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Flat roof material

wadswob's picture

Flat roof material (post #157780)

wadswob on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 20:13
in

Anyone have input on the best material to use on a flat roof? I am working on a new house that will have a 3/12 metal roof over half of it and a flat (1/4 in/ft) roof over the other half (about 500 sq ft). We are interested in getting the house "green certified" and I am interested in what people consider the best material to use both from a waterproofing standpoint and a green standpoint. PVC and EPDM are the two materials that have been suggested.

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(post #157780, reply #1 of 14)

by Hiker in reply to wadswob [original] on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 20:56

From a green perspective, PVC and EPDM are out.  TPO is all the rage-required for commercial roof systems here in Austin. 


You may want to consider self adhering modified bitumen with energy star ratings for reflective granules. 


Bruce

(post #157780, reply #3 of 14)

by Piffin in reply to Anonymous [original] on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 22:31

curious why you'd think a 10 year mod bit roof is more 'green' than a forty year EPDM roof.

 

 


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(post #157780, reply #6 of 14)

by Hiker in reply to Anonymous [original] on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 00:57

I don't but the powers that be  (Green rating systems and building code locally-being well discussed in another thread that I will not get involved) view black flat roof systems negatively. 


I personally love epdm, but in a recent visit to my ABC supply, they are no longer stocking large rolls of epdm.  They are keeping a little on hand for repairs, but big roofs are all going to white TPO. 


I did not know that they made white EPDM.  I am trying to get certified for TPO installations, but the manufacturers will not certify any more contractors in the Austin area.  Frankly I do not care as I can still buy all the materials and have welded acres of HDPE liner systems for landfills using identical equipment (some of which I still possess). 


The reflective granules qualify as Energy star-thus making them "Green" 


It seems to me most green stuff does not consider quality of installation or longevity of product when giving the green stamp-rather focuses on "the niceness of the initial product" and that is about it.  Darn I got sucked into that discussion-a little bit of green cyncism on my behalf.


Bruce

(post #157780, reply #7 of 14)

by Piffin in reply to Anonymous [original] on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 01:03

Just as 'organic' health food finally had to have an objective standard of definition, I think 'green' is sorely lacking and a consumer rip-off in most things.

 

 


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Have to agree and yes EPDM (post #157780, reply #8 of 14)

by MFournier in reply to Anonymous [original] on Tue, 01/05/2010 - 20:36

Have to agree and yes EPDM does come in white surface.
I do not know about Green or not but EPDM is a great long lasting flat roof and I have even seen EPDM used under a live roof one that grows plants on top (like a sod roof) and you can't get any greener then a roof that actually reduces greenhouse gasses by being covered with plants that absorb CO2 and put off oxygen

http://www.liveroof.com/?parent=System_Specifications&page=system_specif...

Modules to be placed directly upon heavy duty (HDPE, Polypropylene, TPO, EPDM or recyclable PVC) slip sheet/root barrier of 40-60 mil.

http://www.liveroof.com/?parent=Green_Roof_Basics&page=liveroof_and_leed...

Can't get much greener then a roof covered with plants

(post #157780, reply #2 of 14)

by Piffin in reply to wadswob [original] on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 22:31

White EPDM

Knowing your climate location would be helpful.

 

 


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(post #157780, reply #4 of 14)

by wadswob in reply to Anonymous [original] on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 22:44

I am in Seattle...it rains alot but is seldom below freezing. I am nervous about having a flat roof at all, but several architects have assured me that if done correctly, it will not be a problem.

(post #157780, reply #5 of 14)

by Piffin in reply to Anonymous [original] on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 23:04

They are correct.

Mistakes in shingled roofs often don't show up for years, but any mistake in a flat roof shows itself pretty quickly, so they get folks scared, but a good installer with a good rep is the key.

 

 


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 where ...
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Hey, Happy New Year piffin. (post #157780, reply #11 of 14)

by Mongo in reply to Anonymous [original] on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 18:45

Hey, Happy New Year piffin.

Any chance you can get rid of one of your two signatures? At least I view your posts as having two "Taunton University...Excellence is its own reward" tag lines with a lot of spacing between.

All that vertical makes for a lot of scrolling to get through a thread.

Best, Mongo

There are 10 kinds of people in this world; those who understand binary and those who do not.

Your guess is as good as (post #157780, reply #12 of 14)

by Piffin in reply to Mongo [original] on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 20:39

Your guess is as good as mine. Just one more thing they screwed up when they dumped the Mzinga hosting for this drupal crap.

All the old threads from before the change have my old sig line encapsulated within the rest of the post and for some stupid reason, they add my new sig line whether I have been active or not in a thread since the change. I guess they just like my new sig line.

Have you noticed how bad the thread reads now with all the posts out of order now?

 

 


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"several architects have (post #157780, reply #9 of 14)

by edwardh1 in reply to Anonymous [original] on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 18:32

"several architects have assured me that if done correctly"

That slike saying if the wood siding is carefully inspected for cracks and painted on 6 sides, twice it might hold up (versus hardie plank.
Architects love flat roofs. I think they suzz. dont fight mother nature

edward, you ever use concrete (post #157780, reply #13 of 14)

by Piffin in reply to edwardh1 [original] on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 20:41

edward, you ever use concrete for a foundation?

works better when done correctly, doesn't it?

 

 


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Shouldn't fret about 'flat' (post #157780, reply #14 of 14)

by Clewless1 in reply to Anonymous [original] on Sat, 03/27/2010 - 09:07

Shouldn't fret about 'flat' roofs ... you are surrounded by millions of sqft of flat roofs in your neck of the woods. They do fine. Assuming of course they are installed fine ... which is the case for just about anything isn't it?

Maintenance can be key .... make sure it can always drain and that debris doesn't inhibit drainage ... which can be the death of any roof.

I guess I don't buy the 'reflective granules' roll roofing thingy that one of the posters mentioned as being 'green'.

You shouldn't have to really concern yourself with reflectivity issues ... since you don't have sunshine, reflectivity is moot!!  ;)

There ain't NO free lunch. Not no how, not no where!

I highly recommend EDPM. (post #157780, reply #10 of 14)

by Mongo in reply to wadswob [original] on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 18:42

I highly recommend EDPM.

Never used the white, just black. Always have bought from Conservation Resource Technology in Baltimore. Good guys, reasonable shipping.

There are 10 kinds of people in this world; those who understand binary and those who do not.