Many homes have an outside deck / patio over a living space, and so far, the solution to waterproof such roof decks was to install rubber membrane roof and a wooden deck on slippers over the rubber. On some older roofs, instead of a rubber roof, a Tar / Built-up roofing material is used for waterproofing. Problems with this assembly is first and foremost the roof leaks which often occur within few years of roof deck installation.

Often the seams on the roofing membrane pop open, or water starts to pool under the deck, and the only way for this water to drain is into your home. If you need to repair such roof deck, you will have to take the deck completely apart to seal the seams or redo the roof flashing, and then put the wooden deck back together.

Another issue is the cost of such roof deck (even without the high costs associated with roof repairs) – the rubber roof by itself is somewhat not expensive, but when you add the cost of a pressure treated wood deck (a fiber decking, mahogany or some other premium deck is rather rare, and most people do choose to go with PT wood), your roof deck ends up costing you a small fortune. Then you also have to install and seal the railing posts.

On a rubber roof, pieces of uncured flashing must be glued to the rubber roof and the post to make the post penetration watertight, and on a Tar / BUR roof, liquid tar or roof cement is used to seal around the post. Both rubber roof flashing and tar flashing around the post will begin to fail after 5-7 years, so once again to stop the roof leaks, you will have to disassemble the deck and repair the flashing.

IB Deck Shield – the long lasting, beautiful and cost effective solution for roof decks

IB Roof Systems saw the need for a long-lasting waterproofing membrane for roof decks, patios and balconies, and based an their excellent PVC roofing membrane, created a Deck Roofing product which will last for decades, is easy to repair (if such need arises) and has a special, slip-resistant, beautiful surface which make it possible to walk on this membrane, eliminating the need for a wooden deck over the membrane and making the whole roof seamless and watertight.

IB Deck Shield was created based on IB Roofs’ proven PVC roofing membrane, designed for flat roofs, and featuring hot air welded seams, which make membrane overlaps sealed permanently, ensuring long-lasting watertight roof. IB roofing membrane can withstand ponding water, and is an excellent choice for any flat roof. IB roofs also have a complete line of flashing accessories – inside and outside corner flashings, pipe flashing ranging in size from 1/4″ to over 12 inches, for extra wide exhaust pipes and furnace stacks. Because of fast and easy installation in all tight spots, any roof penetration can be flashed quickly and any installation defects are eliminated.

IB took it’s existing it’s existing PVC roof product (IB Flat Roof), and added a special surface to it, making it slip resistant, even when wet, and added a beautiful texture, which resembles small pebble surface often used as a swimming pool deck. All components of IB Deck Shield roof are color matching and will produce a uniform, great-looking final product.

IB Deck Shield roof installation:

Because IB Deck Shield is exposed to constant foot traffic, deck furniture, outside BBQ grills, etc., it must withstand all this abuse and last for many years without any leaks. To be able to do so, IB deck Shield is installed over a dense, moisture resistant substrate – DensDeck, which is attached to the roof deck.

Once DensDeck substrate is installed, all seams are taped and “plastered” with special joint compound to provide a universal, smooth surface, to which Deck Shield membrane is glued using either a water-based or solvent based adhesive (we use water based glue, as it is environmentally “safer” than solvent based product).

When a a joint compound cures, we apply a layer of IB water-based adhesive and lay down the IB Deck Shield membrane, which was previously aligned to be wrinkles free and to have exactly a 2″ overlap with the previous sheet of membrane. Once adhesive is applied and membrane is laid down, it is mechanically fastened at all roof to wall connections, but never in field.

After a few minutes, when adhesive cures, all seams are welded and it’s time to install roof to wall flashing as well as all pre-fabbed inside / outside corners, as well as flash all post penetrations. IB Roof manufactures special post flashings which can either be pre-welded or split and it is the choice of a contractor which one to use.

