Author Archives: ProCraft Exteriors

A skylight that has a continuous leak usually indicates a damaged skylight. A skylight that has  condensation building up on the inside can  be results from the room, like a bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes, it can be an indication that skylight repair is needed. Some possible issues that cause a skylight to leak and require skylight glass repair:

• Flashing Damage: Your chimney, exhaust pipes and skylight have metal flashing around them to prevent them from leaking. Because it exposed to the elements continuously, it can weaken and allow leaks. A professional roofing contractor with skylight experience can replace or repair skylight flashing and inspect the entire roof while up there. If the skylight flashing is corroded and worn, most likely flashing in other areas is too. 
• Roofing Cement: A skylight that was installed and secured with roofing cement will likely begin to leak as the cement ages and cracks over time. Usually, there are tiny holes in the roofing cement and the skylight repair to stop the leak can removing the aged and cracked roof cement and applying new roofing cement. 
• Poor Installation: Not all roofing contractors are experienced in installing a skylight or will take short cuts to stay under budget and on time. This often ends up with a leaking skylight, but that isn’t anything that a qualified roofing contractor can’t fix. The contractor will inspect the skylight and roofing around it, and will advise if skylight repair is possible, or possibly the only option is to replace the  skylight entirely.      

How do you repair a leaking skylight?

What appears to be a skylight leak may not be a leak, but condensation formed on the inside of the skylight. This is common during the winter or if the skylight is in the bathroom or kitchen where moisture is common. 

If you have confirmed the skylight does have a leak, you’ll need to clean the skylight from the rooftop. Remove any debris and limbs so that you can examine the skylight’s exterior and the flashing around it. If you don’t find anything obvious, use a water hose and run water over and all around the skylight to duplicate the possible leak. Once you have found the leak, you can do repairs yourself using one of these options: 

• Reattach the flashing or seal up gaps and holes with roofing cement.
• Apply silicone caulking around the skylight lens.
• Replace the metal flashing.

If these don’t stop the leak, you’ll need to contact a professional roofing contractor that has skylight experience. 

How do you cover a broken skylight?

Missouri is in Tornado Alley, where severe weather is common during the spring and early summer. When you know that extreme weather is coming, you can protect your skylight by covering it with a blanket, boards, or a tarp. This will keep hail from directly hitting the skylight glass and minimize the possibility of needing skylight repair or replacement.

If you don’t have the opportunity to take preventive measures and your skylight is broken or damaged during a storm, you should have a professional roofing contractor inspect the skylight and roof. While waiting for the contractor, you can cover the skylight with a plastic tarp and use 2×4 boards to hold the tarp in place on top of the roof.  Once the repairs are made, have the contractor install a protective film that will protect the skylight going forward. 

• Trusses: The foundation of the roof, this creates the peak of your roof and provides support for the rest of the roofing components, especially the roof decking.
• Chimney: If your home has a fireplace, it needs a chimney to carry the ash and soot from the fireplace out, so it doesn’t fill your home. 
• Flashing: This metal strip is installed where different roof angles meet, around the chimney , and other areas that are prone to leak.  
• Vent pipe: This small pipe extends up, allowing fresh air into the plumbing so that sinks, toilets, and tubs can drain. 
• Sheathing: This is the subject of today’s article, sometimes referred to as the roof decking, and the first layer of the roof, and maybe called roof decking or sheathing. This will be either roof decking osb vs plywood and is attached to the trusses, creating the foundation for the shingles. 
• Underlayment: This thin layer of material is attached to the sheathing, aka roof decking, is typically an asphalt coated felt, is the barrier from element and helps water to shed when a shingle is loose or missing, minimizing the chance of roof decking exposed. 
• Shingles: This is the part you see and comes in several colors, styles,  and textures. 
• Ridge Vent: This is at the peak of the roof, runs the entire length and keeps moisture from collecting in your attic and maintains a consistent temperature in the attic. 
• Ridge cap: These are some shingles that cover the ridge vents and keep moisture out so the ridge vents can do their job. 
• Fascia: This is the board you see running along the bottom of the roof trusses to keep things out of the attic and the elements blowing up under the roof decking.

What is better for a roof OSB or plywood?

