Keep a the roof over your head in tip-top shape with flat roofing services from Gotcha Covered Contracting! Flat roofs add an extra style element to homes and commercial buildings. However, they also require the special care of an experienced roofer. Take a look at the various types of available flat roofs and their benefits below.
Protect your investment with professional flat roofing in Pittsburgh. Call the commercial roofing team at Gotcha Covered Contracting 724-581-8147 for more information.
Types of Flat Roofing Materials
Unless you already own a flat roof, you may not know that flat roofs come in three different types: single-layer membrane, modified bitumen, and built-up. The different types of flat roofs offer unique perks and drawbacks based on the flat roofing material used, but they all perform well when tested by inclement weather.
Single-Layer Membrane Roofs
Single-layer membrane roofs represent the pinnacle of flat roof technology. Some of the most common types of single-layer membrane roofs include:
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Neoprene (aka polychloroprene)
Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB)
Of the various types of single-layer membrane roofs, EPDM are the most popular. All synthetic rubber roofs remain only a fraction of an inch thick, yet they demonstrate unsurpassed flexibility and temperature tolerances.
Modified Bitumen Roofs
Not to be confused with PMB roofs, modified bitumen roofs emerged in the middle of the last century as the solution to all the problems associated with built-up roofs. They come as rolled-up sheets of bitumen and polymers that roofers lay on top of the roof. The four types of modified bitumen roofs include:
Self-adhering
Heat-applied
Cold-applied
Torch down
Built-Up Roofs
As the type of flat roof that started it all, built-up roofs still see significant use today. Built-up roofs consist of alternating layers of roofing felt and asphalt. Initial installation of a built-up roof involves the application of hot asphalt tar to the roofing felt, causing it to melt, mix, and adhere to the roof’s surface. The process repeats until the built-up roof comprises two or more layers.
Once this process is complete, a roofer may apply granules on top of the final layer to protect the roofing material from damage. The ability to reapply an extra layer or two to rejuvenate your roof represents one of the benefits of a built-up roof. However, this type of roof may become too heavy after several decades of reapplication.
Benefits of Flat Roofs
Some homeowners wonder whether flat roofs experience more problems than other roofs, but it depends on the owner. Flat roofs provide excellent protection for decades if properly maintained. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, flat roofs offer several benefits that other types of roofs do not. Discover some of the main perks of owning a flat roof below.
Easy Access
One of the obvious benefits of owning a flat roof is how easy you can access it for inspections, maintenance, and repairs. At Gotcha Covered Contracting, we love flat roofs because they decrease the inherent dangers of our profession.
Unrivaled Affordability
Have you ever wondered why most commercial buildings have flat roofs? The main reason involves the affordability of a flat roof. A flat roof almost always costs less than a pitched roof because flat roofs have less surface area.
Simple Maintenance
Owners of flat roofs know how little it takes to maintain their roof. In Pittsburgh, you should call the professionals for a roof inspection before the first snow of every year. To keep your roof functional, you can have it coated and sealed every two to four years.
Trouble-free Equipment Installation
Whether you need to install a satellite dish or an HVAC unit, a flat roof will always make the job easier. Flat roofs also make it less likely that your expensive equipment shifts during use, which would require an emergency flat roof repair.
Additional Space
A flat roof allows property owners to enjoy more space on the top floor of the building. Some homeowners enjoy the slanted ceilings of pitched roofs because they see them as stylish or quaint. However, they cut into your usable floor space by more than most people realize.
We Are Your Local Flat Roof Repair Experts
At Gotcha Covered Contracting, we often hear questions about flat roofs from owners of pitched-roof homes. They want to know how they work and if it costs a lot to maintain them. The truth is that flat roofs serve as one of the most affordable and reliable roofing systems ever designed.
Keep it simple with flat roofing services from Gotcha Covered Contracting. Call 724-581-8147 for a free quote in Pittsburgh.