We prefer to use split post flashings – although the split post flashing requires more welding, it is actually easier to install split flashing rather then a welded flashing, because when we order them, we specify the post size – usually 3 5/8″ x 3 5/8″ (a standard 4×4′ railing post), and a welded flashing sits pretty tight around the post so it is rather difficult to pull it all the way down.

Durability of IB DeckShield flat roof decks:

Once all DensDeck is installed, all DeckShield is glued down, seams welded and all flashings are installed, the roof is complete, and now you have a durable, completely water-tight roof deck, where you can spend nice summer days, invite your friends over for BBQ, and not worry about roof leaks any more. IB DeckShield is VERY durable, and very resistant to puncture damage. Because it is glued to the DensDeck substrate, the surface under it is very hard and most sharp objects that fall on this roof will bounce off leaving very little or no damage – we accidentally dropped sharp tin snips, that just bounce off and did not cause any damage.

Of course you want to be careful with your new roof and not drop any sharp objects purposely, but small accidents do happen, and you can be confident that IB DeckShield will withstand all normal wear and tear – foot traffic and most accidental drops, which would usually puncture a flat roof such as rubber roofs.

If your roof is damaged – in most cases it should be leaking for a long time, as membrane is glued to the substrate and even if some water gits in, it won’t be able to spread and leak inside your home. It is also very easy repair IB Deck Shield roof – a small patch of color-matching membrane will be welded over damaged area, making the repair virtually invisible, unless looked at from close distance. IB DeckShield roof will remain weldable for decades, just like other IB Flat roofing products.

Roof deck prices – how much does IB DeckShield cost to install?

IB DeckShield is a premium flat roofing product and is rather expensive by itself. However, when you consider the alternative of a rubber roof with a PT wooden deck over it, IB DeckShield will usually be less expensive, as PT wood deck will add a significant amount to the total roof deck cost.

Because IB DeckShield installation is rather complicated and involved, it will cost more than the flat roof prices provided by our roofing calculator. IB Deck Shield takes considerably longer to install than regular IB flat roofs, and costs a lot more than standard 50-mil or even 80-mil IB roofing membrane. Therefore installation prices per sq. ft. of your roof deck will be higher than those of an 80 mil roof deck option (eg. flat roof deck in Wellesley, MA)

Price of IB Deck Shield installation will also depend or roof difficulty, number of roof penetrations and whether the existing roof needs to be removed. In case of a roof removal, the roof deck must be installed in sections, and sealed at the end of each work day, to prevent roof leaks from overnight rains.

IB Roof Deck prices:

A basic price to install IB DeckShield starts at $14-15 per sq. ft. (assuming that your roof deck is approximately 200-300 sq. ft., which is what most roof decks are), and includes a 1/4″ DensDeck Substrate, with all joints sealed using joint compound, and up to 5 post flashing penetrations. All other flashing and penetration details will be priced assuming other aspects of your roof, and the entire project.

Roof tear-off will be priced in a range of $300+ per 100 sq. ft. of roof area, plus cost of the dumpster. Reason for this price structure is as follows: Roof decks are usually rather small, but the tear off greatly intensifies the installation difficulty and slows down the overall process. Also, we separate dumpster fees, as on a small roof we would still need the smallest (10 or 15 yards) dumpster which costs about $300.

To give you and example – it took us about 5 days to complete the roof in the first picture on this page, with 4-5 guys working 8-10 hours per day. The roof size there is approximately 1200 sq. ft. So assume that 4-5 guys removed and installed about 240 sq. ft. of roof in 1 day.

The pricing above is approximate and reflects general price stricture that we use fordeck roofs installation in Massachusetts and the rest of New England states (Roofs in CT, RI, NH, ME and VT).

We will price each roof deck separately, but this will provide you with a pretty accurate pricing guide-lines, so you would know how much to expect to pay for IB DeckShield roof.

As a comparison, a rubber roof would cost you $8-10 per sq. ft. plus the cost of PT wooden deck which can range from $13-20 per sq. ft., often without the material costs.

