IB roofing is best. there is nothing like walking in front of the robot and kicking the roof . HAHHA

 

I have always been interested in IB Roofing but they apparently have no presence in our area. Even when I stop by their booth at trade shows and get contact names...never get a call back lol.

They might be the ONLY heat welded system that I have not installed....their loss!

 

I've had the exact same problem and they do have distrobution in my area. I contacted them first since I have heard such good things about them, but never got a response so went to Genflex who then ceased PVC when firestone bought them, so now onto Versico. for the record I haven't done any PVC yet but I see that as the natural progression from TPO once we can get more practice and increase our production, we're too slow.

 

I was on a 22 year old .045 EPDM Firestone roof today. Glued seams and all. Looks fantastic. It belongs to an old roofer that retired a couple of years ago. These guys did top-notch work. He still swears by BUR.

Best thing about the whole story is this guy has hired me to put on a metal standing seam roof on the mansard. Its 10 sq. straight run with one hip. I priced it at 9K. He hired me on the spot without taking any other bids. I had never met the guy before, but he said he has heard about me and didn't want anybody else on his roof. My head grew ten sizes bigger immediatly. This old-timer is twice my age and I have never had such a compliment.

 

You've stuck gold Outlaw - Im sure I don't need to tell you, but treat that job like your doing your mom's roof.

 

Assuming the deck is rated appropriately, the best roofing system on earth is a 5-ply ballasted coal tar pitch roof. A close second would be a base + 4-ply type VI BUR w/ ballast. The problem is since the 80's when modifieds started hitting the market and the progression into single ply, there are very few 'old school' roofers that have the ability to install these systems. The BUR system takes more equipment, space, time, and causes much more distruption to the tenant, but worth it if conditions allow.

We have used primarily modified bitumens and TPO the past few years. The majority of TPO we have installed is Versico. My problems are they are very susceptible to hail impact (job security?). We also do a ton of metal roof restorations, and I too am looking for the perfect system.

 

My favorite flat rooting system is single ply roofs with PVC.

 

What brands do you install in Florida and for how many years so far?

I would suspect FiberTite in your area.

Ed

 

3#foam and a polyurea barrier!!!!! You cant beat it!!@!!!!

 

I think there is only one thing in which we like our roof and that is no leakage and strong roof that protect us from strong weather and hot sunshine and these season did not do any thing of your roof.

 

Altough I agree with most of you, I still like torch down single ply. Incase you didn't know this, many of the companies that Ed has a preference to have been involved in MANY class action suits due to material failure. What do these companies do? They file chapter 11 and continue with a new name and a new "formula". I am currently bidding a Trocal roof that has failed at all the flashing details, (I'm adding pics.). When I attempted to help the owner with warranty issues I was told, "wait in line".
I have been doing torch for 20 years and have never had a material failure. A few install issues, but not material. YES, PVC and TPO are wonderfull to work with. But when you are running 35 guys with welders, who has time to, "pick" all their seams. With torch I can simply do my final walk visually and pick up install issues.
So call me old school, but after millions of dollars of torch decks with little or no problems for 20 years, I'll dance with who brought me here.

 

That's a improper use of unreinforced flashing, a roofer failure by the look of it. I hope my pipes don't do that. It looks like a simple repair none the less.

 

How old was this roof ?



RooferJim
www.jbennetteroofing.com

 

12 years

 

Thats strange, I thought they stoped making Trocal almost 20 years ago.
was it an unreinforced membrane ? interesting.

 

My personal choice is PVC.

 

I've done a lot of modified, standing seam and exposed fastened metal, some elastomeric coating (some with a guy named Aaron?) and one house with TPO. I hate the coating, junk is how I feel about. Freaking mess. I know of too many leaks for it to be a functional system (fortunately not on any I had anything to do with yet. Aaron's work really stinks.) Torch I dislike. Mess on the shoes and the fear of fire is ever present. TPO all the way! I'm sold and have complete faith in the product. The only good thing about having so many houses here with the coating on them is I know TPO will be on them shortly.

 

TPO is not as time tested as PVC membrane though. I know of a lot of PVC roofs holding well after twenty and even thirthy year service. EPDM Rubber roofs the same, although the laps and flashings will in many cases need to be redone with EPDM. With the taped seams now I think they will have less of a maintenence issue.

