What Is Roll Roofing
Its a composite sheet of roofing material thats developed into a roll so that it can be laid into strips that overlap each other. The material will vary depending on which type youre looking for on your roof. In most cases, though, the material will be similar to asphalt roofing shingles but thinner.
This type is usually installed over bare wood sheathing or sheathing that has been painted with a primer. You can better protect the sheathing against condensation and leaking by applying roofing felt first. Then, you can install the roll roofing over the felt. In the sections below, well discuss the most common materials used to make it and how to install it.
Advantages Of Using Rolled Roofing
Rolled roofing is the cheapest roofing material, and its installation cost is almost free. Owners of the sheds and shops who want to install the roof prefer to DIY. The nails are also cheap, and the top can last for some time before it expires.
The roof is easy to install because it comes as one rolled material. When installing, you place the entire roll on the top and unfold it. Unlike other roofing materials such as shingles, you have to lay them down one by one and nail them on the roof.
Rolled roofing is lightweight and easy to transport. When packing, the manufacturer seals the rolls tightly to prevent unrolling during movement. So, you can carry an entire roll up the roof if you are doing it yourself, unlike roofing shingles which need a crane.
You can re-roof your current shingles with a rolled roof. This saves on the labor cost of removing the shingles first and also time. Laying a rolled roof on the shingles also gives more protection. Ensure you clean the top first to avoid destroying the new roof.
How To Install Roll Roofing On Flat Or Pitched Roofs
How to install roll roofing on a flat or pitched roof with your own hands: installation tips and guides.
Modern technologies have significantly improve the performance of bitumen roll materials to extend their service life of up to 15-25 years and made them more universal. Modern roofing materials of this type have a solid foundation, a complex structure, high ductility and resistance to frost and can be attached to the base in different ways. Rolled roofing materials differ according to their base material, binder material and a fraction of spreading. If you are wonder how to install roll roofing, the following information may be useful for you.
As the basis of these materials fiberglass and polyester are often used. The most durable, reliable and expensive one is the material on polyester basis. Polymeric materials are more resistant to temperature changes and extremes, they are more elastic which allows using them on roofs with complex relief.
The membrane material is the most advanced at the moment. Its the main rival of its forerunner the asphalt roll roofing. The lifetime of the membrane material is up to 20-25 years. The membrane materials are self-adhesive. On the lower side there is a special protective film, which hides the adhesive layer. It is enough to remove the film, to roll the material and then to align it.
- 2 layers for low slope roofs 15-25%
- 3 layers if the roof slope is 5-15%
- 4 layers if the roof is flat and the slope is 0-5%.
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For An Affordable Roof Option Consider Roll Roofing This Material Is Very Easy To Install And Only Requires Basic Carpentry Skills
Caitlin is the senior digital home editor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she covers all things home, including decorating and interior design, cleaning and organization, paint and color, home improvement, and more. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design education and expertise. She has vast experience with digital publishing, including SEO, photoshoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Caitlin graduated with a bachelor of journalism, with an emphasis in magazine editing, as well as a minor in textile and apparel management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She also received a multicultural certificate. Caitlin regularly attends trade shows and industry press conferences for market research and continued education.
- Total Time:6 hours
- Skill Level:Intermediate
For a utilitarian solution when appearance isn’t as important, consider roll roofing, which is made of materials similar to composition shingles but generally not as durable. Be sure to check the warranty, which may be for only one year. If you install roll roofing using the double-coverage method, it will last longer.
Roll roofing is often installed over bare wood sheathing or sheathing that has been painted with a primer. Applying roofing felt first will better protect the sheathing against condensation, as well as against leaking.
Before You Install Rolled Roofing
Roll roofing is a great material for small projects, but I dont recommend using roll roofing to put a roof on a home.
Instead, youre better off choosing a more traditional material such as asphalt shingles which lends itself to an installation method that is better at withstanding leaks.
As a first time roll roofing DIYer, youll appreciate this roofing glossary.
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A Couple Of Ways The Pros Rollout Peel And Stick Getting It To Stick Where They Want It To
There are many ways to install peel and stick membrane with a split-release sheet. The release sheets can be paper or plastic.
It is tempting to say that there are as many ways to install peel and stick roofing membranes as there are roofers, but it is simply not true. There are WAAAYYY fewer methods.