Additional roof decks and flat roofing resources:

Roof deck installation using 80-mil IB PVC roof with a wooden deck over it.

RoofDecks.org – general information about roofing materials, roof deck prices and installation methods of waterproofing products for roof decks, balconies and patios.

Flat Roofing – informational resource about flat roofing materials – Learn about EPDM Rubber roofing, PVC and TPO roofs and Tar & Gravel, Modified Bitumen and other Built-Up roofs.

Roof calculator – estimate roofing prices in your state for different roofing materials – asphalt shingles, metal roofs, and various flat roofing membranes. Learn how contractors price their roofs and pros & cons different roofing materials. Find out how to measure and estimate a roof using extensive step-by-step roof estimating guide and roofing calculator software.

Benefits of using recycled insulation include instant and continuous financial benefits. Since we get recycled ISO board at a discount we pass on the savings to you, and with more insulation for the same amount of money you’d spend on new ISO, you will continue to save money on your energy costs year round.

But that’s not all! Although ISO insulation is not “green” per-se, using recycled insulation is a green choice since by reducing your energy consumption, it will also reduce carbon monoxide emitted into the atmosphere. It will also not go into our nation’s land-fills, therefore it will benefit the environment.

Types of insulation we use:

By default we use a 1/2 inch fan-fold Styrofoam insulation, which is mostly used when there is already some insulation on the roof. Fan-fold insulation comes with 2-R value, so it will add some insulating value to the roof. It also acts as a separation barrier between the deck or old roofing material and IB membrane. Fanfold insulation is attached with heavy-duty screws and corrosion-resistant insulation plates. It is light-weight, features quick installation and is ideal for a roof layover. It is also the most economical option.

As an option you may choose to use a common ‘new-construction’ and complete roof replacement choice of insulation – Poly ISO board, which comes in a wide range of sizes and feature high R-values from 3 to 20-R. Sizes include 1/2, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 and 3.3 inches and R-value is calculated using 6-R per 1 inch of insulation.

If drainage is a concern, ISO insulation comes in tapered design which has different thicknesses at each end, and is used to create pitch ( slope ) on a completely flat roof. Slope is usually directed toward drains or drip edges and diverts the water flow to where it can exit the roof.

We will review green roofs not only from Eco-friendly perspective, but also from a roofer’s point of view, as it is the roofer that make green roof work. We’ll also discuss recent technological breakthroughs in green roofing industry, which simplify design, installation and greatly reduce costs.

Cost issues associated with Green Roofs:

Green roofs are expensive – no doubt about that. Main reason being the relative difficulty of building and maintaining a green roof, while making sure the water-proofing membrane is intact and performs for its specified life-period. Another reason is that all the components of a green roof (of which there are many) are expensive, and only a handful of suppliers offer them. Green Roof vegetation is also a concern a these plants must be able to survive in a limited amount of soil and if the drought hits, these plants might not survive. It may also be necessary to set up some kind of sprinkler system to maintain the required moisture level.

Technological (installation) issues associated with Green Roofs:

When all is set and done, a green roof will create a beautiful roof-top-garden and should significantly increase, if not double the life of your roofing membrane, as it protects the roof from sun and elements. Green roof will also make your building a lot cooler, as it absorbs most of solar heat.

Despite all these benefits and improvements, it is of the utmost importance to use the best available flat roofing membrane such as 80-mil IB Roof and to have a quality installation performed by a certified flat roofing installer. Just imagine that your new green roof is installed and some time later the roof begins to leak – now you have to disassemble the green roof: remove the vegetation and soil, moisture retainers and water-flow base, while the leak may not even be where you think it is. That is why from the installation perspective everything must be installed to the highest standard as well as all seams must be checked and double checked in order to ensure a leak-free roof functioning.

