Residential Vs Commercial Flat Roof - Tuflite Polymers

Both commercial and residential flat roofing belong to the low slope roofing category, but they both are very different from each other.

Design

Commercial flat roofing is entirely flat with slight pitches for draining water. Flat roofs in such applications are required for routine inspections and maintenance. Residential flat roofing on the other hand can be experimented with different designs. There are no rules here as they can carry the structural weight.

Size

Commercial roofing has a wider space as compared to residential roofs, because of the functionality it has to offer. Commercial flat roofs need to be highly functional and practical, which is why size matters more than the appearance here. They don’t have to appear extravagant or elaborated; instead they need to be able to follow the minimum structural requirements required. On the other hand, residential roofing could be sized as per the owner’s preference. It doesn’t need to be wide enough for other heavy equipment. It should just be proportional to the area of the house.

Materials

The roofs vary a lot in cost, performance, qualities, and longevity based on the materials they are made of.

Metal – This is a lightweight material that is very easy to install. It also comes in a wide range of colors to suit your design preferences. However, one drawback here is that it is comparatively expensive. The metal category could include a variety of materials like steel, aluminum, zinc, tin, and copper. All these metals can generally last up to 50 years, and are known to be fire-resistant. Due to all these reasons, metal roofing sheets are preferred for both residential and commercial applications.

Built-up roofing – This material is made from tar and gravel stacked together one over another. This is one of the most affordable options, making it highly preferred in the commercial applications. This material is also very superior in strength, and can last for anywhere between 25-40 long years.

Bitumen – This roofing system is made from asphalt, fiberglass, and other synthetic polyester materials. It has amazing waterproofing and insulating capabilities. It is also tear-resistant, and can withstand heavy foot traffic. But, in spite of these qualities, it is a very cheap roofing system that can last for 20-30 long years.

EPDM – The cheapest option, EPDM is an effective waterproofing providing commercial roofing material. It is also very lightweight and flexible, meaning being easy to use and install. However, it is available in only a limited color selection like black and white.

Polycarbonate – Polycarbonate is the latest material used for both residential and commercial applications, where transparency or semi-transparency is required. Available in a wide range of color and texture options, polycarbonate can be used to match or strikingly contrast the rest of the building. It is a flexible, lightweight, extremely durable material that is resistant to breakage, fire, impact, corrosion, and solvents. Thus, it is the perfect material that you can use for almost any kind of roofing application. You can get the best quality polycarbonate roofing sheets at Tuflite Polymers, where you can choose from a wide range of colors, textures, and types.

ETFE – The Perfect Choice For An Enclosed Structure That Grows Grass

Have you ever been to a stadium? Have you noticed the grass and the coverings? Or, at least you may have seen stadiums in the television. You may think that the grass is actually artificial or is turf. However, this is not the case with every stadium. There are some stadiums that have artificial grass, and then there are others who grow real grass. And, to protect this grass from the outdoor environment against excess heat during summers, excess cold during winters, heavy rainfall during monsoons, and strong storms during autumn, it is advisable to have an appropriate covering for the stadium. One of the best materials one can use for this purpose is ETFE foil.

Why Should You Choose ETFE Coated Solar Panels?

Solar power, which is the conversion of energy from sunlight to electricity by using photovoltaics, has made major strides over the last few years, and has established itself as a major player in the power industry. Photovoltaic solar panels are used to absorb sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity. The modules present within the panels use light energy from the sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. The modules generally use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film cells that are connected electrically in series.

However, the choice of material that will coat the photovoltaic cells is one of the most important aspects while choosing or constructing a solar panel. Lately, ETFE foil has been adopted as an additional outer protective layer for such panels. This is a fluoropolymer that can withstand high levels of thermal stress and chemical aggression. Moreover, ETFE shows a 95% UV permeability, making it an excellent polymer for this field of application! In addition, ETFE is also a very intelligent material in terms of its chemical properties. This is because it is a self-cleaning material that doesn’t let dust and grime stay on its surface. It washes it away during rainfall, thus staying protected, and maintaining its transparency for its entire lifetime of more than 2 decades! Furthermore, ETFE is also 100% recyclable, meaning it benefits even after its life. Also, it doesn’t require any chemical solvents or petroleum products, thus also being environment-friendly. Because of all these reasons, ETFE is recommended for usage in particularly hot and dry environments and climates, which makes it an ideal choice for solar panels.

Why Has ETFE Proven To Be The Next Popular Construction Material?