Here are two ways to unroll and install peel and stick roofing membrane on a new or renovated roof.
Roll Roofing Manufacturer’s Installation Instructions & Product Specifications
Illustration: SBS type roll roofing or BUR rolls from MTechnology cited below.
- BP Slate Surface Roll Roofing and BP Mineral Surface roll roofing and related products are described in BP’s FIBERGLASS CAP SHEET RR701 INSTRUCTIONS – retrieved 2022/0717
- BP ASPHALT SHINGLE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS , Building Products of Canada, Co., 9510, St. Patrick Street, LaSalle , Canada H8R 1R9 and BP Canada 3703-101 Avenue N.E., Edmonton , Canada T5J 2K8, retrieved 2019/05/01
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Typical Roll Roofing Installation Steps & Specifications
Weather conditions: for applying roll roofing: the roof should be clean and dry, and ambient temperatures should be at or above 50°F.Watch out: If you must install roll roofing at lower temperatures store it indoors and warm it to permit unrolling without cracking the material. We can sometimes spot roll roofing installed from too-cold rolls by later failures appearing as cracks, at regular intervals across the width of the material.
Our photo shows our client pointing to a low slope area on a roof where mineral-granule coated asphalt roll roofing was applied after shingles in that location had leaked repeatedly.
Optional: Adjust For A Sloped Roof
If you have a sloped roof, cut strips of roofing 9 inches wide, position them flush with the drip edges along the eave and rake, and attach them by driving two rows of nails that are about 3 inches apart. Use a trowel to spread roofing cement over half or more of the strips.
Then, set the first course in the cement so it overhangs by about ¼ inch. Position and roll out the roofing carefully because it is not easy to reposition, then press it into the cement. Nail only its top edge . Coat the top edge with a 4- to 6-inch-wide layer of roofing cement and apply the next courses in the same way.
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Roll Roofing Installation Details
Through this article, if you are a homeowner, here are the detailed step-by-step instructions about the roll roofing installations on a flat roof:
First, remember, if your roof is flat like its slope is less than 2/12, it is not advisable to install roll roofing. Rather, your option is to use the flat roof system like APP, SBS or EPDM modified and rubber roofing. For the traditional asphalt-impregnated, the overlapped size must be a minimum of 2-3 inches for every single coverage, and for the overlapped on the double coverage, its minimum width must be 16 inches the 2/3 of its width for every 12 inches exposure and 3-ply roof.
On the other hand, for the Styrene Butadiene Styrene , the installation is commonly about single-ply with at least 3 and 1/2 inches for the overlapped of its sled edge.
Aside from that, if you plan to use fiberglass mineral-surfaced roll roofing, you have to buy a mechanical fastener which can be used for both hot and cold that processes for better adhesive and sealing.
Second, after you prepared all the needed materials, go for the roll roofing job, and be careful of the job sequence.
Here is the must-followed sequence of the roll roofing job:
More Guides From Permaroof
Permaroof UK Ltd offers support for EPDM application, whether for trade roofers or for the DIY market. The resource library contains an extensive range of EPDM installation guides in downloadable PDF format and video tutorials with step-by-step instructions given by qualified and experienced EPDM specialists.
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How To Properly Install Roll Roofing
- Written by Sarah Coghlan on Apr 21, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
Installing roll roofing is always an appealing option for homeowners because it is easy to install and much less expensive than other roofing. However, roll roofing does not look nearly as good as shingle or tile, so it is typically only used on roofs that are not readily visible.
It is a great option for flat or nearly flat roofs since they arent visible from the ground, and is a project you can do in a day. It is durable and will last about the same length of time as a typical shingle roof, if not longer — about six to 12 years. Here you will find the basic information needed to properly install roll roofing.
Asphalt Roll Roofing Installation
Roll roofing is simplest product to install on a small section of low sloperoof is 90-pound roll roofing. This is an inexpensive roofing material often installed by homeowners and do-it-yourself-ers.
“Low Slope” means that these products are installed on roof slopes of 2/12 or more.
Sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates .
Traditional asphalt-based roll roofing consists of a heavy, asphalt-saturated organic or fiberglass felt with a granular surface.
SBS or modified asphalt mineral surfaced roll roofing membranes are based on SBS, a synthetic rubber that gives improved performance over traditional asphalt-saturated felt.
