The most common types of roofs are flat roofs and sloped
roofs. While sloped roofs don’t require much consideration, flat roofs do
because they have a level surface, which is why all kinds of elements need to
be considered like rainwater collection, damage from moisture, effect of direct
sunlight, maintenance, etc. A sloped roof mostly lets off all kinds of dirt and
water that falls over it, thus leaving very less room for worrying about
maintenance and cleanliness. So, let us look at the possible materials that you
can use while building a flat roof.
Built up roofs
These are the most traditional kinds of roofing systems.
Built up roofing consists of applying tar and gravel in molten form to create
several layers over the roof, creating a watertight seal to prevent leakage.
Thus, this kind of roofing doesn’t let you worry about moisture and water.
Also, this kind of roofing is very environment-friendly as it uses asphalt,
which is a bi-product of petrol, diesel, and heating oil. However, building
such a roof takes a lot of time because of the various layers that need to be
created, and because of the weight of the material that is being used, which
may require additional supporting structure. But, once built, the maintenance
required is very low, and the life span is quite huge. Thus, even though
appearing costly while construction, it proves to be cost-effective in the
longer run.
Felt
Felt is available in sheets and is affixed with a blow
torch, with approximately three layers per roof. These three layers incorporate
vapour control, reinforced felt, and cap sheet. Here, you can choose the colour
of the top layer as per your choice and requirement, to suit the entire
building’s appearance. Also, it is very simple to repair the felt sheet by just
torching a patch onto the damaged area. However, installing felt roofs requires
professionals to do the job.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is composed of strands of glass that combines to
form a single sheet. It is a very expensive roofing material, but is light and
strong, with a smooth and clean finish. It has a long life and requires very
low maintenance. But, the drawback here is that it can only be used on small
sized roofs, because using it on larger areas can make it weak due to expansion
and contraction. Here also, professional involvement is required.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a great alternative to glass. It is very
light in weight, and has an impact resistance of 200 times that of glass! Thus,
it is easy to handle and install, while being extremely sturdy. Moreover, it
can be installed as a DIY, without the need of any professional assistance. It
also doesn’t require any additional tools and machinery as it can be easily cut
with sharp-toothed scissors, and can be easily drilled without worrying about
any cracks or breaks. And, one exceptional quality here is that unlike glass,
it doesn’t let in the harmful UV radiations of the sun. Thus, it lets in
maximum of only safe levels of sunlight! Furthermore, polycarbonate is
available in a variety of types, textures, and colour to choose from. Tuflite
Polymers is one of the most reliable polycarbonatesheet manufacturers you can approach, where you can get the finest quality
polycarbonates, while choosing your own type and colour from the wide range
available.
EPDM
This is a kind of rubber roofing, which portrays amazing
water resistance capabilities. The material is resistant to both fresh water
and salt water, which is why it is used in all kinds of tubing, seals, and pond
liners. An added benefit is that this roof can be installed as one single whole
sheet, thus eliminating the concern for waterproofing the seams within the
roof. In addition, it is also environment-friendly as it is made of recycled
rubber. Moreover, it also maintains the temperature between weathers, with a
lifespan of around 30-50 years. But again, this requires the involvement of
professionals.
After learning about all the pros and cons of the possible
materials, choose the one that suits your requirements the best.
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