When comes to choose between OSB or plywood for roof decking, both having structural characteristics, both rated Exposure 1 for temporary element exposure, and resistant to nail withdrawal, is one better than the other? It really becomes the builder’s or roofing contractor’s choice, with the following facts helping them make their decision. 

OSB, an engineered wood with particleboard like feel and look, is manufactured with strands of wood compressed together in specific orientation, unevenly, creating the rough surface you feel. It is available in different rigidity, sizes, strengths, and thickness.  It is a water-resistant material but does need the addition of an additional membrane to create complete water impermeability. 

OSB offers consistent density and doesn’t have knot holes other natural flaws that can create weak areas. A structural uniform product that is less expensive than plywood and has a stronger load-bearing capacity. 

Plywood has an advantage in stiffness, making the ideal material for subflooring, and is often used as roof decking with 24-inch truss spacing in 7/8-inch thickness. A higher quality material than OSB, and still dominates the market for many builders, contractors, and homeowners. 

What is the best option for roof decking?

When your builder or roofing contractor is choosing the roof decking for your home, they are choosing a material that they feel  will last for years, protecting your investment. In most cases, OSB has become the first choice. 

In 2006, almost 60% of all new houses had OSB for their roof decking. The intertwined and bonded wood strands provide optimal resistance to moisture, however, if water does work its way to the roof decking, OSB will rot faster than plywood. 

This reiterates why roof decking must be covered in quality roof felt and why regular inspections of the roof are important. Making sure there aren’t any missing shingles or flashing where water can penetrate to the roof decking. 

How thick should roof decking be?

Roof sheathing should always be nailed to the trusses, never stapled, using 8d ring-shank nails.  The roof sheathing itself should be no less than 19/32-inch thick and up to ¾ inch thick, the most common thickness. 

When a house is being built, the builder may choose to use roof decking with insulation, using a foam board insulation product. A homeowner can have a contactor install insulation  to the underside after the home is built as well, usually with a spray foam insulation material for ease. Other types of insulation like bat rolls and foam board aren’t as easily attached to the roof decking after construction is completed. 

How do I know if my roof decking is bad?

The roof of your complement the exterior and is also a layer of defense against the elements. Under the shingles that does all this is the roof decking. If the roof decking is compromised, your entire home is compromised Indications that your roof decking may be compromised are: 

• Shingles buckling and curling.
• Asphalt granules thin on the shingles.
• Holes in the roofing.
• Mildew or mold in the attic.
• Loose or missing shingles.
• Roof has spongy feel when contractor or inspector walk on the roof.
• Damage found around the chimney, pipes, or other penetration.

Spray Foam Insulation – The Pros

Industry experts recommend spray foam insulation in existing and new build homes. Considered to be high performing product, spray foam insulation provides an air barrier and vapor barrier while insulating your home, making your home more energy efficient so that your HVAC system doesn’t work as hard to cool or heat your home. Your electric and gas bills are lower because of this efficiency. Other benefits of spray foam insulation include: 

• air leakage is essentially eliminated
• heat loss is prevented
• ideal insulation for attics, floors, roofs, walls
• a higher R-Value other insulation materials  
• reduced moisture accumulation
• additional  vapor barrier not needed
• seals up any awkward spaces 
• effectively eradicates air drafts

Spray Foam Insulation – The Cons

There is only one con, but it something to be considered. Because spray foam insulation is a superior performing product in comparison to other insulation materials, the initial installation has a higher upfront cost that is often more than most homeowners have budgeted. While the ROI is great, it is achieved over a longer period of time.  

Other Insulation Materials: Fiberglass and Foam Board

When comparing spray foam insulation or fiberglass for your home, consider that fiberglass insulation is manufactured from glass fiber in either batt rolls or blown in loose fill. It does provide satisfactory capacity and is ore affordable for most homeowners, a DIY homeowner can do their own installation. Using it in the basement requires additional installation of vapor barrier, an additional expense that should be factored in the decision.

  Between spray foam insulation vs foam board, the following facts about foam board should be considered when choosing: 

• Opportunity increased for penetrations because it is mechanically fastened
• Decreased  flexibility due to rigidity format
• When installed perfectly, provides the best air sealing and insulation
• Increased install cost for time-consuming process
• Often need addition of other form of  insulation to get the best results 

Should I spray foam my attic?

