Maintaining the rooftop of a commercial building is a major responsibility. A commercial building with a properly cared for roof vigilantly shelters business operations running below.  A compromised roof, however, can impede progress indefinitely.  Water will seep into the cracks and crevices trickling down into unwanted places. Eventually, water leakage can short circuit electrical outlets, computers, and other vital equipment, impairing your business’s operations.

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Business owners that choose to ignore the initial warning signs of a damaged roof risk the structural integrity of their business. Over time, the commercial roofing system will cave in, compromising the safety and health of your employees. To avoid enduring such an unfortunate occurrence, business owners are advised to properly monitor the status of their rooftop.

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To achieve this goal, business owners need to locate the right commercial roofing contractor. An experienced roofer knows how to stay within your budget. A professional roofer knows how to maintain the proposed budget without inhibiting business operations. Crescent Construction understands how disruptive a leaky roof can be. And we want to help.

Single-ply membranes are generally categorized as either thermoplastic or thermoset. Thermoplastic materials can be repeatedly softened when heated and hardened when cooled. Thermoset materials solidify, or "set," irreversibly after heating. Single ply membranes commonly are referred to by their chemical acronyms, such as ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).

Single-ply membranes may contain reinforcement layers. Common reinforcements for single ply membranes include polyester fabrics or scrims, glass fiber, or a felt or fleece backing. A finished sheet's thickness typically is referred to as mil thickness; 1 mil equals 0.001 inch. Common mil thicknesses for these sheet membranes range from 30 mils to 60 mils.

Single-ply membranes can be installed fully adhered, mechanically attached or held down with ballast. Most single-ply roof systems do not receive surfacing.

In many instances, a combination of attachment methods are used to secure a roof system. For instance, an insulation may be mechanically attached to the substrate with the roof membrane fully adhered to the insulation.

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EPDM

Ethlyene Propylene Diene Terpolymer

This system is a black single-ply membrane, often referred to as "rubber roofing."

> EPDM systems require minimal maintenance and are resistant to UV radiation and ozone.
> EPDM technology has proven effective for more than 30 years.
> It withstands temperature extremes and expands and contracts with the building.

PVC

Poly Vinyl Carbonate

These systems are among the easiest single-ply roofing membranes to install and heat-weld together.

> These systems are able to resist various chemical effluents.
> They provide superior resistance to punctures and tears.
> PVC systems are especially suited for roofs that are exposed to concentrations of grease, oils and many kinds of fuels.
> In areas where acid rain or other forms of acidic outflow is a problem, PVC roofs are the preferred solution.

TPO

ThermoPlastic Olefin

This type of system provides long-term durability and the security of heat-welded TPO’s advantages include:

> TPO traditionally has a white 'reflective surface' which reduces cooling costs.
> TPO roofing systems are the most environmentally friendly of the single-ply systems.
> They produce no dioxins or chlorine. Membranes come in varying thicknesses to meet your specific requirements and are available in varying roll widths.

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This type of low slope roofing material is referred to as modified bitumen due to it's material makeup which consists of modifiers that are added to standard roofing asphalt to replace plasticizers removed during the distillation process. Bitumen is reinforced with fiberglass or polyester fiber matting in order to increase durability and strength.

The two most common types are SBS and APP. The use of SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) increases the flexibility of the membrane and allows it to have stronger expansion and contraction capabilities. A standard SBS modified bitumen roof system is a two-ply system applied in rolls that overlap the edge of the previous roll. The other type of modified bitumen roof is the APP (attactic polypropylene) which is used for its ability to increase the aging ability of the roof system. SBS is often the more popular system as the synthetic rubber additive increases the products flexibility.

There are a handful of methods for installing a modified bitumen roof system which consist of the most common method of torch applied, as well as with asphalts or cold adhesives.