofing system, you should bear in mind that the warranties fall into two categories; the manufacturer’s warranty and the contractors’ warranty that covers his or workmanship. The former takes care of any manufacturing defects while the latter deals with installation issues alike. Most contractors give 1-2 years of coverage but as said earlier, there is no standard for all. For more information on the design and material guide for commercial and flat roofing systems, contact Deluxe Roofing, Canada. They have served Toronto residents for more than 3 decades. They are, therefore, associated with quality roofing products, especially for resident, commercial, and industrial properties. Their experts are not only experienced but also licensed to work on commercial and industrial buildings. Whether your project is small or large, their team will give you the results that you are looking for.

16. THE END Find out more at - • https://deluxeroofing.ca/commercial-roofing/ • https://deluxeroofing.ca/industrial-roofing/ • https://deluxeroofing.ca/metal-roof/ • https://deluxeroofing.ca/emergency-roof-repair/