Re-roofing or replacement of an existing roof can be one of the largest capital projects undertaken at a building. When it comes to replacing a flat roof, the options can be really overwhelming. Each choices comes with its own list of pros and cons. Without careful consideration at the time of design, there could be unexpected or costly consequences down the line. At best, poorly considered choices can pose a nuisance or result in an excessive maintenance burden over the life of the roof. At worst, overloading could lead to failure of the building structure or a tear-off of the roofing.

This article deals with four critical aspects to consider when replacing a flat roof: the structural deck, the membrane, drainage, and wind uplift.

Structural Deck: Consider the load

The term ‘roof’ is used to refer to an entire assembly, including both the roofing components such as the membrane, insulation, and vapor retarder as well as the structural deck. The structural deck not only supports the roofing components but it also supports any intended rooftop equipment (such as heating/air conditioning units) as well as people and snow loads.

For flat roofs, structural decks are usually constructed of concrete or steel. For the latter, the most common is fluted metal decking on open web steel joints. Roof decks are designed to support a particular load. Therefore, it is significant any changes to the loading conditions be carefully assessed.

The flat roof replacement specialists in Newport News, Virginia offer top-notch highly assured assistance in this regard. They make sure that the membranes chosen are the ideal fit for the roof and make adequate attention on the structural deck. Once you handover the roof replacement task on the hands of the roofers of the top flat roof replacement companies in Newport News, Virginia, you are rest assured to remain stress-free.

Drainage: Make It Effective

Roofs are meant to shed, not hold, water. Large amounts of standing water sitting for long periods can increase the risk of leakage, and decrease the membrane’s service life. In certain situations, stagnant water can become a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes, or create a safety concern. For instance, water can freeze, causing a slipping hazard for maintenance staff accessing the roof.

Effective drainage relies not only on an adequate number of drains but also effective slopes to those drains. Drains, even if numerous, are useless if they are located at the roof’s high points.

In conventional roofing assemblies, where the membrane is installed at the top the insulation, tapered insulation boards are frequently used to slope the membrane surface toward the drains. In protected membrane assemblies, the waterproofing membrane is installed below the insulation as in these cases, effective drainage relies on the slope of the structural roof deck itself. For some instances, lightweight concrete toppings are used to provide slopes to drains. In other cases, as in poured concrete slabs, the top surface of the slab is simply finished to drain at the time of construction.

When the roofing system is changed, the impact on drainage must be considered. This is particularly significant when switching from a conventional system to a protected membrane system. A roof that previously relied on tapered insulation to provide adequate slopes to drains is now limited by the structural roof deck’s slope. If the deck was not originally designed to slope, this could result in ponded water.

Drainage can also be affected by changes to the thickness of the insulation. Increasing the thickness may cause problems with scuppers and overflow scuppers. As well, improperly designed overlays can affect drainage, particularly when installed on a roof that already had problematic drainage.

You can get efficient assistance in this regard from the flat roof replacement companies in Newport News, Virginia.

Wind Uplift: Go Beyond Manufacturers’ Guidelines

Wind moving across a flat roof can impose suction forces that cause the assembly to lift off the structure. The membrane and perimeter flashings must be designed to resist wind uplift. Securing a roof is typically achieved by weighing down the roofing with ballast, mechanically fastening the assembly to the structural roof deck, adhering the roofing system components together or a combination of the above.

If you need quality assistance and reliability in this regard, then consider taking the assistance of the flat roof replacement service providers of Newport News, Virginia companies.

Conclusion
Replacing a roof may appear simple, but, in fact, it involves numerous considerations critical to the success of the project. For best results, building owners should obtain the advice of experienced roofing professionals. In particular, it is significant to involve a structural engineer or another consultant familiar with the structural implications of re-roofing.

One should also confirm whether a building permit is needed for roof replacement. Many roofs are simply designed and installed directly by contractors, for the owner, without engineering involvement. While this is not always problematic, it should be made clear from the beginning who is designing the roof replacement and whether or not they carry professional liability insurance.

Finally, replacing a roof can present a great opportunity to protect and enhance the big financial asset that is the building. While some building owners simply choose to replace like-for-like, many take the opportunity to change aspects of the system to improve durability and longevity, increase energy performance, and control costs. Again, an experienced professional can help navigate the structural, serviceability, and durability concerns to ensure the most appropriate system is specified for the specific building and budget.

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