Different Flat Roofing Materials To Suit Florida’s Climate

By Author: Terence Watthens
Total Articles: 5
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Flat roofs were the basic form of roofing a long time ago—and they still are to this day. Simple yet efficient as the other roofing materialss, flat roofing is a popular choice, especially among commercial establishments. Modern materials have given flat roofing a major upgrade.

Despite its name, flat roofs aren’t dead flat at all; rather, they have a low slope, hardly noticeable. Grocery stores and office buildings usually have flat roofs for their vents and HVAC systems. In this case, personnel need to step onto the roof to do most maintenance work. There are at least three kinds of flat roofs in demand with the roofing industry today, but not limited to three.

Built-up roof: Also called BUR for short, this type of flat roof can be compared to lasagna—it has layers of hot tar, gravel, and bitumen. As the cheapest of the three common flat roofs, the gravel serves as an excellent fire retardant. The hot tar and bitumen layers create a striking design for windows that overlook a part of the roof.

However, given the presence of gravel and multiple layers of hot tar and bitumen, the support structure ...
... has to take the excess weight. Also, in a place like Florida where it’s hot most of the year, tar can become brittle and break up. You have to be ready for constant maintenance if you choose a BUR.

Modified bitumen: Introduced in the 1970s, modified bitumen is a popular material for flat roofing Jacksonville establishments may want. Modified bitumen means the basic bitumen material has been reinforced with a polymer mix to make it more adhesive and resistant against pooling of water. Roofers simply roll big rolls of modified bitumen along the surface of the flat roof. Usually white in color, it reflects most of the light and heat.

Rubber membrane: Another synthetic material for flat roofing Jacksonville FL has to offer is the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). Although it doesn’t come cheap, the investment is worth it in terms of physical and climate resilience. As Florida is warm and gets visited by hurricanes, rubber membrane roofing can stand the wrath of Mother Nature better.

For more information about the different kinds of flat roofing Jacksonville FL has to offer, read the article at ThisOldHouse.com. Also visit the National Roofing Contractors Association online at NRCA.net for further details on flat roofing materials, as well as other related topics.