Move Out The Roofing Materials
Before beginning installation, you should install drip-edge flashing, primers WSU only if needed. Prepare the roofing cement, drive nails near the required edges, and smoothen out any creases. You can also install flashing, but usually, you might only need to apply an 18-inch wide strip of roll roofing.
The Guide You Need For Your Roof Replacement
Now you know the 4 best roofing materials for a low slope or flat roof. If you have a roof thats 2:12 or steeper, youre good to go with your asphalt shingle installation.
But before you do, theres a lot you need to know/learn for your upcoming roofing project. Wouldnt it be great if things like cost, roofing material options, the components that make up a roof, and more were all in one place?
If your answer is yes, then we have just the guide you need. The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof has all the information you need for your roof replacement and ensures you make all the right buying decisions.
Dont go into the roof replacement process blind get your free buyers guide below.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roofing services to residents in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, and other surrounding Middle Tennessee areas since 1990. Weve provided thousands of homeowners with an experience rare in the roofing industry, and we know we can do the same for you.
Heres Your Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof, so youre able to make all the right decisions for your upcoming roof replacement.
Quick Comparison Between Flat Roofs Vs Shingle Roofs
Cost of Construction: A flat roof may look simple and easy to construct. It also involves low cost of installation as the surface area of the flat surface is less than the sloped surface. Shingles on the other hand, are costly for initial installation due to the surface area. Shingles at times involve trusses that increase its initial cost.
Inspection: Flat roofs are easy to inspect and climb in comparison to that on the Shingle roof.
Cost of Maintenance: The maintenance of the flat roofs are expensive. The water in the rains and the dampness in the snowfall can damage the roof as there is no water drainage. Whereas the cost of maintenance in the Shingle roofs are very low.
Durable: The water clogging on the Flat roofs increase chances of damage and wear and tear. Hence, it reduces the durability of the flat roofs. On the other hand, the Shingle Roofs are more durable and hence preferred in cities where there are more of snowfall and rainfall.
Variants: There are a wide variety of colors and styles available in Shingles whereas there cannot be much of the variation in the Flat Roofs. Click here to review thearchitectural Vs three tab shingles.
For free roof estimate call us at : 743-3175 Or
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Definition Of Low Slope Roofing
A “low slope roof” is one that slopes 2″ in 12″ to 4″ in 12″ of run.
Because low slope roofs also drain water more slowly than moderate or steep sloped roofs, systems such as slate or asphalt shingles that rely on mechanical drainage for successful performance, are not used.
Instead we use sealed or membrane type roofing systems similar to those used on “flat” roofs.
According to ARMA, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, “The two broad categories of asphalt roofing systems for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings are Built-Up Roofing and Modified Bitumen Systems .“
But a wider range of materials has been used on low-slope roofs, as we describe in the articles below.
Why Install A Tar & Gravel Roofing System
The benefits of a tar and gravel roof are numerous.
They tend to have a lifespan of around 20 to 25 years depending on the location and the structure of the rest of the property .
The weatherproofing aspects of the gravel embedded in the roof can prevent degradation like cracking or blistering that leads to leaks or other failures over time.
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Extra Costs To Plan For In Your Flat Roof Conversion
When you make a massive adjustment to your roof, its not just the surface thats affected. If youre raising the height of the roof significantly, youll also need to have the chimneyif there is oneand heating system vents and pipes extended as well. And youll have to purchase new siding that will blend in with your homes existing cladding, which can be difficult, especially if its been awhile since you purchased new siding. Therefore, you may potentially want to think about new home siding as well. All of these items add to the final total of your project and should be factored in when youre budgeting. Your contractor should be able to offer you more specific details on these costs.
All in all, a flat roof replacement is a serious project that should be well thought out. With a little planning and some professional help, your ideal roof will be well within your grasp.
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Can You Put A Flat Roof On A Pergola
Yes, you can. Installing a flat roof on a pergola is a fun backyard DIY project. You want to use clear corrugated polycarbonate roofing panels. Lay the panels on top of the pergola roof. One nice feature about the panels is theyre cheap.
The panel direction on your pergola will be the same as your home if its attached or has a slope. During installation, point the grooves downward and away from your home.
With free-standing pergolas, make sure you pitch the middle of the roof, so you wont have a puddle problem after it rains or snows.
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Epdm Ethylene Propylene Diene M
EPDM is a single-ply membrane roofing type made with synthetic materials. Most EPDM is a rubber adhesive that is one of the cheapest ways to cover a flat roof. There are other single-ply membrane options, but this is the cheapest.