IB Roof and GreenRoofBlocks – the perfect combination for a Green Roof:

To make the installation and maintenance of green roof as simple and inexpensive as possible, we chose to combine our IB Pvc roofing products with a simple, modular approach of Green Roof Blocks. These green roof sections come in 2×2′ aluminum boxes with specially formulated light-weight soil. Green Roof Blocks offer a quick installation, ease of roof repair – if there is ever a need to do some roof maintenance, all you need to do is to simply lift up the sections where you suspect the leak may be. Green Roof block are also the most cost-effective green roof you can find. Vegetation can be planted and grown before the roof is installed or right on the roof-top.

Roof installation service:

We offer a complete-package roof installation service, from pulling all necessary building permits, to coordinating with other contractors and service providers (such as utility companies, architects, etc.) involved in your roofing project.

Our installers and roof mechanics work safely, wear all necessary safety equipment and use state of the art installation tools and equipment. We pay top wages and provide premium workmanship and services.

While a standard labor warranty in the roofing industry (a minimum required by law) is the 2-year period, all our roofs installations include a Labor warranty that matches the material warranty (i.e., 80-mil IB membrane has a 25 year material warranty, which we match with our 25-year labor warranty).

Roof consulting service:

We offer roofing consultation services which include complete analysis of your present roof condition, inspection of structural components, roof deck and roof insulation. We analyze your roofs drainage situation, and identify whether you may need more insulation, drains / scupper or other roof components installed to improve your roof’s performance and extend its service life. We will provide you a complete report of what has to be done on your roof, and identify parts you may not need. We can also negotiate with your General Contractor and/or Architect on your behalf, to get you the right products/services, while including need items and eliminating unnecessary and costly items. This will prevent future “change orders” and up-charges from your GC / Architect / Contractor, and save you money and frustration.

We hold all necessary State Construction Licenses and Registrations:

• MA Home-Improvement Contractor registration (HIC) and Unrestricted Construction Supervisor License (CSL)
• CT Home-Improvement Contractor registration (HIC) and Major Contractor Registration
• RI Home-Improvement Registration and Special Commercial Roofing Contractor Registration

Flat Roof installation service details:

For a flat and low-slope roofing application, we exclusively install IB Cool roofing single-ply membranes with up-to 25 years Commercial and Lifetime Residential warranties.

IB Roof is a versatile flat roofing system that can be adapted for any flat roof type and level complexity. IB roof is a perfect, long-lasting flat roofing choice for:

• Condos, Cooperatives and other Multi-Unit residential buildings.
• Restaurants
• Storage Facilities
• Office buildings
• Manufacturing and Warehouse facilities
• Auto Repair stations and garages, Gas Stations
• Stores and Shopping malls
• All other commercial buildings with a flat roof

With its Cool-roof properties, IB will save you an average of 20% or more on the Air-Conditioning costs, which can run into hundreds of dollars per month. With ever-rising electricity prices, this is especially crucial for climate-controlled storage-complexes, restaurants, and refrigeration-facilities, but will greatly benefit any building that uses Air-Conditioning equipment.

IB is also an environmentally friendly roof and you can have a Green / Garden roof installed, without worries of roof leaks or environmental incompatibility.

IB with its Lifetime Residential warranty, is perfect for any type of residential application: Your Home roof, Garage or even a walk-on flat roof deck. IB can be installed as a water-proofing membrane under a solid wood deck or you can choose an IB DeckShield* – a slip and water-proof, ADA (American Disability Act) compliant decking material. (* Due to anticipated constant foot traffic, IB DeckShield carries a 10 year warranty)

Your One Stop informational source about all aspects Flat Roofing, Cool Roofs, Solar BI-PV Roofs & Roof-top Gardens.

We specialize in Energy-Efficient flat roofing solutions for Residential flat roofs and Commercial / Restaurant flat roofs. We strive to provide our customers, with Eco-Friendly roofing solutions that are recyclable, & will help you conserve energy, as well as benefit environment.