Watch out: For flat roofs you should not be installing roll roofing but rather you should use a flat roof system such as APP or SBS modified roofing or EPDM – see details for flat roofs at MEMBRANE & SINGLE PLY ROOFS
Traditional asphalt-impregnated felt roofing like that in our sketch above is installed overlapped a minimum of 2-3-inches or overlapped half its width or 16-inches or overlapped 2/3 its width to give a 12-inch exposure and a 3-ply roof, or 3/4 of its width to give a 9-inch exposure and a 4-ply roof.
For asphalt-felt roll roofing, less exposure and more plies = longer roof life.
SBS roofing is commonly installed as a single-ply roof with a 3 1/2-inch selvedge edge overlap.
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Mark Your Working Area With The Chalk
Keep that measuring tape handy because youll need it when you begin the installation process. Keep in mind that rolled roofing is typically installed horizontally.
Grab your measuring tape and chalk line, measure 35 inches up from the bottom edge of the roof, and mark it with the chalk line. Use a meter stick to ensure your line is straight and even across the roof. You dont want crooked roofing!
Flat Roof Cost + Material Types
Typically, flat roof replacement cost is $4 to $13 per square foot. The cost of a basic installation includes the removal of a single layer of old roofing and any disposal fees. Additional costs can include:
- Ventilation: Additional $300 to $600
- Roof drains: Additional $40 to $100 apiece
- Extra underlayment: Additional $70 to $2,000
The total cost of replacing a 1,000 square foot commercial flat roof ranges between $3,100 and $10,000, with the average cost falling in the $6,500 range. Keep in mind that larger commercial buildings with higher square footage will increase the final cost of a commercial roof. A new flat roof on a 10,000 square foot building could cost between $40,000 and $130,000, depending on the material type.
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Installing The Rolled Roofing
What Is Rolled Roofing
Rolled roofing is exactly what it sounds like: its a roofing material that comes in large rolls that you roll out over your roof and adhere to the roof sheathing. The material can usually stick to fiberglass, wood, roofing felt and any waterproofing underlayment or base sheet you might be using.
Unlike roof shingles, which get laid down one by one, rolled roofing is quick to install in large strips, and its significantly cheaper than most other styles of roofing.
The rolls can be made of a variety of materials but usually contain rubber, polymers or asphalt. As such, they arent the most environmentally friendly stuff.
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Other Steps & Specifications
What Specific Good Weather Condition Is Advised Upon Installation Of The Roof Rolling?
In all kinds of roll roofing, clean, dry, and ambient temperature of 50 degrees must be observed. However, if you are installing it under lower temperatures, put it first inside the house. After that, allow it to expose from the warm temperature to avoid cracking while unrolling.
What Is The Needed Roof Slope?
Your roof slope should be 2/12 or more because the 2 inches is for its rise and the 12 inches is for the horizontal run. Never proceed with the installation when its slope is less than 2 inches.
Roll Roofing Condition.
Upon installation, be sure that it must be very clean and dry. If you install the roofing with bad damage to the edge, it can lead to crushing or tearing. And if you have already seen the bad seaming, there is a chance of early failure cracks across its roofing width.
How About The Roofing Deck?
Every roofing deck must be dry, clean, and must be free of voids. For the re-roofing, all the root decking should be removed and replaced before putting the felt underlayment. You can use the plywood for the roof decking at least 2/8 or thicker as it helps to reduce the roof life. And the plywood or any OSB sheathing should be placed between 1/8 to ¼ in the butt portion to avoid buckling.
Skylight On Flat Roof/rolled Roofing
What is the best flashing technique for a curb mounted skylight on a flat roof with existing mineral surfaced rolled roofing? And more specifically, what product is best to make a watertight connection to the existing rolled roofing?Thanks
I’ll take that personally! However, I’ll bet with a quality waterproofing plan, good materials, and detailed oriented installation there will be no leaks. That said, there is a re-roof scheduled in 2 years but we’ll get the skylights in first .
There will be little difference between adding the skylight and new installation. Just remove the roofing, install the curb and flashing. The roof is most likely torch down or hot mop. You may want a slight cricket on the uphill side. The roofer will then reapply new roofing material around the skylight. A roof like this is not dependent on laps to shed water but instead acts as a continuous membrane. The roofing is not a DIY job, however, but should be done by a roofer with hot mop or torch down capabilities.
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