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The Benefits of Metal Roofing
The 7 Benefits of Membrane Roofs
Apr 11, 2017
Membrane roofing systems are used for completely flat or slightly sloped roofs to block leaks and control the channel of water from heavy rainfall and the like. Their use is becoming increasingly widespread among homes but they are already structurally predominant among commercial buildings. Their waterproof and insulation properties come from their molecular structure whether they’re made up of refined bitumen, synthetic rubber, or a thermoplastic membrane (such as PVC).
What does that mean for you? If your home has a flat roof and it rains regularly or constantly in your region, a membrane application will divert water from your roof and keep it usable year-round. Flat roofs with no membrane protection are disastrous for a home and highly susceptible to structural damages from the top-down.
If you’re thinking of raising the slope of your house to support a roof made up of shingles, think again. Unless you’re applying shingles that are seamless, the time and effort you spend building the new roof will be for nothing in the face of water penetration. Not only would rainfall and high moisture concentration find its way through your ceiling, but the leak(s) will be tremendously hard to locate with all those shingles in the way, and you’re going to have to remove them before you can fix the issue.
With a membrane roofing system, any roofing issue will be quick and easy to repair. Either stick with this kind of roof set-up or switch to shingles that are seamless.
The Benefits of Membrane Roofs
Right off the bat, the most obvious advantage of switching to membrane roofing is affordability. Consider that the cheapest shingle roofing material is $120 per 100-square-feet. Membrane roofing can cost as little as $80 per 100-square-feet, saving you thousands of dollars the more roof you have, not to mention maintenance and upkeep costs for the house’s life.
Take a look at the other ways membrane roofing benefit you in the long run:
- Easier and quicker to install (just a day) by you or by a professional.
- The material doesn’t break under pressure when stepped on unlike shingles.
- Prevents water penetration if your area gets rained on regularly.
- Does not interfere with the installation of solar panels.
- Requires very little maintenance.
- Easy, quick, and cheap to clean.
- Energy efficient.
The Kinds of Membrane Roofs
Thermoset – Referred to as synthetic rubber, thermoset roofs are mainly arranged rows of leveled synthetic rubber whose seams are joined together to extend to custom lengths.
Thermoplastic – Where synthetic rubber often has seams joined by a number of methods, a thermoplastic membrane uses heat or solvent fusion for a stronger and more weatherproof connection between all individual pieces.
Modified Bitumen is an excellent membrane that creates a protective smoothly finished layer for your flat roof. Despite the strength of its predecessors, thermoset and thermoplastic can still be subject to ripping from hard collisions while modified bitumen stays intact. This is due to the multi-ply layered application of modified bitumen involving a permanently sealed base layer and a ply-overlap before being rolled on by the bitumen, the product of which is an impenetrable surface.
Do you agree with our list? If you want a membrane roofing material to transform your home’s insulation and conservation of energy during any climate, get a free quote from the best contractors in your area.