EPDM absorbs heat. Youll need to add a top layer to reflect the heat or else youll have a house much warmer than you intended. In the end, it may cost as much as other options this way.
Question: Proper Location Of Air Barrier For Hot Climate Roofs
Steven said:
Location Central Florida. Inquiring about installing 1.5″ foil faced closed polyiso insulation over the top of the existing 6/12 sloping OSB decking.
The intention is to take the heat load off the attic space. With concerns of humidity and condensation in a vented attic space,
My Question – where should the Air Barrier membrane be installed – on the bottom OR above the new decking on top of the insulboard? Any further conserns or comments to be aware of? Thanks
Reply:
Steven air barriers such as house wraps are used on building exterior walls but not on roofs.
For underlayments used under roofing please see ROOFING UNDERLAYMENT BEST PRACTICES
On 2015-09-29 by David
Any recommendations on creating a steeper pitch on a flat roof?
On 2015-08-19 by Anonymous
roof is at very end of useful life
On 2015-04-08 – by –
On 2015-04-08 by Doug
My house has a low-slope shed dormer that occasionally leaks at the eave during heavy, wind-driven rains or when snow and ice are melting. The roof is completely covered with ice & water shield and asphalt shingles. The drip edge is secured to the top of the I& W shield.
I believe the water is working its way up between the shingles and drip edge and then flowing under the drip edge and into the house. I have the idea to cement the first course of shingles to the unexposed drip edge and I& W shield to prevent this penetration.
On 2014-12-24 – by –
On 2014-12-24 by Anonymous
On 2014-11-27 – by –
On 2014-11-27 by DavidM
Or see these
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Difference Between Reroofing And Roof Replacement
Roofing over an existing roof is also called reroofing or an overlay. It is the process where roofers install a new roof over your existing one, i.e. add a new layer of shingles, which means that there is no tearing off of the old roof. It is important to know that this process can only be done once because you can only have two layers of shingles on your roof.
Roof replacement is the process of installing acompletely new roof that includes tear off of the old one. Roofers will teareverything off, down to the deck of the roof, and basically start from scratchwith the new roof, from putting felt paper to installing shingles. Since roofreplacement includes tearing everything off, it can be done on every roof, nomatter the number of shingle layers they are all going to be removed in anycase.
Roof replacement involves much more time and labor,and is, therefore, more expensive than reroofing. When a roof has no underlyingproblems, when it is old, and is simply losing its function, reroofing might bea better solution as it involves much less work on your home, as well as lessmoney.
Roof Shingles Are Not Lying Flat
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The shingles on your roof serve a dual purpose. They give the roof a finished look, while forming a protective seal. Lumpy, bumpy or curling shingles that do not lie flat can be problematic, but dont hire a new roofer yet. The extent of the problem depends upon many factors, including the age of the roof, the outdoor temperature and the overall condition of the roof. In some cases, the shingles will almost magically fix themselves, but in other cases, costly repairs might be necessary.
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What Happens If A Roofer Connects A Flat Roof To A Shingle Roof Poorly
Essentially the problem stems from the change of pitch. Water moves faster down steeper surfaces than flatter surfaces. So, as fast-moving water runs from the shingle roof onto the flat roof, it slows down. This increases the potential for ponding water and leaks. If the flat roof covers an unheated area, it also adds additional risk for ice dams, which may also cause leaks.
While roofers successfully connect flat and pitched roofs all the time, they must be careful to create a smooth transition between the two surfaces. A very simple mistake a roofer could make is installing the flat roof materials on top of the shingles. While this might look waterproof to the untrained eye, it presents a serious problem. As water rolls down the shingle roof it will meet a lip where the flat roofing begins. The lip slows down water and holds some of it back, which can cause leaks. Further, if this spot never dries, the standing water will erode it over time, leading to early replacement of the roofing materials.
Further, flat roofs typically require replacement before shingle roofs. So, you will likely need to replace your flat roof at least once in the life of your shingle roof. Your roofer will have to remove some of the shingle roof to allow the new flat roof to be nested beneath it, or the likely result will be the problems listed above.
Other possible problems may result if the flat roof doesnt have proper drainage, or ventilation .
Holding Down The Roof In High Winds
Q: My daughter lives in hurricane country in a 15-year-old stucco house. Can she install hurricane clips to prevent her roof from blowing off?
