Roofs are one of the most character portraying features of a physical structure. Be it a historical or an architectural building, or an antique or a modern house; a roof is the first attention-seeking element. The size and orientation of the roof, coupled with the roof pitch and the material of the roof are the distinct characteristics causing the passerbys and the neighbors to pause in awe.
Various kinds of roofing system can be installed, depending upon the settings and the need. Some of the options are as follows:
Built-Up Roofs
Built-up roofs are the most conventional type of roofing system in use for more than 150 years, throughout the globe. This type of roofs constitutes alternating layers of supporting fabric and asphalt with a top layer of combined material such as stone and gravel. The built-up roof system has a lifespan ranging from 15 to 30 years. These roofs provide ultra-violet protection along with brilliant waterproofing. Due to the aggregate top layer of gravel, the ceilings are also fire resistant. Although there is very little maintenance involved, the installation costs are very high. The process is quite tedious, which hampers the preferability of people to go for built-up roofs.
Single Ply Roofs
Single-ply roofing systems involve only one layer, most preferably an elastic material such as plastic. Single-ply roofs are inexpensive, and are very lightweight, because of which people generally use them for re-covering.
The two types of single-ply roofs are:
Single Ply Roofs with Thermoset Membranes
This type is also called as rubber roofing as it comprises of rubber-based thermoset membranes. The most general type of thermoset membrane is ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) membrane. Single-ply roofs with thermoset membranes have a high rate of durability. The seams of these roofs are usually sealed using adhesives.
Single Ply Roofs with Thermoplastic Membranes
Different membranes such as thermoplastic polyolefin and polyvinyl chloride are utilized which fetches a life expectancy of a minimum of 10 years. The seams of these roofs are welded with the help of a solvent or exposure to heat.
Modified Bitumen Roofs
Modified bitumen roofing systems are one of the long-lasting roofing alternatives, especially for flat roofs. Modified bitumen roofs offer a higher advantage than the built-up roofs as they are resistant to change in climate, lasting up to 20 years. Bitumen roofs have high tensile strength. A lot of renowned companies provide reliable Eden Prairie Roofing service including roof repairs, roof replacement and commercial as well as residential roof installation.
Metal Roofs
Since metal does not break down easily and does not decompose, this is a crucial criterion that pushes people to choose metal roofs for their houses. Metal roofs have a guaranteed lifespan of almost 50 years. The sole factor hampering its choice is the probability of leaks caused in due time, which can lead to increased maintenance and thus a high requirement of capital.
According to a study, on an average, roofs last only for an approximate of half of their intended lifetime. Therefore, it is mandatory to do proper and timely maintenance. The type of roof to be chosen will depend on the type of mechanical structure. Nevertheless, a good roof should fulfill its primary purpose of providing the proper coverage.
