Four Types of Flat Roofs Repaired in Toronto

Rubber roofs

If you have EPDM rubber roofing you’re in so much luck. Unlike most of the other flat roofs, they’re the easiest to repair with PVC membranes. Also, they’re one of the few flat roofs which are 100% compatible with the PVC membranes. So while recovering the roof, the roofing contractor glues and stretches the rubber roof to give a solid, flat surface, then directly places the PVC membrane on top of the rubber roofing. Since there is no need for insulation or separation sheet, this makes the flat roof repair project a lot cheaper too.

Tar and gravel flat roofs

Without a doubt, tar and gravel flat roofs are also other great candidates for a PVC recovery system. Repairing a commercial roof that has any of the materials can help you avoid tough and messy tear-offs which can get extremely costly to fix. Instead of tearing off the surface, the roofing contractor places thin insulation over the pea gravel. Once the insulation is set over the gravel, the surfaces are recovered with the PVC membrane.

Ballasted rubber roofing

Some people don’t know how to distinguish tar and gravel roofs from the ballasted rubber roofing. It’s simple, tar and gravel roofs have pea gravel stuck in tar while ballasted rubber roofing has the surface covered in large round river stones. Beneath those large rocks lies the rubber roof. Using large stones is crucial for this type of roofing since the rubber roofing isn’t glued down. Thus, the stones help to weigh down the rubber and hold it in place.

When it comes to recovering ballasted rubber roofing with PVC membrane, the stones must be removed. So the roofing contractor uses a large vacuum to suck up all those stones. Once the area is rock-free, PVC layover begins immediately.

Asphalt rolled roofing

For such a repair project, the contractor separates the PVC recovery system from the asphalt roofing product. This is normally through placing a layer of insulation over the roof before installation of the PVC membrane. Often, a separator sheet also gets installed along the parapet walls before the PVC membrane is set over them.

Security

Construction materials like copper and lead don’t come cheap. Instead of using high-value materials, go for other alternatives. You won’t fail to get materials on the cheap that offer aesthetics as well as waterproofing features in your local home depot. This will be a win-win situation as you’ll still enjoy the benefits of a productive roof as well as eradicate the risk of theft of your construction materials.

Maintenance

As you plan for your flat roof repair project, ensure to select on a system you can afford to maintain. It will be detrimental to repair your flat roof with a system that constantly gives you additional cost implications. Go for robust and low-cost solutions like bitumen which help to keep maintenance expenses at a minimum.

The Extent of damage

Where the roof has minimal damage, simple patch repair work may be okay. On the other hand, if the damage is extensive, refurbishment of the entire roofing system will be a better option. On most occasions, building owners ignore the problem when it’s small only to further the damage. Please ensure to deal with any flat roof problem as soon as you spot them to avoid future costly repairs.

Traffic on the roof

Does your flat roof have a trafficable surface, like a balcony or parking lot? For such flat roofs, you must ensure that proper waterproofing gets done. Otherwise, it will be further worsened by pedestrian and mechanical traffic. With that said, if you need to repair your trafficable flat roof or to convert the existing roof into one, go for rapid-curing, trafficable waterproofing materials.

Thermal performance

If you live in an area prone to extreme weather, it’s recommendable that you install a durable waterproof membrane while repairing your roofing system. Bitumen systems are excellent examples of roofing materials which can perform well both in extreme heat and cold. On top of this, you’ve got to ensure proper fitting or repair of the existing insulation during the repair project. Failure to do so will cause heat loss and negatively impact the energy efficiency in the building.

The life expectancy of the roof

It’s also crucial that you take note of the roof’s service life. Before you buy any materials, ensure that they have an industry-leading warranty. Remember there are so many different waterproof and roofing materials, each with its benefits and lifespans. If you’ve no clue on what to get, always consult a professional flat roof repairer.