Why spend the extra money on a tapered insulation system? Because it can probably save your new roof from an early demise.

Building owners and contractors who focus only on the initial cost of tapered insulation are overlooking the long range benefits and savings that such a system provides.

First of all, the inadequate drainage of a fiat roof can result in damage that is far more costly than installing tapered insulation in the first place.

Standing water will eventually cause serious damage to any portion of a building; but, because the progressive deterioration on a roof is not readily observable, building owners tend to dismiss the fact that water can cause far more destruction than fire or wind. Water damage is seldom covered by insurance or roofing guarantees.

Consider the fact that a one-inch deep pond of water weighs 5.2 pounds per square foot–a weight that many structures cannot withstand. Although in new construction, the designers may have figured this additional load into structural calculations, standing water still puts undo stress on the roof membrane.

In the case of an existing structure, both the building and the membrane may be at risk. Debris and sediment tend to accumulate in low lying ponds that sprout. plant life. The constant freezing and thawing of ponded water is yet another factor contributing to the breakdown of the existing roofing membrane.

Failure of any roofing membrane can lead to a variety of problems in the roof system and within the building as a whole. For example, wet insulation loses its ability to resist heat flow, leading to increased heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer.

Leakage in one section of the roof system can eventually deteriorate the entire roof membrane; moisture can corrode metal decks, crack concrete decks and wet-rot wood decks. Finally, water-damaged building materials and furnishings can become quite costly to replace.

The tapered solution

The key to avoiding these expensive problems is to prevent them by providing adequate drainage. One of the most effective ways to do this is by using tapered insulation in both reroofing projects and in new construction. Understanding your insulation options allows you to choose a roofing system that is functional as well as economical over the entire life of the system.

The first consideration in choosing your tapered system should be to address your thermal requirements, The next step is to select a slope that will provide a constant decline to the drainage point. In so doing, local building codes, as well as surface irregularities, must be taken into account.

Tapers of 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch per foot have proven to be the most popular with building codes and specifiers. To compensate for any deflections on the deck, a minimum of 1/4 inch per foot slope seems to have become the norm. Tapered panels are also available in 1/16 inch, 3/16 inch, 3/8 inch, & 1/2 inch per foot slope.

Material specifications

Once the particular needs of the roof are established, the appropriate material can be specified. Any type of insulation that is available in flat boards can also be purchased in tapered form. Once you have examined the various types of insulation, you will be able to determine which one will provide optimal performance under your specific roofing circumstances,

In order to successfully complete a tapered project, it is imperative that the contractor, architect, and manufacturer clearly communicate with one another throughout the job in order to ensure that all aspects of the tapered design are consistent with roofing specifications and actual field conditions.

It is also important for contractors to familiarize themselves with the tapered system purchased because the panel sizes can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Installation tips

Installation of a tapered system is not dramatically different from that of flat insulation with several key exceptions:

* After the delivery of the insulation has been verified on
the jobsite, it is important that the contractor separate each
different panel size into its own organized area. This practice
will allow the roofing contractor to quickly and easily find
the metal panels needed.

* Determine the area to be completed that day. Install the
tapered
board according to the code on the board corresponding to the
code that is shown on the shop drawing. A sample shop drawing
is shown in Figure 1.

* Start boards either from the roof drain or the high point
depending on the tapered design being used.

Once properly installed, a tapered system will provide returns on the owner’s original investment.

Proper roof drainage will result in substantial savings from:

Reduced roof maintenance
Less stress to the building structure
Extended roof life
Consistent insulation performance

What’s more, the risk of disrupting building operations and damage to building contents will be dramatically reduced. Therefore, the cost of tapered insulation is not only justifiable but logical — from any angle.

Source: Copyright of RSI: Roofing, Siding, Insulation is the property of Questex Media Group

Consider Corrugated Plastic

Corrugated plastic roofing is an ideal material to consider for many outdoor roofing projects. Corrugated plastic roofing is durable, economical and easy to install. Corrugated plastic is also known as corriboard.

