Flat Roofs
Gulf Western Roofing is the leading flat roofing contractor in Southwest Florida. Our flat roof installation and repair experts have the experience and skill required to install a roof that is as durable and functional as it is beautiful.
Flat roofs can be used in either residential or commercial settings, and GWR is the region's leading flat roof specialist.
Flat Roof Installation & Repair Estimates
Want a quote on a new flat roof for your home or commercial building? Simply call 239-949-9200. In the meantime, keep reading to learn more about flat roofs.
More About Flat Roof
Many commercial roofs in Southwest Florida are flat or nearly flat with a slight pitch. Some that are completely flat and do not have a pitch due to settlement of the building, improper construction, or deflection of the rafters must have a roof system installed that will either correct the pitch or be able to withstand the effects of ponding water. In order to correct a roof structure that has standing (or ponding) water, a tapered insulation system can be installed. Sometimes, though, this is not possible due to penetrations or other structures on the roof. When this is the case, a roof system that is not adversely effected by standing water should be used. The problem is that most flat roof systems are made from asphalt products, which do not hold up under these situations.
We normally suggest installing a single-ply membrane roof system. The next issue is to decide which type of single ply roof should be used. Most people have the impression that all single-ply membranes are alike, but nothing can be further from the truth. Just because they are called single-ply membranes does not mean that they will perform the same. It's like saying that just because you have a car, it will perform the same as any other car, just because they are both automobiles--which we all know is not the case.
Single-ply roofing membranes have been installed on roofing projects for over 35 years. Some have performed well, while others are doing poorly or are non-existent today, while others have recently come into the marketplace.
In designing performance characteristics in a single-ply membrane or single-ply system, you have to keep in mind what elements the material is going to be subjected to. Roofing membranes need to perform 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without resting periods. Roofing membranes are exposed to UV Rays, rain, hail, standing water, microorganisms, chemical pollutants, vast temperature changes, wind and dynamic flexing, etc.
The expectations of single-ply membranes should be that the membrane:
- is a waterproofing sheet
- must remain waterproof throughout its warranty life
- must be non-flammable
- must comply with building codes
- must be easy to work with and repair
- be pliable at different temperatures (especially extreme cold)
The single-ply roofing market today is dominated by TPO, PVC & CPA (co-polymer alloy). TPO's are relatively new and do not have adequate performance history to make a concise judgment, but if past performance is any measure, they should be avoided. There has been some confusion in the market place regarding TPO's. TPO's, as a roofing product, have only been around in the United States since 1993 and "As yet, little is known about their durability." Ralph M. Paroli, Technical advisor report. Recently GAF recalled its TPO2 product. According to a newsletter article from the NRCA dated 6/8/01 "GAF Materials Corp. (GAFMC) has announced that it will discontinue production of its new EverGuard TPO2 Plus product. According to GAFMC, TPO2 required greater care during installation, which meant it did not meet the company's requirement for being "contractor-friendly." The TPO2 product, according to GAFMC, proved to be more sensitive to temperatures, weld speeds, and cleaning procedures and, therefore, "created hassles for experienced contractors." TPO continues to be in the experimental phase--all are in their second, third and in some cases fourth generation of formulations. These and other reasons are due cause to still be a little skeptical of TPO roofing materials.
On the other hand PVC & CPA's roofing membranes have been around for over 25 years with an incredible documented track record.
If you're considering installing a flat roof, let us help. Gulf Western Roofing is the leading flat roofing contractor in Southwest Florida, and our team of roof installation specialists have years of experience in successfully installing flat roofs. Simply contact us today to schedule a free roof inspection and learn about roof repairs. If you'd like to schedule one of our specialists to take a look at your roof, please give us a call at:
239-949-9200
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