This traditional roofing system incorporates the application of multiple layers of insulation boards with the base layer mechanically attached into the substrate with subsequent layers placed in hot asphalt. Multiple plies, alternating fiberglass felts and hot asphalt, are then applied. The system is finalized with either a flood coating hot asphalt, hot asphalt & gravel, or a modified cap sheet.
Roof systems and materials generally are divided into generic classifications: low slope and steep slope. Low slope roofing includes water impermeable, or weatherproof, types of roof membranes installed on slopes less than or equal to 3:12 (14 degrees). Steep slope roofing includes watershedding types of roof coverings installed on slopes exceeding 3:12 (14 degrees).
Low-slope roofing
There are five generic classifications of low slope roof membranes or systems. Click on a roof system for more information.
Most low-slope roof membranes have three principal components:
Weatherproofing layer or layers — the weatherproofing component is the most important element because it keeps water from entering a roof assembly.
Reinforcement — reinforcement adds strength, puncture resistance and dimensional stability to a membrane.
Surfacing — surfacing is the component that protects the weatherproofing and reinforcement from sunlight and weather. Some surfacings provide other benefits such as increased fire resistance, improved traffic and hail resistance, and increased solar reflectivity.
With some roof membranes, a component may perform more than one function.
Steep-slope roofing
There are six generic classifications of steep slope roof coverings. Click on a roof covering type for more information.
Steep-slope roof systems typically are composed of individual pieces or components installed in shingle fashion. Steep-slope roof assemblies typically consist of three primary parts:
Roof deck — a roof deck is the structural substrate and usually is a wood-based material such as plywood or oriented strand board (OSB).
Underlayment — underlayment provides temporary protection until a roof covering is installed and provides a secondary weatherproofing barrier. Sometimes underlayment is referred to as “felt” or “paper.”
Roof covering — the roof covering is the external watershedding material.
Today there are cool roof options for almost every type of low and steep sloped roof surface and the multitude of health and energy efficiency benefits make specifying a cool roof additionally appealing. Modified bitumen and Built-Up Roofing (BUR) products may be known more for their durability, thermal performance and fire and wind resistance than their energy performance ability. However, an increasing number of manufacturers are creating cool modified bitumen and BUR products that can more effectively reflect the sun’s heat way from a building.
Cool roof options can lower the roof surface temperature by 70 degrees F, compared to a standard black asphalt roof. This can have an immense impact on the temperature fluctuations of a roofing system, leading to lower maintenance costs, longer roof life, and a decrease in cooling loads. As cool roof requirement become increasing common in building codes and voluntary green programs, it is important to understand their benefits and how they work, as well as are aware of resources that make it easy to specify cool roof systems.
To learn more about the benefits of Cool Roofs and how they can save you money in the long run, call today to speak with one of our highly trained experts 785-537-8008 or 620-225-2622.
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