There are several types of roofs used for commercial buildings with the most popular of them being the BUR (Built Up Roofing) method. BUR is exactly what the name implies, a number of layers of built up roofing products that protect the building. To begin the BUR process, a layer of roofing felt is placed over the roof decking. The felt is then saturated with a hot tar or asphalt so that another layer can be placed over the top of it. With a new roof, the number of layers is usually three or four. With a frequently resurfaced roof, that number could be much higher. The final layer of material as applied in Commercial Roofing in Topeka KS should be a coating of hot asphalt and a layer of aggregate.
Hot roofing methods like this work well for quick installations or repairs, but they do have a few flaws. For example, the aggregate could get disturbed which means the underlying roofing felt might get damaged as well. If the felt tears, then the leaks are not far behind. Rain water is insidious. That is, it can find any viable entrance past the roofing material. Add a little damage into the mix and that small roofing fault will quickly grow. To eliminate the leak, an expert in commercial roofing in Topeka KS can either patch the problem or resurface the roof.
Alternates to BUR roofing include a variety of membranes. These are typically polymer products such as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or TPO (Thermoplastic polyolefin). Benefits of these products include a secure installation and easy repairs. PVC and TPO products are placed in large sheets that are easily welded together. The use of robotic tools makes this process much quicker and more reliable. If polymers aren’t the solution of choice, then an option such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) may fit the bill. EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane that gets stretched over the building. The main drawback to this product is shrinkage. That is, the material may shrink during colder temperatures which could cause a problem with leaks. For more information about commercial roofing solutions, visit the experts at Alpha Roofers.