Our Customer’s comments:

CoolFlatRoof installed an IB roof on a flat section of my house. They did an excellent job. I had problems for years with leaks and would hire someone to repair it but after awhile it would leak again. It had never leaked since Leo and Alex put this excellent roof on my house. It also seems to be more insulated: warmer in winter and cooler in the summer. Thanks guys. I recommend you to everyone who mentions a roofing problem. – Jack from Providence, RI

CoolFlatRoof quality promise: We are so confident in the quality of IB roofing systems and our installation, that we guarantee our roofs against any leaks. If the roof we installed ever leaks due to installation error, not only we will fix it, but we will also give you a check for $250.

Flat Roof leaks and repair information

For your convenience, we created a series of roofing guides that will help you choose the best solution for your flat roof and provide you with information that many roofing contractors and manufacturers do not want you to know. Check out our Do-it-yourself guides to rubber roof repair and tar & gravel roof repair for immediate steps you can take to temporary stop roof leaks, until you can perform a complete re-roof.

When your flat roof begins to leak, the process is irreversible, and the sooner you start to deal with these issues, the less you will have to spend on repairs and roof replacement. Read our comprehensive Flat Roof repair guide to gain the insight on the issues and costs involved and ways to minimize your expenses when you deal with roof leaks.

Discover different types of flat roofing materials and choose the best roofing product for your home or business. It is a shame, how in the 21st century, many roofing contractors still use 19th century roofing technology, that is inferior, inefficient and cost you more than a modern single-ply roof. Learn about different single-ply flat roofing systems and compare them to IB Roofs, the leading manufacturer of long-lasting cool flat roofing products.

Compare the two leading single-ply cool roofing products in our PVC vs. TPO roofing guide.

Flat roofing job profiles: Industrial, Commercial and Residential.

Testex textiles Corp. Central Falls, RI

Restaurant/Meat Market/Deli Rt. 1 – Hampton, NH

9th St. Condominiums Providence, RI

Does your Commercial / Industrial / Restaurant roof leak?

• Do you have to install plastic covers or tarps to protect your expensive machinery?
• Does water damage your office computers and equipment?
• Is your product inventory being destroyed by roof leaks?
• Do you loose business space, restaurant sitting, and production capacity due to your old, leaking flat roof?
• Does your black rubber or Tar & Gravel roof make the AC run like crazy, while it is still hot inside?

All of the above is true for these folks, and they are sick of it!

As you can see, they had to protect their VERY expensive machinery with plastic sheets just so the water does not destroy it. Flat roof leaks can cause thousands of dollars in damages to equipment and merchandise alone. Consider redundant roof repairs and costs associated with future replacement rotted decking, wet insulation, and disposal of old roofing material. Add lost business productivity, equipment repair and replacement and damaged inventory. It is time to eliminate your flat roofing leaks once and for all.

The choice is simple – IB Single-ply Cool Roof

A leaky roof creates major problems for many businesses, in for of lost revenue, damaged equipment, and lost business space. We can help you stop those leaks once and for all with IB PVC Roof – our flat-roofing product of choice – and we will back it up with our comprehensive guaranty that you will not have any more leaks.

With Commercial warranties up to 25 years and a proven track-record of over 30 years leak-free performance, IB roof will be saving you money on maintenance, repairs and energy costs. IB Cool roofs reflect over 90% of solar radiation and on a 90 degree day White IB roof will only go about 95 degrees. Compare that to 160-170 degrees for a black rubber ( Epdm ) roof.

IB ChemGuard – the only chemicals, oil and grease resistant roofing membrane available on the market will be the perfect choice for any restaurant or industrial manufacturing facility where chemicals may be present on the roof.

Most businesses require a lot of space to operate efficiently, and it just so happens that most commercial building have a flat roof. These flat roofs just leak, and there seems no end to these roof leak problems. Leaking flat roofs not only cause expensive repairs and structural damages, to the building – they can potentially halt some or all of your business’ production until leaks are fixed. Temporary loss of useful space can be more costly than the roof repair, and the damages to your production equipment may by far outweighs the cost to install a Long Lasting IB Flat Roof which will not only remain water-tight beyond it’s warranty period, but will also save you money on the ever-rising Cooling and Heating bills. IB’s excellent ‘Cool Roof’ reflective properties can lower your AC energy consumption by as much as 20%, and with addition of High-R insulation, it will be less expensive to heat your building.

