Let’s review the most common categories of flat roof materials available for your home:
Single-layer membrane roofModified bitumen roofBuilt-up roof (BUR)
Single Layer Membrane Roof
The membrane roof is a newer roofing technology and is also the roof of choice in commercial construction. Known technically as elastomeric or plastomeric roof membrane (depending on the material), single-ply roofs come in a few different varieties including:
Neoprene (polychloroprene)EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)PVC (polyvinyl chloride)Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene sheetsPolymer-modified bitumens
Of all these membrane types EPDM synthetic rubber is the most common single-ply membrane roof material in both residential and commercial use. So all you need to be able to say to your roof contractor is you want an EPDM rubber roof. These roofs are installed as thin sheet materials 0.030 (30 mils) to 0.060 inches (60 mils) thick and are applied to the roof in a single layer. Being made of synthetic rubber or polymer, they are flexible and elastic and can handle temperature changes and some impact types better than built-up roofs. Membrane roofs are attached in a variety of ways. They can be partially loose laid and held down with river rock ballast (requires roof structure to support the weight) or fully adhered to the roof deck. EPDM and neoprene roof seams are fastened by adhesive and PVC roof seams are heat or solvent welded.
Modified Bitumen Roofing
Modified bitumen cap sheet roofing was developed in the 1960s as a replacement technology for BUR, or built-up roofing, by using the proven technology of BUR but also adding polymer reinforced roof wear layers or cap sheets. These roofs can be installed using any number of techniques which are determined by the project’s specific requirements and material specified. These installation methods include:
Hot appliedTorch appliedCold appliedSelf-adhered
The polymer used in the cap sheet provides improved elasticity and flexibility in lower temperatures. The most commonly used polymers are atactic polypropylene (APP) and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS). SBS imparts a rubber-like characteristic to the bitumen. SBS cap sheets are usually installed using cold adhesives or hot asphalt tar. Thermoplastic APP sheets, on the other hand, are installed using the torch applied method.
Built-Up Roofing
The grandfather of flat roofs is the built-up roof or BUR. Built-up roofs have solved the low pitch roof problem for ages, a challenge that asphalt shingles could never handle. Built-up roofs are installed using several layers of a special type of roofing felt that has been asphalt impregnated and embedded in bitumen applied with a hot mop. The hot-applied asphalt or coal tar pitch blends with the bitumen soaked roof felt and creates a monolithic roof membrane. The roof felt/asphalt tar layering is repeated in overlapping layers until the assembly is two to four plies in thickness. A wear surface of finely crushed stone granules is usually applied to the top layer of hot tar to protect the built-up roof assembly from UV light and weather.