Corrugated plastic roofing materials are marketed under a variety of brand names.

Coroplast
Correx
Corriflute
Intepro

Versatility

Concerning corrugated plastic roofing, this is relied upon for its all-weather durability, and corrugated plastic is the ideal solution for many professional, residential and do-it-yourself applications. Many of the corrugated plastic roofing products available on the market share some key characteristics with corrugated metal products, making corrugated plastic a cheap and lightweight way to augment existing structures. Compatibility makes it easy to upgrade and retrofit existing structures. A corrugated metal roof may be easily fitted with a corrugated plastic veranda to shelter an area from sun or rain, or simply to add aesthetic value.

Reliability

Corrugated plastic roofing tiles are manufactured to meet a variety of consumer needs. They are made in varying thicknesses, transparencies and strengths. Translucent plastic roofing can make an excellent choice of material for decks and sunrooms. Semi-opaque sheeting may be perfect for adding lighting to a room when used instead of a glass skylight. Corrugated plastic roofing makes excellent cover for a patio, porch or garden.

Roofing Materials

Corrugated plastic roofing is used by professional homebuilders and remodelers as well as a variety of industries, because it proven effective and makes a cost effective and resilient alternative to other products. Corrugated plastic roofing is often a superior choice when considering factors like reliability, versatility and cost. These products are available to suit the project needs, come in different strengths, sizes, colors and durability ratings. Used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, corrugated plastic is formed to fit many functions.

Popular for Patios, Porches

Especially in more temperate and tropical areas, corrugated plastic roofing offers ideal solutions for living spaces. Offered in varying grades of strength, these products are also available in an array of colors and many different grades of translucency, from clear to opaque. They make excellent verandas and shades to create radiant diffused lighting and shelter from the sun. They keep the elements at bay, while allowing filtered light through. Because corrugated plastic roofing is easy to install, choosing it for a patio addition can bring project costs down considerably. Since it is comparatively low-maintenance, it is the best choice of material for many home-owners.

Great for Greenhouses

Glass greenhouses can be prohibitively costly for the average home gardener. As a cheap and strong alternative to glass, corrugated plastic products can be the perfect home gardening solution – especially for gardeners with children and pets.

Proper Use

Manufacturers of corrugated plastic roofing often host websites which feature suggested uses for their products. Home remodeling centers typically stock corrugated plastic products and store personnel should be able to answer specific questions about product uses as they relate to project details. It is important to keep in mind that different products are manufactured to different specification, so it is critical to review manufacturer instructions for proper use and installation thoroughly before buying.

Flat roofs require different materials from the typical shingles used on pitched roofs. Typically, flat roof materials are a heavy duty rubber, commonly known as roofing rubber, and tar. Why are these materials so important in a flat roof? Well, there are several reasons why.

1. Flat roofs can leak much faster than a pitched roof. This is because a flat roof does not have the aid of gravity to cause the water to come down and the snow to fall off in the winter time. Winter is the most punishing time of year for flat roofs. Flat roofs can carry the weight of heavy snow. On top of that, when the snow melts, it becomes heavier and melting snow can also freeze and turn into ice. For this reason, flat roof materials need to be durable and can handle the full punishment from the elements.

2. Roofing rubber is a strong waterproof water barrier which is often used on flat roofs. This is a strong rubber that is at least three-quarter inches thick and is glued to the substrate of the roof with a special rubber cement. Roofing rubber is so strong that many landscape contractors use it for liners for ponds and water gardens. This just indicates the strength of roofing rubber. Sometimes roofing rubber is used in combination with tar to ensure the seams are sealed tightly to keep moisture from entering into the structure.

3. Tar is also an important flat roof material. Tar has been used on flat roofs for centuries. Tar is known for its waterproof properties. If fact tar is petroleum product that is the solid or coagulator part of crude oil. Tar can make a great waterproof coating when heated. On a modern flat roof, tar is typically used to seal the masonry fixtures on the roof and provide a seem in areas where the roofing rubber won’t adhere to, such as brick.