Even ponding water is not a problem for IB Roofs.

IB Roof was created with the commercial / industrial flat roofing market in mind, and will work on the most complicated flat roof you can think of. If your flat roof has inherited water drainage problems, you has a devastating ponding water after each rain, it is no problem for IB, as it comes with explicit ‘Ponding Water Warranty’ unlike most other flat roofing systems, that will leak, and who’s warranty will be void if there is standing water.

IB Roofs are Eco-friendly – IB is the Green Choice!

Not only IB roofs are perfect for commercial buildings in terms of water-tightness, longevity and performance – they are also friendly for the environment. Cool roof features if IB white membrane will reduce the CO2 and other Green-House gas emissions by reducing your energy consumption for Air Conditioning. IB roof is also a perfect choice for creating a Green Roof or a Roof-top garden which in Urban Environment will reduce the “heat island” effect and will increase the productivity of your office workers, as proven by multiple studies.

Another great feature of IB roofs it that they are 100% recyclable. This means 30 years from now, if you decide to get a new IB roof, the existing one will not go to our nation’s landfills. Instead it will be recycled and reused for other PVC products such as vinyl siding, PVC pipes and conduits, etc.

IB Roof PVC recycling video.

Check out this video of how the 30 years old IB roof installation in Harrisburg, OR was recycled and a New IB roof was installed in its stead:

Excited about IB roof? Don’t wait any longer!

Stop wasting your money on useless roof fixes and losing profit due to your flat roof leaks.


If your roof is located anywhere in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island or other New England states, fill out our Free, no obligation Online Roofing Estimate or call us at 1-888-6-FlatRoof (1-888-635-2876) and we will come up with the best solution to fit your flat roofing needs and budget.

If you are outside of New England, go to www.IBRoof.com and fill out their Contractor Referral form or call 1-800-426-1626, to speak with IB Customer Service, and find an IB Contractor in your area.

Remember, that IB roof is the Most economical commercial flat roof when you consider Total Roofing Cost.

IB Roof can also be upgraded with IB SolarWise – a Building-Integrated Solar PV system, created IB and Uni-Solar. Such upgrade can be done at any point in time after the original IB roofs was installed, without compromising the roof integrity. IB SolarWise is light-weight, and requires no additional structural reinforcement, nor does it need any mounting brackets or railings. In fact SolarWise gets welded right to the IB membrane, and all that has to be done after is the electrical connections! IB SolarWise is the Least Expensive solar system on the market, and has the highest ROI.

If you want to know what a new IB roof will cost, check out our Roofing Cost Estimator – bear in mind, that prices estimated by our calculator refer to a Residential Flat roofs. You can generally expect a lower price for your commercial flat roof, as the ‘economy of scale’ factor kicks in.

IB Roof Systems Reference Information – Ratings and Approvals

This information will be valuable for architects, specifiers, building managers, property owners and maintenance personal looking to have an IB Roof installed. For additional product information you can also download IB Commercial Brochure and IB ChemGuard Brochure.

UL – R15546	FM Global – 3018104
International Code Council – ER 5405	No. 05-1122.03 (Concrete Decks) No. 05-1122.07 (LW Concrete Decks) No. 05-1122.05 (Steel Decks) No. 05-1122.04 (Wood Decks) No. 05-1122.06 (Recover Decks)
FL 2534-R2 (Mechanically Attached) FL 4672 (Fully Adhered)	Cool Roof Rating Council Listing
IB Roof Systems is proud to be an Energy Star™ Partner.

