Roof Membrane Explained

Pitched roof construction.

Roof membrane explained.

There are two main types of single ply membrane commercial roofing. Modern roofing materials explained the two most important aspects of of any effective roof system are the weatherproof membrane and the weatherproof shingles that protect it. Membrane roofing is a type of roofing system for buildings and tanks. A cut roof this is the traditional method of cutting the timber on site and building up the roof using rafters ridge boards joists and purlins etc the exact details being determined by the size of roof size of timbers etc.

The roofing membrane is called modified due to the addition of modifiers such as polyester fiber which creates a strong durable and thin roofing material. They re the first line of defense. In addition if a leak does occur on a felt or asphalt roof it can be difficult to locate the exact point that needs repairing resulting in costly damage to the building below. They work in much the same way as a gortex jacket allowing moisture from inside the roof to escape while protecting the building from the weather.

Non breathable membrane on the other hand is not air permeable. Bitumen is the black viscous compound used to create asphalt. Located on the cold side of a pitched roof s insulation and beneath the battens which support the tile or slate breathable roof membrane as the name suggests lets a building to breathe by allowing moisture to escape up through it and out of the building. Shingles reflect the sun s rays withstand wind and block precipitation.

It s these outer layers that help provide additional water resistance and it also protects the core from physical damage. Your shingles serve their own purpose. There are two basic methods of pitched roof construction. But shingles overlap and aren t sealed at all corners.

Roofing underlayment provides your roof with an extra layer of protection that shingles alone can t match. Membrane roofs are most commonly made from synthetic rubber thermoplastic pvc or similar material or modified bitumen. It is used to create a watertight roof covering to protect the interior of a building. In comparison membrane roofing can be installed that is either completely seamless or with seams that are as strong as the material itself.

In north america the majority of residential roofs are sloped to some degree often forming a classic a frame. Breathable roofing felts as the name suggests these membranes let your roof breathe. Performance is tested across three key areas. Membrane roofs are most commonly used in commercial application though they are becoming increasingly common in residential application.

Thermoplastic polyolefin tpo and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer epdm.