Roofing Category: Flat Roofing

EPDM: The commercial roofer’s environmentally-friendly choice Introduction A lot of businesses are looking for proven and trusted roofing solutions that will keep their property dry without having a negative environmental impact. That’s where EPDM roofing comes into play! EPDM is a strong, resilient, and cost-effective commercial roofing membrane that can often be reused in the future once its serviceability as a roof membrane is over. Fortunately for property owners, EPDM’s roofing lifespan can easily grow past 30 years or more with the right amount of preventative maintenance! Read on to see why EPDM roofing is one of the best roofing materials that commercial roofers can apply to their buildings, and why Chaffee Industrial Roofing is New England’s go-to contractor for commercial roof replacements and installations with EPDM roofing!   What is EPDM Roofing? EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a resilient, single-ply, synthetic rubber material that has stood the test of time as a roofing material in the commercial building sector. With a history spanning more than four decades, EPDM is a tried-and-true roofing solution, specifically designed to meet the rigors of diverse weather conditions and temperature fluctuations. Strength and durability are some of the key factors that property and business owners consider when choosing a roofing solution, and EPDM checks all of the boxes. It is a strong defense against abrasions and UV rays […]

Most flat roofing systems require some kind of rigid insulation under the new roofing system. The biggest reason is that all flat roofing systems require a substrate between the structural decking and the new roof system. The second and more obvious reason is for higher R-values, which building owners are asking for, and building code throughout New England is requiring. The most common types of flat roofing rigid insulation are below. For more information, click on the name of the insulation.

Built Up Roof System “BUR” Built Up Roof Systems (BUR) are the oldest roof systems that are still being installed today, even though a new BUR roof installation is rare. They have been installed since the mid 1840’s and, like modified bitumen roofs, are typically installed in 2-5 plys. BUR roofs come in black and need to be covered by either gravel or granules to prevent cracking caused by heat from the sun. BUR roofs are installed by hot-mopping. The product itself comes in a solid form, and needs to be broken down into smaller pieces. Once broken down, the pieces are thrown into a heated kettle, where it is cooked to 400 degrees. At 400 degrees, the product turns from a solid into a liquid, where it can be picked up by a mop or bucket, and spread across the roof. After the product is spread, felt or fiberglass based paper is applied over the liquid product which, as it cools off, turns back into a solid again. Once the felt paper is applied, another layer of liquid asphalt or pitch can be applied right over it.  Note that the picture is of hot mopping a modified roof in, not a BUR. Detail work is completed in the same fashion, with all details being completed 2-5 times based on the number of ply’s in the […]

Modified Bitumen Roof Systems have been installed since the mid 1970’s. A Modified Bitumen Roof System is typically installed with 1-3 ply’s, and comes in a wide variety of colors. There are many ways to install a modified bitumen roof, but the four most common methods are cold applied (liquid adhesives), torch applied (torch with open flame), hot applied (hot asphalt) and self adhered (adhesives built into the sheet). Modified Bitumen Systems are typically seen as the next generation of asphaltic or pitch based Built Up Roofs (BUR). It carries many of the same strengths as a traditional BUR roof system, while the modified bitumen installation can be completed in a much safer and less expensive method. We typically install self-adhered modified bitumen roof systems at Chaffee Roofing due to their safe and effective installation technique. Self-adhered modified bitumen roof systems are similar to fully adhered single-ply roofs in that the entire system is adhered to the Self Adhered modified bitumen roof installations are completed by: Detail work is completed in the same fashion, with all details being completed 2-5 times based on the number of plys in the system. Benefits of an Modified Bitumen Roof Some of the benefits of Modified Bitumen Roof Systems are: Drawbacks of an Modified Bitumen Roof Modified Bitumen Roof systems have a few disadvantages, which are: Please note that […]

PVC Roofing Systems have been installed since the 1960’s and was one of the first single ply materials used in roofing. PVC Roofs come in thicknesses from .036 mil to .090 mil, can only be reinforced. PVC is typically white, tan or gray in color. A PVC membrane installation can be mechanically attached, fully adhered, Rhinobond or ballasted. Like TPO roof systems, PVC Membrane rolls and flashing membrane are heat welded together, creating the strongest bond available in a roofing system. A PVC Roof installation is heat welded together using computerized hot air equipment that reaches temperatures of around 800 degrees in the seams. For welding the seams on open membrane rolls, an automatic “robotic” welder is used that automatically sets the correct temperature, applies the perfect pressure, and sets the best speed to perfectly weld the two membrane sheets together. For smaller areas, like rooftop units and curbs, a hand-held heat welding gun is used, along with a rubber roller. These smaller detail areas rely heavily on the craftsmanship of the roofing mechanic to achieve the correct temperature, pressure and speed required for a perfect weld. Benefits of a PVC Roof PVC Roofing systems have solid strengths. Some Benefits of a PVC Roof are: Drawbacks of a PVC Roof In the roofing industry, PVC roof systems are being overtaken by TPO, because TPO holds […]

TPO roofing is the go-to material for commercial roofers! What is TPO Roofing? TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) is a single-ply roofing membrane used on flat or low-sloped roof. It’s made of a blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber and is designed to be incredibly durable, energy-efficient, and easy for commercial roof installations too.  TPO roofing has quickly become one the most popular single-ply roofing membranes in the country due to its many positive properties, including recyclability, UV resistance, and affordability. At Chaffee industrial roofing, TPO roofing is the most common type of material we use for commercial roof installations and commercial roof replacements.  While TPO is certainly a dynamic solution, it is not the absolute best option for every commercial roofing application. We’ll discuss when you may want to consider TPO vs PVC roofing or other roof types further down the page.  If you’re considering a commercial roofing project in the near future, make sure you do as much research as possible, and be certain to talk to your trusted local commercial roofer, like Chaffee Industrial Roofing! Benefits of TPO Roofing Energy Efficient: TPO roofing is available in many different colors, depending on the manufacturer, although most of the TPO roof colors you will find are white and gray. Bright colored TPO roofs reflect the sun’s harmful UV rays, helping keep internal temperatures cool while preserving […]