Hey gang…
I have a close friend who owns a good sized retail store (approx. 5000 sq) in need of a new (flat) roof. Never done one and was curious if it was something worth investigating to help him save some money and earn a bit myself while learning a new skill. I imagine I’d use a membrane material, but wondering what you guys thought. Any secret voodoo techniques? Is it too specialized to mess with? As always…thanks for the input!
Paul
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Replies
A rubber roof is the way to go, but I sure wouldn't want to do 5000 square feet of it on my first try.
Find a local commercial roofing supplier. They might have a video you can watch on how to apply the products they sell.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
What kind of roof does he have now?
Take a look at http://www.Tremco Roofing.
They have both BUR and EPDM products.
The devil is in the details & flashing with either products.
Give more details, and I am sure piffen will share his wisdom with you.
Dave
I'm gonna get up on the roof at some point in the next few days and scope it out... once I have a better handle on what exactly is going on I'll try and fill in some blanks and make an offering to the Piffen Oracle...
Whenever I'm considering a roof job I think about who gets the call if it leaks. It makes me, A: do a damn good job or B: that roofers warranty is just a phone call away. Yea I know, pretty obvious considerations! I also love to try new stuff if I think I can pull it off. If you do this please take some pictures I'd like to learn more about detailing membrane roofs.
Tom
Many of the products require a certified installer for warranty purposes. Keep that in mind.
Ahhhhhhhhhh...good point, I haadn't considered that. (Of course, being a stubborn German... ;) )
I'm a stubborn German too, which is why I will insist that you avoid trying to "acquuire" a new skill by practicing on this roof. Roofing, especially flat work, is highly skilled, and you have to learn it under a skilled mentor OTJ
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I don't know if anybody noticed the cover article of the latest JLC about BUR work. It was OK on the basics, but I saw at least one major thing that I would consider a defect in his application process, a method that I have seen too much because it was the cause of many of the leaks I had to repair in BUR roofing, and it was contrary to published standards.I also had to laugh at the fact that the guy holding the mop - probably the author of the article - had shined shoes and clean pants. obviously a POSED SHOT. Nobody works hot stuff with nice clothing like that!The guy did a decent enough job covering the basics, but it should definitely NOT be taken as a how-to article for potential installers, onluy an introduction for HOs or GCs to know what to expect.
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I also had to laugh at the fact that the guy holding the mop - probably the author of the article - had shined shoes and clean pants. obviously a POSED SHOT. Nobody works hot stuff with nice clothing like that!
Everyone on my crew is required to wear a tie at all times and I send them home if their shoes are not spit polished. Appearances are important!
Uh Huh
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D*mnit...who ratted this thread out to The Oracle?
Psst... The all-seeing one is really just a mortal monacle, not an omniscient oracle
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Just like an Oracle to maintain he isn't... I'm not falling for that one.
I don't care what anyone else here says... flat roofs are not rocket science... it's hard, hot and sometimes dirty work....
after hire'n a few out (for lack of equipment) i got sick of know'n i could do better... so i now have cranes, kettels,torches, draggon wagons, buckets mops ect... i don't do much BUM hot tar stuff anymore just because i happen to like torchdown and my draggon wagon... @ $40 a sq (been a year since i purchased any) with 2 guys i can easy put down/cover 30-60 sq a day...
details are everything and i come back and install alot of roof vents... chances are with flat roofs 90% is good... it's that 10% that gives you hell... I spend alot of time on parapet walls, flashing and cant strips... i like a min of 12" cant at the walls, usually I'll cut a saw cut into the wall all the way around for counter flashing...
think it out talk to the guys at the supply houses, take your time, and you should be ok.. you'll never learn if you don't try... even if it busts your butt at least you'll know how it should be done next time when you hire it out...
pony
Paul, we are a commercial flat roofer, installed 50 sq.ft. up to 100,000 sq.ft.
If you wish to remain a close friend with this person... recommend a flat roofer to do this type of work.
I'm not sure of your location and weather, however you need to consider;
the potential of leakage during the new roof installation ( you cannot tarp 5000 sf of flat roof like you could on a sloped house roof).
the potential of leakage after the roof is installed and possible damage to interior contents and PO'd tenannts.
Insurance Liability and the possible major leakage during and after.
Not to mention details at roof top units, roof drains, parapets etc. We send our crews on training courses with the manufacturers on how to install their systems. Although many here have figured out how to do simple detailing on residential, something this size is not DIY'er.
You probably don't have the manpower or equipment to handle something this size. Complete tear off and new installation will run 200 - 300 man hours. Going over existing (after considering existing roof type, new roof type, weight of new over old.... etc.) 100 - 200 man hours.
PaulB,Personally, I think EPDM is a very simple system to install. The hardest part is finding good thorough instructions. But if you are competent and can follow instructions, I would think you could put one down.Having said that...Scottbr makes some excellent points. 5000 square feet is a pretty good size roof. Tarping a flat roof is extremely difficult to pull off. Manipulating a 20'x 100' sheet of rubber is a pain in the a$$. In fact, the last roof I did still has a large sheet of rubber rolled up laying up there...too heavy for me to get it down!If you decide to try this, I would strongly recommend that you use the latex adhesive to glue the rubber down to the board. The rubber cement is stuck as soon as it touches, the latex adhesive allows you to move the rubber around a bit. It's a lot easier.
Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Send me the address for that job and I'll take that pain in the azz off your butt;)
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Rich, you should try hauling 50'x200' around.
Tarping a flat roof this size is near impossible.... trust me we've tried.
I did my own flat ( actually low sloped ) roof this summer using EPDM.
I hired a friend for a day to help me tear the roof off and two kids to help me move it around to the front of the house and haul it away. I applied the membrane myself using a little trick I came up with.
I couldn't find the latex glue and was stuck with the nasty chemical stuff. I applied the glue with a roller and let it dry. I then took some 6 mil poly and put it over the glue and layed the EPDM in place. I then pulled out the poly and - Bob's your uncle.
New roof no wrinkles.