4 STRATEGIES ROOFERS USE TO ENSURE FLAT ROOF RELIABILITY DURING INSTALLATION
This blog post highlights the advantages and installation process of flat roofs for business owners seeking an affordable and durable roofing solution that makes a statement with their building. The article outlines four critical strategies used by roofers during installation to ensure the reliability and longevity of flat roofs.
A flat roof can be a great option for business owners who want an affordable, durable roofing solution. These roof designs are quite popular for modern businesses that want to make a statement with their building.
However, there’s a lot of work that goes into the installation phase of a flat roof so that the roof remains reliable for many years. This blog post describes, in detail, the four critical strategies roofers use during installation to ensure a flat roof’s reliability and durability in the long term.
1. PRE-INSTALLATION PLANNING
Before any installation work begins, roofers must thoroughly plan the project. This process takes into account the building’s size, shape, and roof material type to determine what flat roof size, angle, and pitch would work best.
Since the roof is meant to be flat in design, the roofer has to pick the right pitch to create a balance between visual appeal and water drainage. A common problem with flat roofs is standing water, so your roofer must get this angle just right. This way, rainwater will drain off the roof properly so that runoff water doesn’t pool and cause damage.
In addition, roofers must also plan out the roof layout to adequately support any weight load on top. This step is particularly important for large commercial buildings with heavy HVAC units or other machinery on the roof. The layout design should work to evenly distribute this added weight load.
2. SUBSTRATE LAYOUT
Once the plan is in place, roofers need to lay out a proper substrate for the flat roof. This process typically includes a plywood or OSB board cut to fit the roof’s exact measurements. The measurements have to coincide with the design outline to fit the floor plan and the roof’s design.
The substrate is often firmly attached to the building’s framework to provide a stable base for any underlying roof layers. Your roofer then secures the boards with nails and screws so they don’t move during the final stages of installation.
In some cases, roofers use concrete to create a solid substrate for the roof. This strategy benefits large commercial buildings that may require extra support because of their size and weight load.
3. INSULATION AND VAPOR BARRIER INSTALLATION
Once the substrate is ready, roofers need to add insulation and a vapor barrier. Insulation helps ensure the roof stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter, which can help reduce energy costs throughout the year. Your roof will also require a vapor barrier so moisture doesn’t enter the roof. A roofing expert will typically install this barrier between the substrate and the roofing materials to keep water out.
Waterproofing membranes are another essential layer in flat roof construction. These membranes are a fail-safe mechanism to ensure that standing water doesn’t seep into the building. The membranes are typically made of PVC or EPDM, materials that can easily provide an extra layer of protection against water damage.
4. FLASHING AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM INSTALLATION
Next, roofers must install metal flashing around any penetrations like pipes, vents, and skylights. This step is more labor-intensive since the roofing expert has to cut and form the flashing to fit the exact shape of each penetration.
The flashing material helps direct water away from the penetration points and effectively prevents water intrusion. This way, the flat roof is sure to remain watertight and reliable for many years.
You should also incorporate the drainage system into the design early on to ensure that water drains off the roof quickly and doesn’t pool in any vulnerable areas. Your roofer can implement a good drainage system with gutters or drains placed strategically around the building. The drains have a direct line of access to the roof surface to ensure quick runoff.
With these steps, a properly installed flat roof becomes an affordable, long-lasting solution for business owners who want an attractive and reliable roofing system. But the work needs special attention to detail to guarantee long-term reliability. So make sure to hire an experienced and certified roofer like Commercial Solutions, Inc., to ensure a proper flat roof installation job.