This is only a partial list, containing the most prominent rating and approval agencies’ certificates. Others approvals and certificates that are not listed here, include:

Underwriter’s Laboratory of Canada – ULC

North Eastern Roofing Contractors Association – NERCA

Some of Commercial Flat roofs we have done recently:

Testex Corp – RI

Bellingham Power Plant – MA

9th St. Condo – RI

Some of Restaurant Metal roofs we have done recently:

IHOP Restaurant Cape Cod, Hyannis, MA

Venus De Milo Restaurant Swansea, MA

The truth is, there is a solution that will keep your home, probably your biggest investment, water tight for decades to come. The flat roof you can truly forget about, and the one that will actually save you money on ever-rising energy costs.

If you have a flat roof deck you can choose between IB DeckShield or a conventional 80-mil IB roof with wooden deck and railing system to solve your leaks problems and create a permanent water-tight roof-top patio.

When you want the looks of an Architectural Shingles and unsurpassed reliability of IB Roof, IB Traditions gives you both!

IB Cool Flat Roof – The Best flat roofing for your Home!

IB roof has its roots in commercial flat roofing, where requirements and expectations of building products are much higher than in residential market. In fact IB Roof has been chosen as the roofing choice for Hospitals, Airports and Universities through-out the country, where leaking roof is not an option. Many of these roofs installed over 25 years ago are still performing well, without any leaks.

Ice Dam leaks and poor ventilation:

Most low sloped roofs in the northern United States have Ice Dams, which cause roof leaks and expensive roof repairs as well as cosmetic interior repairs of ceilings, walls, carpets and wooden floors. Those are the damages that you can actually see. Ice dams also create invisible structural damages which you can’t find until you open up ceilings and wall. These damages are extremely expensive to repair, as it would require to hire interior remodelers to fix structural damages, outside and inside walls, electrical systems, plumbing, etc.

Ice Dams in a nutshell: Ice dams are caused by poor attic ventilation and heat loss from inside your living space. Large piles of snow will accumulate on your roof after a snow storm. If your attic is improperly insulated and ventilated, the warm air escaping from your living area into the attic, will melt the snow. The water from melting snow will run down the roof and refreeze, usually along the eaves of of your roof. These are Ice Dams. The more snow is melting the bigger Ice Dams you have. After some time, the ice dams become so big, that the melting water cannot travel downward anymore, so it starts to travel upward underneath the roof shingles or rolled roofing seams. As it freezes under the roof, warm air melts it, and it slowly starts to drip inside the attic, causing all of the above and below mentioned problems.

It becomes a vicious cycle were more heat loss creates more ice dams, which causes more damages to structural walls and insulation, destroying your home from inside, increasing your energy-related expenses and causing more heat loss, which creates bigger ice dams…

Negative effect cause by Ice dams, and which many homeowners neglect to address is the wet insulation in the attic and inside walls. When insulation gets wet, you loose insulating value, so your energy costs increase, as heat loss in the winter drives up your heating bill. Same happens in the summer with cooling. Also, mold begins to grow in the attic and inside walls, which cause and/or aggravates allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Solution to Ice Dams problems on low-slope roofs:

IB roofing membrane is perfect way to eliminate Ice Dams on a low slope roof, as it is a seamless blanket over entire roof. Hot air welded seams prevent water from backing up and re-freezing as is the case with shingles and rolled asphalt roofing, there-fore eliminating the effects of Ice Dams. Also, Most of the snow will actually slide off the IB roof, thus there will be a minimal Ice and Snow accumulation along the eaves.

Additionally, we’ve designed a special Ridge Vent system which we use on every low-sloped roof with ridge/soffit ventilation in place. This system prevents the wind driven water form entering your attic space through the holes in the ridge vent, while allowing the warm air to escape the attic.

Now you too can have this outstanding roof on installed on your home. IB make the perfect choice for any residential flat and low-slope roof. IB roof will give you years of worry-free service, and make your home more energy efficient, as well as transferable Lifetime Warranty! IB will also add beauty and usability to your home with its specialty Traditions & DeckShield membranes.

Traditions Classic: Printed Shingle Pattern

If you have a low-pitched roof which is flatter than a minimum required for a conventional roofing, but is still visible from the ground, IB has the perfect solution – ‘Traditions Classic’.

