Flat Roofs
Flat roofs aren't really flat. Well, they're mostly flat, but they do have a pitch of up to 10 degrees. It's necessary for a roof to have at least a little bit of a pitch, in order to allow water runoff in rainy and snowy conditions. Flat roofs have a very long history, dating back to ancient times when people often used rooftops as part of a home's living space. Flat roofs typically are chosen over sloped roofs in order to blend with landscapes. Flat roofs are a favorite in Newport Beach because they give a building a Mediterranean look. They are a very popular option for homes and commercial buildings in arid portions of the world, where rain and snow are not a great consideration. That's just one of the reasons commercial roofing contractors often choose flat roofs for commercial buildings in Orange County. Just like pitched roofs, there are pros and cons to flat roofs, and the reasons for a commercial roofer installing a flat roof on a commercial building often depend largely on climate. There also several different types of flat roofs, and each type has advantages and disadvantages that need to be taken into consideration when choosing roof style and materials.
Types of flat roofs
There are three major types of flat roofs used in today's commercial roofing market. These include built-up roof, rubber, and modified bitumen.
Built-up roof
The built-up roof, or BUR, is the conventional flat roof made of gravel and hot tar. These have a very long history, and have been the most utilized type of flat roof practically since roofs were invented. A BUR is constructed from alternating layers of waterproof roofing material and hot tar with a layer of gravel. BUR roofs are the most cost effective flat roof there is, making them a more viable option for both residential and commercial buildings than more expensive materials. They are also fire retardant, which makes them one of the most popular types of roof. Additionally, flat roofs are good for restaurants that want an added level of seating on the roof.
Rubber roof
A rubber roof, or rubber membrane roof, is made from a man-made material that resembles an inner tube. This is called ethylene propylene diene monomer, or EPDM, which is produced as a single sheet of rubber membrane. Because rubber roofs are resistant to extreme climate changes, they are durable and require little maintenance. Today's rubber roofs are often made from recycled material, making them one of the most energy efficient types of roof and roofing material available in the modern roofing industry. They are easy to install and resistant to tearing. They cost a little more than BURs, especially if a lighter color is used (as black absorbs heat), but they are a very popular type of flat roof regardless.
Modified bitumen roof
Modified bitumen is an asphalt roofing. Modified bitumen roofs are typically made of polyester or fiberglass that is added to asphalt in order to make the roof stronger. Modified bitumen roofing does not have nearly as long a history as some other types of flat roofs. It was developed back in the 1970s as an answer to the fact that crude oil was being used to make a myriad of different products, and this heightened usage resulted in products with poor quality. Subsequently, modified bitumen was created in order to improve asphalt's performance properties by adding plastic or rubber that was bonded to fabrics made from polyester or fiberglass materials. Modified bitumen roof shingles are easy to install, especially for residential properties where homeowners wish to install themselves. Modified bitumen has a light-colored surface that is heat and light reflective, sufficiently lowering energy bills. Some applications of modified bitumen roofs, however, are not very fire retardant.
Flat roofs have quite a few benefits, making them a very popular choice, especially in areas where the climate is warm and dry. Flat roofs are easy to design compared to steep-sloped roofs. Additionally, most flat roofing can be installed much more easily than sloped roofing materials, which makes them a favorite with DIY homeowners. Flat roofs are also very cost effective, as their materials often cost less than materials for other types of roofs. They also absorb more natural heat from the sun, and that means they send more heat down into their buildings below. Finally, flat roofs are quite energy efficient because they have less height (sending less heat to the ceiling away from rooms), making them a favorite among commercial roofing contractors in Newport Beach, especially considering California's stricter regulations.
Types of flat roofs
There are three major types of flat roofs used in today's commercial roofing market. These include built-up roof, rubber, and modified bitumen.
Built-up roof
The built-up roof, or BUR, is the conventional flat roof made of gravel and hot tar. These have a very long history, and have been the most utilized type of flat roof practically since roofs were invented. A BUR is constructed from alternating layers of waterproof roofing material and hot tar with a layer of gravel. BUR roofs are the most cost effective flat roof there is, making them a more viable option for both residential and commercial buildings than more expensive materials. They are also fire retardant, which makes them one of the most popular types of roof. Additionally, flat roofs are good for restaurants that want an added level of seating on the roof.
Rubber roof
A rubber roof, or rubber membrane roof, is made from a man-made material that resembles an inner tube. This is called ethylene propylene diene monomer, or EPDM, which is produced as a single sheet of rubber membrane. Because rubber roofs are resistant to extreme climate changes, they are durable and require little maintenance. Today's rubber roofs are often made from recycled material, making them one of the most energy efficient types of roof and roofing material available in the modern roofing industry. They are easy to install and resistant to tearing. They cost a little more than BURs, especially if a lighter color is used (as black absorbs heat), but they are a very popular type of flat roof regardless.
Modified bitumen roof
Modified bitumen is an asphalt roofing. Modified bitumen roofs are typically made of polyester or fiberglass that is added to asphalt in order to make the roof stronger. Modified bitumen roofing does not have nearly as long a history as some other types of flat roofs. It was developed back in the 1970s as an answer to the fact that crude oil was being used to make a myriad of different products, and this heightened usage resulted in products with poor quality. Subsequently, modified bitumen was created in order to improve asphalt's performance properties by adding plastic or rubber that was bonded to fabrics made from polyester or fiberglass materials. Modified bitumen roof shingles are easy to install, especially for residential properties where homeowners wish to install themselves. Modified bitumen has a light-colored surface that is heat and light reflective, sufficiently lowering energy bills. Some applications of modified bitumen roofs, however, are not very fire retardant.
Flat roofs have quite a few benefits, making them a very popular choice, especially in areas where the climate is warm and dry. Flat roofs are easy to design compared to steep-sloped roofs. Additionally, most flat roofing can be installed much more easily than sloped roofing materials, which makes them a favorite with DIY homeowners. Flat roofs are also very cost effective, as their materials often cost less than materials for other types of roofs. They also absorb more natural heat from the sun, and that means they send more heat down into their buildings below. Finally, flat roofs are quite energy efficient because they have less height (sending less heat to the ceiling away from rooms), making them a favorite among commercial roofing contractors in Newport Beach, especially considering California's stricter regulations.