There isn’t any shortage of insulation products to choose from today, but the most recommended is spray foam insulation, contractors boast about the long-term and short-term benefits offered by this product when the open-cell form of spray foam insulation is used. While it is not a DIY insulation product, only installed by professional contractors with the proper equipment and training, it will have the biggest ROI over time in comparison to other types of insulation materials. 

Is it better to insulate attic ceiling or floor?

For your home to get the optimal energy efficiency, it needs to be insulated starting at the roof and to the floor. If your attic is unfinished, insulation should be placed between the floor joists and then over the floor joists, using an open-cell with spray foam insulation.  If the attic has air distribution, insulate the rafters as well. For a finished attic, insulation should be installed between the wall studs and exterior wall and roof rafters. The exterior walls, including the internal walls attached, unheated garage should be insulated. 

The number one concern for any homeowner when choosing an insulation material is the expense.  Spray foam insulation is the most expensive, but also will have a higher ROI over a longer period of time.  If you’re going to be in your house for years, then it is worth the investment. Call (314) 786-3732 today.

How Long Does it Take for Silicone Roof Coating to Dry?

If you are considering a new silicone roof coating application, it will be important for you to understand how long the process takes. According to a leading silicone roofing manufacturer, it takes approximately eight to twenty-four hours for a silicone roof coating to properly dry. This estimate depends on the prevailing weather conditions of the area. In locations where the weather is dewy and has high humidity, it will cause the silicone roof coating to take much longer to dry. On the other hand, if you live in an arid part of the country, and you apply the silicone on a particularly dry day, the silicone will dry faster.

Does Roof Coating Stop Leaks?

As any responsible roofer can attest, it will be important for all the lingering cracks and crevices of your roof to be properly repaired before a silicone roof coating is installed. Once a roofing company has been brought in to help out with your roof repairs, you can then discuss your brand-new roof coating. A silicone roof coating will improve your roof’s performance and increase its protection against inclement weather elements such as heavy rain, ponding water, damaging UV rays, and much more.

How Do You Clean Silicone Roof Coating?

Believe it or not, despite silicone roofs being quite durable, they pick up dirt and debris quite easily. That is why it is important for you to research the best ways for you to clean your silicone roof. Fortunately, silicone roofs can be effectively cleaned with a light pressure wash. When annual pressure washes are applied to the surface of your silicone roof, your roof will perform well for many years to come.

Can Silicone Stop Water Leaks?

It is important to recognize that silicone has many great qualities. For instance, it can hold standing water for long periods of time without degrading or leaking. However, if you are thinking of treating a roof repair with only silicone, be advised that there are better and more responsible ways to repair the area. The best person to call in such scenarios is a reputable and respectable roofing company.

Benefits of Silicone Roof Coating

Are you wondering what the benefits are for silicone roof coatings? If so, please review the following list to discover more.

• Resistance to ponding water. Silicone roof coatings are capable of enduring the damaging effects of ponding water without breaking down. This is because of their composition. Silicone is a moisture-cure substance and that means that it will not absorb additional water after it has cured.
• Great UV protection. Did you know that silicone roof coatings can reflect up to eighty to ninety percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays? For commercial property owners and operators, this can translate into meaningful energy savings during the summer.
• Flexibility. Silicone roof coatings are indeed highly flexible, monolithic, and hard to permeate. These advantages are especially great for flat and low-slope roofs.

Is Silicone Roof Coating Worth It

If your roof system has not received the care and attention of roof repairs in recent years, it is very important for you to enlist a professional roofing company to carry out a roof inspection. A roof inspection will yield results concerning what exactly the current condition is. If roof repairs are in order, those must be done first before a silicone roof coating is considered. After all of your roof repairs have been completed and your silicone roof coating has been applied, you can breathe a sigh of relief because your roof will perform well in the face of inclement weather.

Is Silicone Roof Coating Good

Silicone roof coatings are wonderful for a wide range of reasons. It is important to discuss your personalized roofing options with your local professional roofer so that you are perfectly aware of what roofing materials would benefit you most.