ETFE is the new product on the market that is gaining attention. It is available in two forms – ETFE sheets and ETFE cushions. These cushions could be made up of two, three, or four separate layers of foil, with the spaces in between inflated with air. This provides strength along with insulation. These sheets are available as completely transparent structures, bringing in virtually all the sunlight. However, they can also be printed, or provided with white sections to reduce the amount of incoming light. Using various printing techniques, the light coming in within the roof can be controlled. Alternatively, individual layers can be printed differently with contrasting techniques and patterns, enabling the throughput of light to be regulated by altering the distance between the layers, with varying pressure in different air chambers.

Types Of Transparent Roofing Materials – Pros And Cons

While we always see bricks, stones, metal, and tiles forming most of the roofing sector for all kinds of commercial and residential structures, there is also a requirement of transparent roofs. While structures like greenhouses and conservatories always require transparent roofs, there is a trend of building many other structures with transparent roofing materials too. These include stadiums, railway stations, airports, car ports, patios, awnings, and many more. The four most common materials used to construct such transparent roofs include glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, and ETFE foil.

Considerations To Make For Painting Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a diverse material that is used for various applications in the construction industry, agricultural industry, security industry, automobile industry, and many others. While polycarbonate roofing sheets are available in a variety of standard shades of colours, there could be a possibility when you would want to paint your polycarbonate another colour. So, is that possible? Oh yes! But wait, there are certain limitations you need to know and considerations you need to make while planning to paint your polycarbonate. Here is all that you need to know.

Why Should You Use Polymer Roofing?

Polymers are elements made up of molecules strung together to form really long chains. Some polymers are natural, while others are man-made. Some examples of polymers include nylon, polyethylene, polyester, rubber, and plastic. Polymers are used in a variety of applications, with one of the modern application today being roofing. Most polymer roofings are made by melting down recycled plastics, thus keeping all waste materials out of landfills and oceans; resulting in an eco-friendly environment.

Should You Repair Or Replace Your Roof?

We generally don't pay enough attention to our roof till it starts to crack, chip, and break. We are always worried about our walls and flooring, but we forget that it is our roofs that are highly exposed to outdoor environments like rain, wind, storm, UV rays, and snow. Eventually with time, these environmental factors tend to weaken the roof, thus causing havoc. As soon as you see any kind of leaks or cracks, you must make it a point to take instant steps towards resolving it. You may either repair your roof or replace it entirely. But, how would you know which step to take? Let us help you. There are many things you need to consider before choosing between a roof repair and roof replacement, such as those mentioned below.

How Has ETFE Evolved Over The Years?

ETFE is going publically popular, and is being used to construct world famous structures like Beijing National Aquatics Center, Germany Allianz Arena, Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, Mexico Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Newport Railway Station, and many others. So, what is the reason behind such popularity?

Which Issues Must Be Addressed Before Installing ETFE

ETFE is one of the most magical construction materials made by man till date. With its tensile strength, durability, fluidity, ease of installation, energy saving capability, amazing light transmission competence, and cost-effectiveness, it becomes an ideal architectural choice. However, when something has so many benefits all encompassed into one, there is definitely a loophole somewhere. No! We are not saying that there is an issue with the material. But, you need to know that this amazing material needs to be used in a particular way to avoid any issues later on. There are certain limitations to use this material. Used in the wrong way for the wrong projects can make ETFE an extremely problematic architectural choice.

Fiberglass Or Polycarbonate – Which Roofing Sheets Should You Use?

With innumerous options available in constructional materials for all kinds of residential and commercial roofs, two of the most popular materials used today are fiberglass and polycarbonate. Now, when you are considering building a new structure or replacing the roof of your existing structure, you may be confused as to which material you should use. It is true that no material can have all the good points against another. But, you would definitely want to choose the one that has more benefits over the other; or the one that suits your particular requirements. So, how do you decide? This blog will let you know the aspects of both fiberglass and polycarbonate roofing sheets so that you can make an informed decision while buying your roof.

How Has ETFE Become So Popular In The Construction Industry

More and more transparent structures are being used in constructing all sorts of commercial and residential buildings today. Traditionally, glass was used, but newer materials have been coming up lately. But, one drawback that has been seen with such transparent materials is that they are delicate or breakable, which is why they lack load capacity. But, with the advent of ETFE, this issue is seen to be resolved.

How Has ETFE Proved To Be Successfully Used In Large Scale Projects?

