The Membrane Roof Explained in Simple Terms
If you have been looking into roofing systems lately then for sure you’ve heard of the membrane roof. So then what is that makes this particular type of roofing so special, and is it worth the extra cost? Also is the older style of built up asphalt, and gravel roofing obsolete?
What most people fail to realize, is that asphalt itself is not made specifically for roofing. Its merely the cheap end crud of the petroleum refining process, after everything of value has been extracted from crude oil. Its by convenience rather the design that it’s used in roofing.
Now combine that with the fact that roofing felt is made from recycled paper, and perhaps you can see why product engineers decided that there was room for improvement. You see, its no secret that standard asphalt roofs come apart in time, and they also degrade far too quickly.
You see, the seams on a standard built up asphalt roof aren’t fused. They’re essentially glued together with the asphalt that is just left over refinery goo. Now on the other hand, the secret to these newer roofing systems, is that the materials that are used to construct them are permanently “fused or bonded” together into a continuous sheet.
Now they produce a modified asphalt membrane roof that is known a “torch down roofing”, and in fact this is one of the easiest types of flat roofs to install. You can buy it in rolls locally at any roofing supply warehouse, and the asphalt in this type of material has elasticizing agents put back in it.
So you can’t help but notice that the tar in torch down roofing has a more tough and elastic feel to it because it’s made to form a far more permanent bond. Yet one more very clever aspect of this specially engineered type of roofing product, is that the asphalt comes already layered on the bottom of it. It’s simply heated with a flame.
Now there are of course several other types of membrane roof that are basically made from different types of plastics, including PVC, (polyvinyl chloride, and just like torch down, the seams are fused solid. With plastic though chemicals, or heat are used to bind the edges.
There is one glaring downside to this more advanced type of roofing system and that is that it comes at a higher cost when compared to the standard asphalt and gravel system. However; do keep in mind that they last longer, require far less maintenance and also as they age, and inevitably do begin to show wear, they’re far easier to repair.
Learn more about metal roofing. Stop by Sandi Feris’s site where you can find out all about metal roofing pros and cons and what it can do for you.
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