Don, McKeesport, Pa.
A:Tom Silva replies: Those galvanized metal straps and clips that strengthen the connection between walls and rafters really do help to hold a house together in high winds. But it will be next to impossible to reach those spots from the attic. The only way to retrofit hurricane clips in most houses is by cutting out a section of the siding and the wall sheathing at every spot where a rafter rests on a wall or taking off the roof sheathing at the eaves.
Here’s an easier option: Go up into the attic and run a bead of construction adhesive alongside each rafter where it meets the plywood roof deck. That simple measure will roughly triple a roof’s resistance of being torn off by wind.
Recommended Reading: Adding Eaves To Gable End
What Exactly Is A Roofing Gas Torch
Gas torches are most commonly used in commercial low slope roofing to apply polymer modified bitumen membranes. It is important to understand exactly what the roofing torch components are, including its regulator, to operate it safely. Furthermore, you would need to understand propane and other liquid petroleum fuels and you might see why this is a dangerous process.
How Much Do Flat Roof Materials Cost
The average cost to replace a flat roof on a 1,500 sq.ft. home ranges from $8,000-11,000, depending on the material you use and the complexity of installation.
Installation prices quoted below are for very simple flat roofs, over 1,000 sq. feet.
Any additional roof insulation costs and increased installation complexity will increase your total labor charges.
PVC membrane: $6.50 7.50 + per sq. ft.
EPDM rubber: $5.50 6.50 + per sq. ft.
TPO roofing: $6.0 7.0 per sq. ft.
Modified bitumen and rolled asphalt roofs: $5.50 6.50 + per sq. ft.
Spray Foam Roofing: $4.5 7+ per sq. ft.
You can use our Flat Roof Calculator to quickly and accurately estimate the cost of your roof replacement.
Average Flat Roof Cost:
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Cant The Flat Roof Have Shingles
Why not just install shingles on the flat roof? Its true that flat roofs arent exactly flat, they have a small pitch of a few degrees. Still, you cannot put shingles on a flat roof as water does not drain off them quickly enough. The absolute minimum slope for asphalt shingle installation is 2:12.
How To Make The Flat Roof To Pitched Roof Transition
This job is best left to a professional roofer, of course. However, as the homeowner you may be curious about how your roofer should be tying in your two roof planes. Also, it is wise to be knowledgeable about how a flat roof and shingle roof should be attached, so that you can ask your roofer the right questions and get the best results for your roof.
So, heres what you need to know about how to tie into existing roof shingles with your new flat roof.
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How To Find The Slope Of Your Roof
I created a tool that you can download and print to help you measure the pitch of your own roof.
Using the tool is simple to use. First, print it out on the standard 8.5 by 11 piece of paper.
Then fold down the bottom of the paper so the bottom 0 line is flush to the edge of the paper.
I also found it easiest to tape the paper to a book or a piece of cardboard, that way it doesnt blow in the wind when you are measuring.
To measure the slope of your roof, simply take a straight edge and rest it against the roof over the top of the peak.
Next, line up the bottom left corner of the paper to the point where the straight edge and the peak of the roof last touch. Make sure you hold the paper as straight as you can perpendicular to the top of the peak.
Then you can take the measurement of the slope. In the picture shown, the pitch of the roof is 7/12, 7:12, or 58%
If for whatever reason the slope tool I made doesnt work for you. Then another way to measure the slope would be to use two rulers. With one ruler measure out 12-inches with the second ruler measure the distance from the bottom of the shingle to the top of the first ruler.
That will also give you the pitch of the roof. In the image above the pitch of the roof would be about 3:12 or 25%.
The angles of the various pitches and percent of grade are found using this conversion chart:
| Pitch |
Minimum Slope For Low
With any roofing material, a slope of at least 1/4 inch per foot is recommended to promote drainage and minimize ponding. Where deflection from snow or other live loads is a concern, a greater slope will be needed to prevent any ponding.
Most manufacturers of low-slope roofing products specify a minimum slope of between 1/4 and 1/2 inch per foot in their warranties.
While membranes, such as vinyl or EPDM, are unaffected by standing water, it will shorten the life of asphalt based materials, such as BUR and modified bitumen.
With any roofing material, ponding of water increases the likelihood of leakage, increases deflection in the roof framing, and contributes to rooftop growth of mosses, algae, and other plant life. Also, the freezing and thawing of ponded water can harm most roof surfaces.
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