 

Thanks for the imput joe. But those are pics of the manufacture designed and fabricated flashing kits. You know the kind, mostly commercial roofs, you send them a set of prints and they send out your roof. You weld it together and BAM!, you got a new roof. Until BOOM! it starts to leak! And then noone wants to take responsibility.:blink:

 

Are you sure it was Trocal ? They have not been around for a while.

 

Yes, I could tell by the big, "Tro-Cal" stamp on the material.

 

Then it must be older than 12 years

 

Still, IMO if it's just a few curbs (or other small details) it only needs a repair that may take only a few hours. If it was the field then it needs a whole new roof. If you can sell it by all mean sell it. I see one ply modified as a down grade from PVC/TPO. Two ply might be in the ball park.

 

Best Roof for Flat ....

All things being equal I would have to say a three ply hot type IV glass (JM is best choice) with modified cap (torch on Derbigum) .... or mop-on Tamko SBS and then flood coat and gravel .....

But the real question is what is the best roof for the particular job ..... Most residential homes are well served by TPO - EPDM or Modifieds .... Once again, depends on the particular job ..... each has pluses and minuses .... but with respect to the TPO the jury is still out on that membrane .... see below from the MRCA dated 2/10/10..... Not good for TPO ......

February 10, 2010


T&R Committee Advisory on TPO
Information is being circulated in the industry indicating that high solar loading and elevated temperature lead to the premature exhaustion of anti aging components such as anti oxidants, UV absorbers and heat and light stabilizing compounds within TPO. This could lead to the breakdown of the sheet in affected areas.

This also might explain some reported problem applications with localized deterioration of membrane. One manufacture has recently changed formulation to account for this problem; another advises their product not be "subjected" to high thermal or solar loading; while others remain silent. Southern states appear to have this problematic local condition due to the heat load these roofs experience.

The committee believes that enough information has surfaced concerning TPO accelerated weathering due to solar or thermal loading to advise members to:

Review roof plans for situations where sun light is reflected back on membrane; such as areas below metal and glass or highly reflective curtain walls, or high profile reflective wall flashings.

Look for heat emitting equipment or heat exhausting vents or dark emissive materials laid on the roof that can elevate the temperature of the covered sheet; as well as areas under or over elevated temperature operations.

If situations exist that may commonly elevate temperatures over 160 degrees or increase solar loads beyond "normal" incoming solar load, question the manufacturer as to the suitability of their product for the situation; consider changing the product to a material that will clearly withstand the loading; consider changes in design to forestall the loading.

If you have existing TPO roofing subjected to these situations you may well want to inspect the applications for incipient, developing or obvious local problems. The manufacturer can then be approached for direction in addressing or rectifying any deficiency.

Please inform the committee of any problem found as well as any reaction from the manufacturer involved.

T&R Committee

 

The immediate benefits of having a flat roof system are its cost efficient use of available space. With a traditional roof, the angular slope means a great deal of unusable space goes between the ceiling and the surface of the roof. This is what we typically call the attic. On a flat roof you make the maximum use of space below the roof. Also because the roof is flat, you can use the space on top of the roof as well. Recreational roof gardens and other such things are common uses for the newfound space. It also makes the installation of solar panels much easier.

 

Flat roof systems are roofs that are built so that they are nearly flat. They are not completely flat; otherwise water would build up on the roof and would eventually start to get inside the building. Flat roofs are built with a slight incline. They are required to have at least a one-eighth-inch difference in height over each foot of the roof. There are five main types of flat roof systems. The best flat-roofing solutions will be Modified Bitumen.

A modified bitumen roof is a multiple-ply roof that is made with modified bituminous membranes, which are made out of a blend of asphalt and a polymer. This allows the asphalt to take on characteristics of the polymer, which is similar to materials used in single-ply roofs.

 

On residential low-slopes we use Mule Hide SBS Modified Self Adhered over new ply wood decking for small jobs. Other than that its cold process adhered modified all the way! We do small built up roofs using asphalt and coal tar at times when needed.

 

Modified adhered directly to plywood? Not my favorite. Isn't that a 10 year roof? How many plys?