One of the most important things that our professional roofing company can provide for our customers is a true expert silicone roof coating in Chesterfield and St. Louis, MO. Please reach out to us today to get started. You can reach us at our phone number, (314) 786-3732.

Is spray foam roofing good?

In addition to the seven benefits we listed, other features make spray foam roofing the right choice for commercial structures with flat or low sloped roofs—a common problem with a flat roof, the drainage. After a heavy rain or melting ice and snow, if the drains are maintained, the water has nowhere to go. Spray foam roofing is applied in layers of various thickness, which provides better drainage. 

The drainage issue goes hand-in-hand with condensation and ice damming, another issue with flat roofs that spray foam roofing helps. As the interior heat comes to the roof and melts the ice and snow, then the temperature drops and refreezes, this creates ice dams. That allows water to seep into ordinary roofing membranes. Because spray foam roofing is insulation, that heat from the interior of the building never makes it to the roof. Once the ice and snowmelt, it drains away. 

Can spray foam rot your roof?

No spray foam roofing will not rot the existing roof. This is a breathable, open-cell foam, allowing air and moisture to flow through. This ensures that water that seeps in will be soaked in by the spongy foam and eventually pass on through.  

Can you walk on a foam roof?

Spray foam roofing is a durable material that is safe for foot traffic. This resilient surface can handle the foot traffic that comes with other contractors need roof access to their equipment, like the electrical, HVAC, plumbing, even storage. 

How long does a spray foam roof last?

With proper installation and regular maintenance, spray foam roofing will need to be professionally cleaned every ten to fifteen years. With that recommendation kept in place, your spray foam roofing will last fifty years or more. This is why they say spray foam roofing is the last roofing you’ll ever need to install.

Are slate roofs expensive?

A slate roof is among the best roofing materials to have yet due to superior quality they will be a more expensive material to install than other roofs. A square foot of the area of your house can cost several hundred dollars in comparison to a few hundred with other roofing materials. However, there with typically be fewer repairs and with a longer amount of time to wait between replacements due to decades of roof life this can make up for costs in the long run.

Are slate roofs good?

A slate roof is a great roofing option to consider due to their long life and protective abilities. They are quite an investment yet in the long run they are worth it. Essentially they are waterproof and weather resistant materials that can withstand high winds, rain, and heavy snow. Since slate has low water absorption it is resistant to frost damage and breaks from freezing. Other benefits include them being completely fireproof and mold resistance. How a slate roof works is that that they have a down slope that’s parallel with the length of the shingle to the next lower shingles. Therefore, water migration is controlled by the angle of the roof’s slope, the steeper the slope the less water migration there will be.

What is the minimum angle for a slate roof?

The minimum angle for a slate roof is recommended by BS 5534 to be 20 degrees. SSQ has however developed successful slate roof systems that will allow for a roof’s pitch to be lower at 17.5 degrees. In some circumstances, going as low as 15 degrees in certain areas can allow for ‘unexposed’ conditions. 

Do slate roofs need ventilation?

A slate roof will need to have vents at both the ridge level and at both eaves according to the NHBC. Ventilation requirements will vary based on the building.

How do you maintain a slate roof?

A slate roof should be maintained regularly with gutters cleaned twice in the fall and once during early spring. Inspections should be done every 5-7 years and any damaged slates materials should be replaced promptly no matter the time of year.

Can you pressure wash slate roof?

A slate roof can be pressure washed with the right pressure. However many recommend not to pressure wash a roof if the blast is too strong. Pressure ashing can break apart slate or drive water under the slate which can cause a leak.

Is it OK to walk on a slate roof?

A slate roof should not be walked on after rain as it can be slippery. If the slate is crumbling or deteriorating walking also isn’t advised. Beware of the pressurized weight you are directly placing on any roofing material before you walk on them in case they break or form cosmetic damages.

Get in Touch With Your Local Roofers Regarding a Slate Roof

If you’re interested in a slate roof or require slate roof repair services get in touch with your local roofing company. They will best to able to determine which materials will work best on your roof based on your particular roofing specifications. What’s more, if any repairs or replacements need to be made, roofers are certified and trained to implement the right procedures with your roof that will keep materials safe and in good condition. A slate roof will be a great aesthetic to add to your property with protection that can last well into the next generation. Get assistance with a slate roof with a professional roofer today.