Initially invented by DuPont in the 1930s as an insulation material for the aeronautics industry, and introduced by German engineer, Stefan Lehnert, in the 1980s as a building material, ETFE was not initially considered as a mainstream construction material. But, its remarkable properties have brought it the fame and popularity that it has achieved today.

What Are The Benefits Of Having An ETFE Roof?

ETFE (Ethylene Tetraflouroethylene) is a polymer that is popularly seen to be replacing plastic and other similar materials for creating roofing and other structures. Its tremendous and amazingly unique properties have led it to become one of the most sought after materials in the construction industry today, which is why we see a list of ETFE suppliers in India today. In fact, it is tagged as the most efficient roof material today, and will remain to be so in the future too. It is used across a wide range of industries like educational institutes, government buildings, hospitals, recreational structures, and many other commercial and industrial applications. Let us take a look at some of the best properties of ETFE that provide amazing benefits to its users.

What Makes Lightweight ETFE The Material Of The Future - Tuflite Polymers

ETFE is a polymer with high melting temperature, excellent radiation, and amazing resistance properties, which has made it the future in many industrial applications, especially the construction industry. This material began to be used as a covering for greenhouses, but its amazing properties led it to be adopted across the globe for various commercial and residential projects too! Today, it is seen to be present as a covering for stadiums, shopping centers, airports, theatre halls, sport halls, commercial buildings, and schools. In fact, ETFE has gained international approval of being a premium tensile material for high impact roofing construction design.

Where Can Twin Wall Polycarbonate Panels Be Used - Tuflite

Home improvements or a new home? Office renovation or a new office? Or are you planning to build up any other structure that requires transparent durable roofing? Twin wall polycarbonate panels are what you must choose to use. Why? Because there are number of benefits to using this material. These include ease of installation, high impact strength, high light transmission, temperature tolerance, light in weight, thermal insulation, fire resistance, non-toxic properties, and weathering resistance. These are only some of the qualities that you can have while working with twin wall polycarbonates. Moreover, you can easily get these panels from the many polycarbonate sheet manufacturers available. These properties and easy availability have led these materials to become highly popular in the construction industry to be used in a variety of structures like those mentioned below.

Why Should You Use ETFE Films For Covering Your Greenhouse?

Having a greenhouse with a controlled environment is the best you can give your plants. A greenhouse with a perfectly protected covering can keep your plants safe, growing, and flourishing in all environmental conditions and climates. However, this is possible only if you choose the right material for covering your structure. Your greenhouse material should be such that it lets in maximum sunlight within the structure for the plants to grow, while preventing the absorbed heat from leaving the surface. And, when the material can bring in maximum sunlight, while keeping away the harmful UV radiations, there can be nothing better! So, without any thought, you can rely on ETFE films for the purpose. These films are the perfect material that can help to maintain the overall equilibrium of the greenhouse. However, this is not the only property that makes ETFE films the best option. There are many other benefits that you can have with this material by installing it in your greenhouse. Let’s take a look.

Is Using ETFE Foils Eco-Friendly?

ETFE foils are high-performance roof building materials that can be used to construct semi-transparent, dramatic, and brilliantly illuminated roofs. This is why many architects all over the world use this material to make the most creative designs. Other than these design aspects, ETFE foils also offer environmental advantages. In fact, using these materials has helped builders in the U.S. achieve an LEED certification due to their energy efficiency and ability to provide outstanding light transmission. LEED stands for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design that is given by the U.S. Green Building Council, after rating buildings on environmental criteria like energy saving, reduction of emissions, indoor environmental quality, and water efficiency. Let us look at the various environmental friendly features that these foils provide, which have increased their popularity, resulting in the increasing number of ETFE suppliers in India.

All You Want To Know About ETFE Foil Cushions - Tuflite

ETFE foil roofs can be installed as a single layer supported by a cable net system, or as a series of cushions layered between 2 to 5 in number, supported in an aluminum perimeter extrusion, in turn supported by the main building frame. The ETFE cushions are kept continually pressurized by a small inflation unit, maintaining the pressure at 220 Pascal to give the foil structural stability and insulation. You can get the best-in-class ETFE cushions from Vector Foiltec under the brand name Texlon at Tuflite Polymers, their partners and the leading ETFE suppliers in India. Although these ETFE cushions are one of the most popularly used materials today, you need to know every possible information about this material before you plan to use it for your construction. Learn all aspects about this product – its qualities, practicalities, uses, benefits, etc. in the blog below.