The Experts in Single Ply Roofing in Phoenix
We didn’t get our excellent Better Business Bureau rating by slacking off on the job. We are known and trusted in the Valley for single ply roofing maintenance, repairs, and installation services in Phoenix. We can be your roofing contractor for the life of your roof. Call today for a free estimate.
Do you have a low-sloping roof? Single-ply roofing is a great solution!
To enable for drainage, all roofs have a slight incline. Low-slope roofs, often known as “flat” roofs, have a slope of less than 3:12. Slopes are calculated by dividing the height of the roof (vertical) by the distance (horizontal) between its lowest and highest points. A 3:12 slope is a 3-inch climb over a 12-inch span.
There are a variety of low-slope roof systems to choose from, including:
- Membrane Systems for Built-up Roofs (BUR). Insulation board, perlite, inter-ply sheets, asphalt, and pea gravel ballast were used in various combinations to construct the structure.
- Bitumen Sheet Membrane Systems with Polymer Modifications. This material is built with reinforced bitumen membrane textiles wiped on with hot asphalt, heat welded, or torch-applied
- Systems based on spray polyurethane foam (SPF). Single-Ply Membrane Systems are constructed by spraying foam made up of heated and appropriately proportioned isocyanate and polyol. A single layer is applied to a roof structure or insulating board.
Now we’ll go through the characteristics, uses, benefits, and drawbacks of each type of single-ply roofing system.
Single-Ply Roofing System Types
Flexible sheets of thermoset or thermoplastic membranes are used in single-ply roofing systems. Both membranes have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Thermoplastics, for example, are extremely reusable since they may be melted several times, whereas thermosets cure to a solid form. In single-ply membrane systems, there are three primary kinds of compounds:
- EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) is a thermoset ethylene propylene diene terpolymer.
- PVC (polymerized vinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic material.
- TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is a thermoplastic EPDM material. Roofing
- EPDM is a synthetic rubber made up of two basic ingredients: ethylene and propylene (both produced from oil and natural gas). EPDM roofing membranes are available in huge black or white rolls with widths ranging from 7.5 to 50 feet (10 feet being the most popular) and thicknesses of 45, 60, and 75 percent.
Full adhesion, mechanical attachment, or ballasting followed by gluing or taping of the seams are all common installation methods. EPDM roofing is perfect for big commercial structures such as warehouses, office buildings, hotels, shopping malls, huge retail stores, schools, and universities since it is available in enormous rolls.
EPDM roofing systems provide the following benefits:
- Hail and abrasion resistance
- Longevity in the face of harsh weather
- In cold-weather areas, flexibility is essential.
- Resistance to UV radiation
- A flexible membrane makes installation easier, particularly at flashings and penetrations.
- Cost-effectiveness
EPDM roofing systems have a number of drawbacks, including:
- It absorbs more heat, increasing the danger of structural overheating in hot weather.
- Walking on it should be minimized or avoided since it punctures readily.
- In hot climates, it decreases in size.
Roofing Made of PVC
PVC is a thermoplastic synthetic polymer made up of polyvinyl chloride. It has a number of beneficial material qualities, including wind, moisture, fire, and chemical resistance. PVC roofing material is often sold in 50–100 foot length and 5–12 foot broad rolls. Full adhesion, mechanical fastening, or ballasting and seam welding procedures are used to install it.
A PVC roof system installation can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years. It is easier to install since the roofing material comes in smaller rolls than EPDM roofing systems. Because of this, this roofing system is also ideal for smaller commercial and residential projects.
The following are some of the benefits of PVC roofing systems:
- Extremely strong (up to 350 pounds per square inch breaking strength)
- Due to the use of welding instead of tapes or liquid adhesives, the seams are more durable.
- Superior moisture, wind, fire, and chemical resistance
- Adaptability (can be used for patios, decks, and balconies with added non-slip coating)
Reflective surface PVC roofing systems have the following disadvantages:
- Its material prices are more expensive.
- Due to significant air pollution, the reflectivity of the surface may deteriorate over time.
- A less flexible membrane can make installation more difficult, particularly near flashings and penetrations.
Roofing using a TPO Membrane
In the commercial roofing industry, TPO membrane roofing systems are quickly gaining favor. A single layer of synthetic thermoplastic mixed with reinforcing scrim creates a naturally reflecting surface that resists UV radiation penetration and wear in these systems. The roofing material comes in rolls with widths of 10, 12, or 20 feet and is fitted with heat-welded seams utilizing mechanical or adhesive connection.
The lifespan of a TPO membrane roofing system is between 7 and 20 years. TPO roofing systems and EPDM roofing systems have comparable roll sizes, therefore their uses overlap.
The following are some of the benefits of TPO roofing systems:
- Surface that reflects light (suitable for preventing UV radiation wear or exposure)
- High tensile strength (3–4 times that of EPDM, but not nearly as strong as PVC)
- Longevity (due to welded seams)
- Wind resistance is exceptional.
- Material with a low cost
TPO roofing systems have a number of drawbacks, including:
- A less flexible membrane, like PVC, can make installation more difficult, especially around flashings and around penetrations.
- It only lives for a brief time.