HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR FLAT ROOF – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR FLAT ROOF

The need for roofs is universal.  No matter where or how you live, having a roof over your head is vital to protect you from the elements and give you a secure home.  If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night to the drip-drip sound of a leak, you know the feeling of worry caused by an aging roof.

Many homeowners make the mistake of treating their roofs as something they only need to worry about when they leak.  Your typical flat roof will last anywhere from 15 to 25 years depending on the materials used, the climate conditions it has to endure, and how much maintenance you perform.  With proper maintenance, a flat roof can even last as long as 30 years.  If you want your roof to last as long as possible—reducing your expenses and anxiety—there’s one pretty simple thing you should consider:  Coating it.

Why coat your roof?

Your roof takes a lot of punishment.  It bakes in the sun, soaks in the rain, and freezes in the snow.  No matter what material your flat roof is made from, it will eventually begin to suffer from these extremes.  You’ll start to see ponding (or areas where water doesn’t drain off properly), cracks, discolorations, and other signs that your roof is aging.  In other words, your roof is sort of like the “skin” of your house.   It protects you, but it can be damaged from exposure to the elements.

A roof coating is like sunscreen and moisturizer for your roof.  Coating your roof provides a few fundamental benefits:

  • It seals the roof, preventing any invisible water penetration that is eroding your roofing material.

  • It bounces solar radiation away, reducing the temperature of your house (and thus reducing your cooling bills).

  • It protects the roofing material from sun damage.

  • It extends the lifespan of your roof so you have to replace it less frequently.

  • It prevents leaks, so repair costs are lowered.

The good news about coating a flat roof is that it’s fairly inexpensive to do.  It’s typically a project any reasonably handy person can do on their own depending on the material used in your roofing system.  If you can paint, you can probably seal your flat roof DIY-style.  If you have to hire someone, it’s not a terribly expensive job. When you consider that coating your roof will absolutely extend its lifespan, this investment is very much worth it.

Types of Flat Roof Sealants

Your first step is to determine exactly what material your roof is made of.  Not all flat roofs are the same, and you’ll want to make sure that you select a coating that is designed for your roof.  Old-school built-up roofs (which have a gravel-like top layer) can be more challenging to coat because their top surface isn’t smooth.

Once you know the material you are coating, identify a coating product that is compatible.  This should be pretty easy to figure out from the label or the web listing.  If you’re doing this yourself, look for a coating that can be applied using standard painting equipment like brushes and a roller.  Check to see if a primer is recommended.

Before you do anything else, you’ll want to clean and inspect your roof.  Note: Safety first.  Make sure your ladder is sturdy and reaches the roof easily and consider using a harness.  Sweep away all the dirt, and scrape away any accumulated cruft from the corners and seams using a trowel.  Check the flashing and look for any cracks, gaps, or other problems and re-flash as needed.  Then it’s just a matter of applying the primer and sealant according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and you have just added years to your roof.

Types of Flat Roofs

It helps to know a little bit about your roof.  Here are the three main types of flat roof sealants used in residential construction and some of their primary benefits:

Built-up roof

This is a traditional method for sealing flat roofs.  Tar paper or fiberglass membrane is laid down and covered with hot tar and gravel.  The roofer repeats the process at least three times.  This type of roofing is less expensive than other methods of sealing flat roofs. But it is also very heavy and the gravel often sluffs off.

Modified Bitumen

This type of flat roof is thick, puncture resistant and holds up well in a variety of temperatures.  If you want to protect a near-flat or flat roof, then modified bitumen coating is among the most popular options you should consider. Apart from adding benefits like flame resistance, the solution also offers superior resistance against damage to the roof and elements.

What are the benefits of Modified Bitumen Roofing?

  1. Tear-resistance. Modified bitumen offers outstanding durability and tensile strength, making it resistant to tears from weathering, debris, and even consistent foot traffic.

  2. Waterproof. When properly installed, modified bitumen provides some of the best waterproofing protection of any roofing material on the market.  Redundant layers enhance this quality even further.

  3. Ease of installation, repair, and maintenance.  Modified bitumen is easy to maintain, and if it does tear or leak, it can be easily patched.

  4. Flexibility. Modified bitumen expands and contracts with changing weather conditions without losing integrity.

  5. Energy-efficient. Certain types of Modified Bitumen offer high UV resistance and reflect the sun’s rays for lower energy bills.

Rubber membrane

A tough single-ply membrane made of recycled rubber is laid over the plywood roofing surface and attached with an adhesive.  It is inexpensive, but more prone to punctures than other types of flat roofing materials.

Maintain Drainage System
A flat roof relies on a properly installed and designed drainage system to prevent unwanted standing water, which could cause the roofing materials to breakdown and eventually leak along the seams.  To help protect against that, you want to make sure that all drainage outlets are functioning properly and are not blocked by any debris such as leaves.

If you want to sleep easy during the next torrential rainstorm, coating your roof will go a long way toward dispelling leak-related anxiety.