Energy efficient ceilings are available in a material that fits any home. As with traditional roofing materials, your final choice of the right new roof for your home will largely depend on where you live, the architectural style of your home, and local preferences. However, most discussions of residential roofing options tend to focus on the materials that are most commonly used in pitched roof styles. If you have a flat roof, your needs are somewhat different. There are highly energy efficient options for a flat roof that you can consider.

Flat roofs are very popular in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the desert Southwest. Certain architectural styles used in the Deep South also incorporate flat roofs or portions of roofs. Low slope roofs can often use the same energy efficient materials very effectively.
 
Flat roofs present several challenges:

• Much more difficult to install.
• very hard to maintain
• Few durable solutions available
• Persistent drainage problems
• inadequate insulation

There are energy-efficient roofing materials for flat and low-slope roofs that offer most of the same benefits as other steep-slope roofing materials. Some of these materials are commonly used in commercial buildings very effectively. Like other homeowners in the US, you may be thinking about replacing your roof while you can take advantage of federal tax credits and other available incentives.
 
New energy-efficient roofing systems promise reduced cooling costs, longer roof life with less maintenance, better wind resistance (up to 110 mph), better seals, and less likelihood of leaks and wind-driven water penetration. wind, and better insulation to prevent heat exchange. .
 
The recommended energy efficient roofing systems for flat and low pitch roofs are foam sprays and membranes. There are three main types of flat roof material options.
 
Sprayed Roofing: Seamless Sprayed Roofing Membrane or Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF).

Two liquids mix at the spray nozzle and release a chemical reaction that causes the foam to expand twenty to thirty times, forming a solid, seamless roof system that adheres to the entire roof. These spray roofing materials provide excellent water resistance and thermal insulation properties. They can be up to 500 times more energy efficient than traditional tar and gravel. Because the sprays stick to almost anything, there is no need to remove old roofing materials. The foam is then treated with a protective “elastomeric” coating. In other words, the coating protects the foam and stretches with it in heat or cold. It has been shown to reduce energy costs by up to 58% and, in some locations, can pay for itself in as little as four and a half years. If properly cleaned, primed and topcoated every ten to fifteen years, the ceiling spray can last 50 years or move.
 
Thermoplastic Olefin or Polyolefin (TPO).

This material creates a single layer roof membrane. It is made from ethylene propylene rubber, which provides high durability with good flexibility to respond to building movement. It is resistant to ozone and algae and resistant to punctures and impact breakage. The seams are welded in a way that allows manufacturers to claim that they are almost one piece. The membrane is secured around the perimeter and at all penetrations and is then held in place with ballast.
 
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM).

This single-ply membrane has been used in the US since the 1960s. It’s a very common roofing material for flat roofs because it’s less expensive than some of the other options and relatively easy to install. EPDM is a rubber material, which makes it flexible enough to withstand building movement. It can be installed in three ways, depending on the local climate (particularly wind). It can be fully adhered across the roof, mechanically fastened to the substrate, or loosely laid and covered with ballast (often river rock) to hold it in place. The seams are sealed with special splice tapes.
 
There are three main material options available to homeowners with flat or low-sloped roofs. All of these systems offer energy efficient options for homes with flat roofs. Various companies manufacture the materials and sealants that need to be applied regularly. Talk to your roofing contractor about the best option for a flat roof in your region.

Copyright 2009 by ABCD Publishing