Membrane Roofing Systems

There are basically 3 different types of membrane roofing systems

Thermoset Membranes 

These materials are those in which chemically crosslink. So basically what means is that once the seams are welded together instead of having several sections of membrane you now have a single piece of water tight material that blankets the entire roof and aside from being a bit thicker where the seams were joined they are no different than the rest of the roofing material. This is a big improvement from the traditional hot mop and gravel flat roofing systems. Many of the synthetic rubber roofs (EPDM) fall into this category. You also find the CSPE, CR, and ECR compounds/membranes in this group. These membranes are reasonably thick and are available in thicknesses ranging between 30 and 60 mil. These roofing materials offer outstanding overall performance over a broad variety of exposures. If installed following the procedures set by the manufacturer your thermoset membrane roof will provide your home or commercial property leak protection for many, years to come.

Thermoplastic Membranes 

These membranes are very comparable to the Thermosets however these materials do not chemically crosslink. Seams in the material are welded with each other either by applying solvents or heat. The seams (when welded correctly) are as durable as the rest of your roof.  PVC plastic materials are part of this group as well as the following materials:

• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• PVC Alloys or Compounded Thermoplastics
  • Copolymer Alloy (CPA)
  • Ethylene Interpolymer (EIP)
  • Nitrile Alloys (NBP)
  • Tri Polymer Alloy (TPA)
• Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO)
• Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) 

Modified Bitumen Membranes

These membranes combine asphalt with protective coat of granules and reinforcement components. They quite similar to rolled roofing however they either have an adhesive or a metable first layer so rather than nailing this product to the roof at the seams you either heat up the asphalt and meld it to the underlayment or for the self adhesive variety you remove the protective plastic and set it in place then run a heavy roller over it so that it lays flat with no air pockets. Modified Bitumen does not last as long or perform as well as the other two types of membranes with one exception they perform slightly better in cold temperatures. However they do not cost as much and in cases when a pitched roof with asphalt shingles ties in with a lower pitched roof (because they are granulated like a composite shingle) this type of system matches and looks better than the other types of membranes and therefore is a common choice in these types of circumstances. 

Membrane Systems

present clear advantages over the earlier common flat asphalt roofing methods such as the traditional hot mop and gravel roofs. With hot asphalt and gravel roofs, it is sometimes difficult to make a suitable seal at all seams and connecting seams. This could certainly result in several roof leaks shortening the lifespan of your roof considerably, as well is going to require far more routine maintenance. If correctly installed, the single ply roofing systems may be seamless, or have seams just as strong as the actual the material itself. This prevents nearly all of the leaking problems most typically associated with hot and gravel roof systems. Repairs and maintenance for a hot tar and gravel roof can often be difficult, simply because it is no easy task to find the actual spot where the roof is leaking. Single ply membrane systems can easily be patched fairly quickly, and even breaks, cracks and leaks are much easier to identify. Originally hot tar roofing needed to be covered with a layer of gravel on top of it because of two main factors. First, asphalt having direct exposure to the Sun’s rays degrades considerably quicker, largely as a result of contraction and expansion over the course of the day, as well as the harm brought on by exposure to the sun’s ultra violet rays. Secondly, mop down roofs required the extra weight provided by the layer of gravel above to hold it in place, simply because it rests on top of a building, rather than being fastened to it. All of the modern types of membrane roofing systems feature components that will resist contraction and expansion, and in addition reflect most of the Sun’s ultra violet rays. In addition, because membrane systems either don’t have seams or possess tough, solid seams, what little expanding and contracting that actually does take place isn’t going to cause leaking or breaks in the seams. Single ply roofing systems are also mechanically fastened to the top of the building, which eliminates the requirement for unwanted weight on top of your roofing system that may compromise the integrity of your building structure.