Types of Roofing

What are the different types of roofing?

This week, we will take a short look into the different types of roofing that River City Roofing provides! The six types of roofing covered today are PVC, TPO, EPDM, Built-Up, Metal, and Shingle.
PVC is a single ply membrane used on flat and low-slope roofs. It is a highly reflective membrane which allows for a high rating in building efficiency. It typically comes in large, long sheets which are unrolled and adhered to the surface of a roof.

TPO is a single ply membrane that is used on flat and low-slope roofs. It was originally introduced as a lower cost and efficient alternative to PVC membrane. It resists mold growth, dirt buildup, and tears or punctures. TPO is also equipped to handle a building’s thermal expansion or contraction during the changing seasons.

EPDM is another single ply, flat/ low slope roofing membrane, like PVC and TPO. It is the most popular type of single ply membrane. It is made from mostly recycled rubber, and is not very labor intensive compared to TPO and PVC. It also is very simple to repair, given that it is being done by a professional.

Built-Up Roofing is a system of roofing that has been around for a very long time. This type of roofing is restricted to extremely low-sloped or flat roofs. The roof is covered by heating coal-tar pitch and applying it between sheets of tar
paper. After the appropriate number of layers has been reached, the roof is then usually covered with gravel to provide a walking surface, and to weigh down the layers of tar and paper. This type of roof is considered somewhat self-healing, due to the tar’s ability to reform when warm.

Metal Roofing has been around for a long time, and for good reason. It can be used on pitched and flat roofs. While expensive in the beginning, the superior durability and low maintenance usually will balance or even outweigh the cost in the long run. They are also very environmentally friendly, with most metal roofing coming from 30-60% recycled material, and the roof itself is fully recyclable, which can mitigate the cost of a new metal roof.

Shingle roofs are some of the most common roof systems in the world. They are used only on sloped roofs, as theshingles would not be able to perform on a flat roof. In a following blog post, I will be explaining the types and benefits of many different types of shingles.