Lewis Walker Roofing is one of Lake City, Florida’s most trusted flat roofers. We offer a Flintastic 2-ply SA modified roofing with a 10-year material warranty and a 5-year workmanship warranty!
CertainTeed Flintlastic® SA roofing membrane is a premium, self-adhering SBS-modified bitumen roofing material suitable for use in accordance with CertainTeed specifications for most low-slope roof system applications. Flintlastic SA Cap is available in 8 colors, plus white and CoolStar highly reflective granules.
Flintlastic SA Cap white meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR® requirements for slopes greater than 2:12″ and can be used to comply with the 2016 California Title 24 Part 6 Cool Roof Requirements. Visit www.coolroofs.org or www.energystar.gov for more information.
Flat roofs are common in areas with little or no rain, though they aren’t unheard of in other regions of the country. While they are an economical choice from a building perspective, they can be troublesome when it comes to water leakage and accumulation. To preserve flat roofs and the homes beneath them, they must be covered with a good waterproof material and outfitted with a good drainage system. Below are some of the most popular flat roofing systems and a few benefits and drawbacks of each.
Built-Up Roofing (BUR)
Built-up roofing is a generic term for a roof system built by adding layers. It is most often made from alternating layers of roofing felt with different waterproofing materials, including coal tar pitch, asphalt, cold application adhesive, and modified asphalt. It is also known as “tar and gravel” roofing because it’s finished with a final layer of gravel, crushed rock, or other mineral substance to minimize sun damage.
The other popular built-up roofing style is a modified bitumen roof. MBRs are made from fiberglass-based asphalt sheeting and applied in layers with mopped-on hot bitumen between each. Built-up roofing is more commonly found on commercial buildings than on residential homes. However, it’s still well suited for houses with flat roofs. While it is the most economical choice, sunlight will eventually break down the asphalt base, and the roof must be replaced sooner than other options.
Single-Ply Roofs
Single-ply roofs are the most reliable, popular, and practical flat roof solutions on the market. It comes in two main types. Thermoset membranes are manufactured from rubber polymers and require liquid adhesive or tape to form a watertight seal at the overlaps. Thermoplastic membranes, made from plastic polymers, have seams formed with heat or chemical welding. Most thermoplastic membranes also include a reinforcement layer of polyester or fiberglass for increased strength and stability.
Either way, these single-ply roof materials, more commonly referred to as rubber or plastic roofing membranes, are the best choice if you need to replace flat roofing. They’ll cost a little more than built-up roofing for materials and installation, but they will last much longer with fewer problems. Any extra initial costs are well worth it in the long run.
Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF)
Sprayed polyurethane foam is a relatively new product sprayed onto the roof as a liquid to form a single, continuous, seamless structure. Because foam is flexible and lightweight, it’s perfect for irregularly shaped roofs and protrusions.
For re-roofing, SPF also eliminates the need to remove the previous roof since it can be applied directly over existing roof installations, including asphalt shingles, built-up roofs, clay tile, concrete, metal, and wood.
Foam roofing systems are easy to maintain, and with a high insulation value, they can combat some of the heat issues common with flat roofing. The only downside is SPF’s track record. It doesn’t have much of one yet, so you’re taking a risk with this product.
Hire Experienced Flat Roof Contractors
Unfortunately, flat roofing is never a do-it-yourself project. You’ll need to hire skilled flat roofers to apply any of the above-mentioned roofing solutions. If you need flat roofing services, contact our reliable roofing company about getting your roofing project underway.