When planning a project needing a flat roof, it is essential to understand which material will be the best for your needs. There are numerous materials, so take a read before choosing your flat roofing material.
Felt
Felt is the conventional flat roofing material, continually developed and improved. Commonly, felt is available in sheets and is attached using a blow torch, with about three layers per roof consisting of a vapour control, enhanced sheet, and cap sheet. This means you can choose the colour of the upper layer, and it’s relatively simple to fix – torch the patch to a damaged area. Torch on roof felt is one of the cheapest options and great for various uses, but it would need a professional to install.
Built-Up Roofing
A common type of roofing materials for flat roofs is built-up roofing. It consists of applying tar and gravel and creating multiple layers forming a watertight barrier to stop leakage. However, building the top using this method takes a lot of time because many layers need to be made, and because of the weight of the materials used, it can often require additional support structures. The installation process is time-consuming and can be messy with an unpleasant smell.
EPDM
EPDM is a rubber form, and although there are alternatives, such as PVC, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer is the most used. A significant benefit of EPDM is that it’s water resistant to salt water and fresh water and is also used as a seal in pond liners, tubing, and more using UK Rubber Moulding. EPDM is suitable for low-sloping roofs. A significant advantage is that it can often be mounted as one whole sheet, allowing you to cover the entire roof and eliminating the need for a waterproofing seam. In addition, EPDM is environmentally friendly, as it consists of recycled rubber material, and it takes very little energy to manufacture. They also retain heat in cold weather, decreasing heating costs, and the thick rubber prevents heat in the summer. For details on UK Rubber Moulding processes, go to Meadex.
Liquid
A Liquid roof is a new alternative, especially suitable for when the roof is a more complicated structure. These coatings are directly applied to the roof deck, and the layers are then spread to create a seamless cover. Although potentially more expensive, it is much less labour intensive, so that it can reduce time and labour costs. Furthermore, it allows water vapour from inside the building to escape while being waterproof from the outside. It has the power of a high elasticity to allow the movement of natural roofs.