If you’re interested in a slate roof in Chesterfield and St. Louis, MO call (314) 786-3732 with ProCraft Exteriors!

What is a green roof made of?

The basic anatomy, listing in layers from the bottom up, are: 

• Structural Roof Support
• Vapor Control Layer
• Thermal Insulation
• Roofing Membrane Support for Planting
• Waterproofing
• Root Repellant
• Drainage
• Filter Membrane
• Growing Medium
• Vegetation

How is a green roof constructed?

The traditional soil that is in a typical yard garden or a house plant is dense, and after a rain or watering, it becomes tightly packed. This soil type has reduced aeration and water retention for the roots. The growing medium for a green roof is different.

 It is composed of mineral aggregates and a small amount of organic material. A green roof needs to have consistent drainage with aeration, and a structure that allows it to keep water contained. A green roof needs to resist compression and decomposition, remain lightweight, and be chemically and physically stable.

A green roof may be installed in one sizeable unified section and is a green roof without plastic separating the plants. A modular green roof will consist of small movable planting beds with metal or plastic trays housing the growing medium. The portable plant beds are then placed together, creating an extensive green roof. Because a modular green roof is planted in movable planting beds, it can be installed in increments that are removable for maintenance, allowing the root layers to be inspected easily from time-to-time. 

A modular sectioned green roof can be cultivated in a greenhouse and then planted on the green roof when the plants are established. There are fewer issues of any replacement plants that don’t take to root or struggle to thrive. A drawback to modular section green roof plants is the moisture can’t flow between the units, which increases the impacts of dry and wet spells for the plants.

What problems do green roofs solve?

Green roofs have been around forever, especially in Europe. They are gaining popularity in America as we have learned they aren’t just for looks, but the green roof benefits we receive may not seem like much, but they do a lot for our environment: 

• A green roof absorbs heat and provides a natural layer of insulation, which reduces energy costs. A six-inch thick green garden can reduce energy usage by seventy-five percent because it takes less air conditioning to keep a building cool – a big plus for structures in the southern states.
• A green roof reduces the Urban Heat Island Effect of absorbing and trapping heat. 
• A green roof removes air particulates and produces oxygen, all while providing shade if there are trees planted in the garden. 
• A green roof with trees not only provides shade for humans and the plants, but it minimizes the UV rays that shortens the lifespan of the roof.  
• A green roof can minimize and slow stormwater runoff on to the hard surfaces of urban environments. Typical flooding and pollution because of nonporous surfaces are reduced with much of it absorbed by the green roof plants. 

How long do green roofs last?

A green roof and sustainability are a combination that this country has not taken full advantage of yet.  The estimated lifespan of a green roof is 40 years. That is 40 years of reduced energy needs, which reduces the greenhouse effects on the environment.  Considering the natural increased R-value, a green roof provides, naturally, not humanmade insulation. 

Last Words 

So, which do we get the most benefit when it comes to green roof vs cool roof? They are both beneficial in their way. A cool roof reflects the sunlight and heat, sending it back into the atmosphere. A green roof absorbs the sunlight and heat, keeping it from entering the structure and stabilizing the air to a near ambient temperature.

Where Is Flashing on a Roof?

Your shingles funnel the water that hits your roof down along the sides of the roof where the flashing prevents it from seeping underneath the shingles and into your roof. If you walk outside and do a visual inspection of your home or commercial property, you should notice thin, the flat flashing around gutters, chimneys. roof flashing for vent pipe, and other areas. The main purpose of flashing is to provide a water-tight seal around areas susceptible to water leaks. That generally means around edges and corners.

Does Flashing Go Over or Under Shingles?