4. Epoxy is another commonly used flat roof material in today’s structures. Epoxy is great because it can provide a durable finish that is very strong. When using epoxy on concrete, however, there is some preparation that needs to be done. Concrete needs to be treated with muriatic acid before the epoxy can be applied. This takes some special skill, since if too much muriatic acid is used, it can damage the concrete. Typically, the muriatic acid needs to be diluted with water and then the substrate needs to be thoroughly hosed down. The concrete then needs to be dried before the epoxy can be applied. Once applied properly, however, epoxy provides a durable seal that can last for ages.

There is a wide variety of flat roof materials that can be used to treat a flat roof and protect it from the elements. The main thing you need to know, however, is that when constructing a flat roof or repairing a structure which has a flat roof, there are several steps you need to take to ensure that the roof won’t leak when the weather gets bad. There are plenty of materials available that you can choose from and you should seek the advice from a professional roofer to decide what flat roof materials you need to use.

]]> http://flatroofsolutionsandmaterials.com/flat-roof-materials/feed/ 0 http://flatroofsolutionsandmaterials.com/flat-roof-solutions/ http://flatroofsolutionsandmaterials.com/flat-roof-solutions/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:28:29 +0000 admin http://flatroofsolutionsandmaterials.com/?p=4 Choosing the Best Flat Roof Solutions

Modern buildings now have different flat roof solutions. The advantage of a flat roof on a house is that is allows efficient use of the space. There is no problem arising from a sloping ceiling that may limit the uses to which some rooms can be put. Flat roofs have been used in warmer regions of the world for a long time but they have only more recently become popular in colder regions where in past times they were vulnerable to bad weather conditions. With the development of modern materials flat roof solutions are a realistic option for all buildings.

The most important problem confronting anyone installing flat roof solutions on a house is the potential difficulty resulting from rainwater leaking through the roof into the house. This problem is countered by building a small incline into the flat roof solutions so that water runs off the roof into a gutter and is taken away from the house. Regular inspection of the flat roof should be performed to ensure that this slope is working correctly. Sometimes a blockage can be caused by unevenness in the roofing material or by ice or stones creating an obstacle. If a pool of water is formed, this can cause pressure on the roof leading to a leak.

Modern building materials used on flat roofs are designed to prevent this problem from occurring. The flat roof solutions are normally constructed of a continuous material that does not wrinkle easily and can withstand the pressure of rain, wind and ice. There will be layers of various materials laid on the roof ensuring that no leakages are possible.

Energy Efficient Flat Roofs

Flat roofs solutions are sometimes used for the planting of gardens. This can be achieved if sufficient layers are installed underneath the soil layer and if the material is strong enough to take the weight of the plants. These flat roof solutions have obvious environmental benefits and may also make the temperature in the building below more comfortable by preventing the rays of the sun heating up the roofing material and the room beneath it.

An alternative approach to cooling a building is to use materials that create a cold roof by reflecting the sunlight back from the roof. This is useful where the rooms of the building below need to be kept cool. This can provide energy savings as air conditioning is not needed so much and can also help to preserve the roof itself because it does not receive so much damage from the heat of the sun.

Flat Roof Maintenance

Any problems with flat roof solutions can be prevented by regular inspection and by timely repairs when necessary. Inspection is necessary after any particularly bad weather to make sure that water is not accumulating in puddles that may lead to leaks inside the building. Any obstructions on the roof need to be removed and faults in the materials corrected. Maintenance should ensure that the slope of the roof is consistent and that the rain water is running off normally into the guttering.

The variety of strong materials available and developments in roof design have given rise to a great variety of flat roof solutions. A flat roof can lead to more efficient use of space and if properly maintained the roof can last for a long time. The flat roof can help to make the building energy efficient and can contribute to improving the environment.

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