Talking About Roofing Services

What Are Your Options In Flat Roofing Upgrades?

12 September 2016

Brittany Howard

If your home has a flat roof and you're either experiencing leak issues or your roof's just older and you want to be proactive against future problems, you have multiple choices. The option you choose will likely be influenced by the amount of money that you wish to pay and how long you intend to stay in your house.

You can also think green and consider options that are friendly to the environment, no matter which option you choose.

The traditional flat roof upgrade

Your flat roof is likely to be covered by layers of roofing paper and tar. This has been the traditional method for sealing flat roofs. A layer of roofing paper is placed on the roof and covered in hot tar spread by mops. You can see roofers pulling the tar heaters behind their trucks during warm weather and hauling buckets of hot tar to roofs to be applied in haste while it is hot and easier to spread.

If you choose this tried and true option, you can also opt for a reflective coating, rather than settling for a traditional black roof. Flat black roofs absorb heat from the sun, while reflective coatings, which are lighter in color, repel the sun's rays.

Reflective coatings save on cooling costs for the homeowner and help to keep the whole neighborhood a little cooler. This is especially important in urban areas with many flat black roofs and black asphalt roads that attract the sun's rays in unison, creating a "heat island" effect that raises the overall temperature of the area.

Give your roof a raincoat with a rubber roof

You can choose to have a rubber membrane installed over your existing roof. However, there are different methods used to install rubber roofs.

1. You can use a torch to heat sections of rubber sheets to essentially melt the ends together to form a waterproof seal. This has been the traditional method of installing a rubber roof.
2. You can now buy sections of rubber sheeting and overlap them, then seal the laps with a special adhesive that is designed for that purpose.
3. You can now choose to install rubber roofing that is already coated with adhesive. All you need to do is peel off the backing paper that covers the adhesive side of the rubber sheeting and press it against the surface of the roof. You can even buy it in rolls that will cover your entire roof in one seamless piece.

Add a living roof 

Once you have a rubber membrane installed, you can also opt to have soil and plants added to your roof. A living roof will serve as an extra layer of insulation for your home, keeping the cool and warm air inside while keeping the hot and cold air out.

Soil and plant life will also filter rainwater as it leaves your roof, which helps to protect local waterways from pollution from runoff of chemicals and other pollutants. In addition, a living roof will help to control the flow of heavy runoff and its effect on the foundation of your home.

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