The answer to this question is that it depends on which shingles you’re talking about! Most flashing goes under some shingles and over others. For example, when you’re installing flashing where higher shingles meet a part of your roof that juts out, say a garage, then your flashing will be underneath the higher shingles and under the lower ones. The reason being that the flashing is meant to facilitate water movement. It prevents water from getting underneath the higher shingles while still allowing the shingles to feed water down to lower levels and eventually into the gutter system. By having the roof flashing on top of the lower shingles, it covers the cracks and seams between the two surfaces from water penetration. This and other roof flashing examples illustrate how critical it is to get placement and repairs done correctly.

Here are some more examples of places roof flashing goes:

• Around Windows – Windows often have four seams that need to be treated with flashing. It’s important to stop the wind from entering and climate-controlled air from escaping. Flashing around the windows also stops rain from getting inside.
• Chimneys – You don’t want water getting inside seams between your roof and your chimney. Flashing can do the trick as well as stop any small animals from getting inside.
• Vents – Gable vents and other vents around your property will need flashing to seal around edges.
• Eaves – Eaves need flashing to improve water flow and stop rainwater from getting under shingles and into your roof.
• Where Two Edges Meet – Any place there two different angles or surfaces meet need edging.

Anything with exposed edges on your roof needs flashing for the best roofing system performance. Without proper flashing, you’re taking an unnecessary risk.

Most skilled roofers will use a combination of flashing techniques to get your roof protected again. Here are some different types of flashing they’ll use:

• Base Flashing – Base flashing refers to flashing that goes around the base of a vent, pipe, or chimney. It often requires multiple pieces of flashing that need to be molded to the structure’s size and shape.
• Step Flashing – This refers to the flashing that’s installed between a roof and a wall. The piece of flashing is bent to match the angle of the two surfaces.
• Continuous Flashing – This is often the most common type of flashing installed on properties because most edges are long, continuous lines that can use the same piece of flashing.

Have you noticed issues with your roof flashing? ProCraft Exteriors is the one to call for your roofing needs. Call us today at (314) 786-3732!

How Do You Weather Corrugated Metal Roofing?

The vintage look of corrugated metal is attractive for many reasons, including for creating a rustic look. Would you like to age your corrugated metal roofing? If so, you can utilize toilet cleaner to age metal roofing. Clorox clinging bleach gel toilet bowl cleaner is apparently quite effective at aging corrugated metal. There are other ways to age metal roofing, however, they use very corrosive chemicals and can be very harmful if misused.

What is the Cheapest Metal Roofing?

According to a leading website, galvanized steel is the most affordable form of metal roofing. The cost range for galvanized steel is between $2.65 to $3.75 for each square foot. Conversely, stone coated steel tiles and shingles are on the more expensive side of the spectrum. Those go for anywhere between $3.50 to $4.25 for each square foot.

How Wide is Corrugated Tin?

Professional corrugated metal roofing is a great option for many reasons. And yet many questions remain, including how wide corrugated tin is. For this answer, let’s turn to the experts. According to a leading home guide website, corrugated tin measures between twenty-six and thirty-six inches. The width of this roofing material is measured straight across the top of the sheet from each edge to each edge. The two most common widths for corrugated tin are 26 and 36 inches. Another standard width to be aware of is 24 and 39 inches.

Does Corrugated Metal Rust?

Corrugated metal is very durable and corrosion-resistant. There are two ways to rust corrugated metal. The first way is with muriatic acid or bleach toilet bowl cleaner, as previously mentioned, or naturally, through weathering and water exposure. The zinc coating on hot-dipped galvanized steel will last for thirty-five to fifty years in corrosive soil, and longer in less corrosive soil. Essentially, with roofing maintenance and a good roof coating, corrugated metal will last a long time without rusting. 

Who Sells Corrugated Metal Roofing?

There are many roofing companies that provide corrugated metal roofing installations. It’s important to always consult the services of an insured roofing professional in order to understand the intricacies of the process and whether or not a corrugated metal roof is best for your roof installation. An insured roofer will also be able to discuss the cost of a corrugated roof versus a different style of roofing. 

Where to Screw Corrugated Metal Roofing

If you need to screw a corrugated metal roof for your roof installation, it will be important for you to utilize proper procedures. That’s because any breaks in the roof surface area will become leaks sooner rather than later. To begin with, the panels should be cut to the length. Some holes should be pre-drilled. If they are not already, they should be drilled prior to installation. Next, you can install the panels. You can screw the panels in the areas where the pre-drilled holes have been placed. Then, you will complete the other side. 

