Traditionally, the view of flat roofs has always been that they are more trouble, and more leak-prone than their pitched cousins. However, much of this reputation comes down to poor initial installation and poor maintenance. There is no reason that a flat roof professionally installed by a Cheltenham roofing company and correctly maintained by its owner should not give as long a life as any other type. Here we look at three types of flat roofs and their benefits.
1. Felted flat roof.
This is the traditional method, involving rolls of roofing felt covered with thick, sticky black Bitumen. The roofing felt, usually made of glass fibre or a polymer compound, comes in rolls and is laid on the prepared roof. It is covered with Bitumen, which comes in blocks and is heated to the correct temperature before coating the roof. Bitumen has been around for a long time and is well known for its waterproof qualities. This type of roof is cost-effective, and provided that the materials are of good quality, it should, as many Cheltenham roofing projects have shown, give a long waterproof service life.
2. EPDM roofing.
The advantage of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer roofing is that it is fitted without a join. This makes it an ideal choice for large roofs where exposure to sun and shade can mean expansion and contraction problems. EPDM is a rubber compound that, as well as being tear-resistant, gives good insulation. The roof is finished with a specially bonded trim and you can expect a lifespan of up to 50 years. This type of roof requires less maintenance than traditional methods and provides a clean-looking finish. Its resistance to root penetration also makes it an ideal base for a green roof as explained here
3. CURE-IT GRP Roofing.
This is a Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) roofing system. A tongue and groove laminate is applied to a prepared top deck, and a special topcoat is applied thereafter. As with EPDM roofing, this is a no-heat roofing system. The top coat comes in a range of finishes and colours. The complex nature of this system means it should only be fitted by Cheltenham roofing experts or those elsewhere.
These are the three main types of flat roofs and as we can see, each has its merits. A roofing professional should be able to advise as to which suits an individual project’s needs.