What is Corrugated Metal Roofing Made Of

If you are wondering what corrugated metal roofing is made of, you’re not alone. Please refer to the following list to learn more about this extraordinary roofing material.

• Corrugated metal roofing. This material has many different names. Universally, corrugated galvanized iron or steel is the name for this roofing material. Other names include wriggly tin (UK military slang), corrugated sheet metal (North America), and pailing (Caribbean English).
• Screws. The size screws that are used for metal roofs are generally 1 ½ inch and end with a penetration of about 1 1/4th of an inch. This will help the metal roof panel remain firmly in place.
• Underlayment. Traditionally built homes will need an underlayment with a metal roofing installation. Insulation will need to be installed between joists and sheathing.

Your corrugated metal roof must be handled with professionalism. Our staff at ProCraft Exteriors are ready to assist. Please call us at (314) 786-3732. Discover more about how a corrugated metal roof in Chesterfield and St. Louis, MO can solve your roofing problems!

How long does a flat roof last?

There are several factors that can determine the lifespan of a commercial structure’s flat roof, but on the average, we give them a lifespan from 10 years up to 50 years. The climate and environment, the type of membrane applied, and the maintenance and upkeep can affect their life expectancy. 

• TPO flat roof system life expectancy – 22 to 30 years
• EPDM flat roof system life expectancy – 22 to 35 years
• Metal flat roof system life expectancy – 30 to 45 years
• Asphalt flat roof system life expectancy – 20 to 40 years

What causes flat roof leaks?   

As we mentioned earlier, builders and owners find a few advantages with a flat roof on a commercial structure. They are less expensive to install; they are less expensive to maintain, and they are easier for contract workers to access and service, like electricians, plumbers, and make it easier for commercial HVAC service technicians to install and repair HVAC units.  

Like any roof though, a flat roof can have problems too, like leaks and it can be just as difficult to determine where and why a flat roof is leaking, a primary concern. Four of the most common causes of a flat roof leak.

• Improper Drainage: Improper drainage is a common cause, perhaps the most common of all reasons. Because it is a flat roof, when snow melts or rain collects on a flat roof, the drainage system is the only way for that water to shed.   
• Flashing and Membrane: The best method to keep a flat roof from flashing is proper and timely roof maintenance. Regular inspections allow the opportunity to detect early signs of problems with the flashing and membrane.   
• Age: Regardless of how strict you are with inspection and maintenance, a flat roof will age, making it more susceptible to spring leaks. There are factors that play into how long a flat roof will last, such as climate and environment conditions and the quality and type of membrane installed on the roof.      

Do flat roofs leak more?

This is a misconception that has been handed down from generation to generation. A flat roof that was properly installed, has had regular inspections, maintenance kept up as needed, and the flashing kept in good condition, a flat roof won’t leak any more than a sloped roof.

How do you waterproof a flat roof?

Common sense tells us that a flat roof won’t shed water like a sloped roof, but this is a problem that has a solution. A roofing contractor with experience in flat roofing can provide an analogy of the roof and offer the best method to waterproof it. For the convenience of the building owner or maintenance crew reading this, here we offer the steps it takes to waterproof a flat roof. 

Step One

Take the measurement of every surface of the flat roof. To get the total square footage, measure the length by width in feet then multiply the total length by total width. Your local big box or hardware store can assist you in determining how much coating you’ll need. 

Step Two

Clean the roof with a broom or pressure washer, making sure all the dirt, debris, and dust is removed. For a heavily dirty roof, mix 1 quart of trisodium phosphate with five gallons of water, and use a push broom to clean the surface. The roof must be dry before the coating can be applied. 

Step Three

Pour one gallon of the elastomeric coating onto the roof and spread with a paint roller, starting in one corner and working around the roof as you walk backward. Avoid stepping on the coating you’ve applied. Repeat the process until you have covered the entire roof, allowing 24 hours between coats. 

Want to learn more about flat roof systems in Chesterfield and St. Louis, MO? Dial (314) 786-3732 to speak with the professionals here at ProCraft Exteriors!