Traditions is a single ply membrane that was designed to eliminate the problems associated with conventional asphalt shingle, but will give you the looks of an architecturally designed shingle roof that fits your home.
Traditions Classic carries a Lifetime Material Warranty and is also fade resistant and is perfect Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut climate. It outperforms any shingle roof from any manufacturer.

Traditions – Design and appearance:

Traditions Classic gives you the perfect combination of integrity and beauty. It takes the excellent qualities of Industrial Grade IB flat roofing membrane and an outstanding looks of asphalt shingles with a choice of three popular colors:

Sierra Vista: Light Brown color will give you a perfect combination with red brick homes as well as other red, tan and brown shades of conventional siding.

Stony Ridge: Grey color – will blend perfectly with grey and most other colors.

Mountain Spruce: Great for suburban areas, and will bled well with background forest, as well as bushes and trees surrounding your home.

Traditions – Maintenance and Life-cycle:

A good roof is the one you can forget about and Traditions classic is no different. Traditions Classic is virtually maintenance free and is specially designed for low sloped roofs. The high quality membrane resists mold, mildew, algae, chemicals and ultraviolet rays, and will continue to look great on your home for years to come – guaranteed!

Cool Roofing Blog – Our official blog were we post our roof installation reports, new roofing and green building products and technology reviews, metal roofing system comparisons, IB Roof installation tutorial, Roof Do-it-yourself guides and our customers’ comments about our work. Experience what a cool roof installation is like, and how we would install your roof.

Roof Learning Center provides helpful roofing guides for Do It Yourself enthusiasts. Features educational roofing articles that address common roofing problems including Ice Dam build up, failing shingles, valley roof leaks, and roof repair articles. Find out thing you should know when choosing a roofing contractor.

Flat Roofing Guide:

IB Flat Roofs – IB PVC single-ply membrane roofing – Products, Installation methods, system component and benefits of installing IB Cool roof.

Flat roofing prices – Detailed guide into the price-structure of flat roof installation. Discover why there is such a discrepancy in pricing from different roofing contractors bidding on the same roofing job. Learn the consequences of hiring the lowest-bidding roofing company that does not carry any insurance and does not stand behind their work.

Flat Roofing technology guide – Overview of different flat roofing products and systems present on the market today and installed on flat roofs throughout New England and US.

Roofing cost calculator – Calculate the cost to install an new IB roofing system and get instant quotes for other flat roof types such as Epdm rubber, Tar and Gravel and built-up roofs. You will also be able to estimate approximate annual energy savings that you will receive if you install a cool white IB single ply roof.

Roof Repair Guide – When a flat roof leaks, it is advisable to know all your options and what to expect from temporary flat roof fixes. This flat roofing repair guide outline the possible scenarios and cost involved in patching of flat roof as compared to a complete replacement.

Rubber roof repair – DIY guide to fixing rubber (EPDM) roof systems.

Tar&Gravel roof repair – DIY guide to fixing Tar & Gravel / Built-Up roof systems.

Single-Ply Roofs – Brief overview of different single ply roofing membrane technologies such as PVC (Poly-Vinyl Chloride) or CPA (Co-polymer alloy) – chemically IB’s CPA is equivalent to PVC, Epdm rubber and TPO (thermoplastic olefin roof)

PVC vs. TPO roofing – Detailed comparison of major differences between seemingly identical PVC and TPO membranes. Here we discuss the major issue of TPO’s curing after just a few years in service and its consequential inability to be welded, once membrane is cured.

Green Flat Roofing – Green roof benefits for urban heat-island effect, design and costs guide.

Flat Roofing Insulation – Recycled Insulation, ISO, Styrofoam and EPS insulation technologies.

Flat Roofing Deck – Overview of roof deck waterproofing products, leak elimination and installation methods. Choose between IB DeckShield and conventional install using 80-mil IB membrane and wooden deck + railings system

EPDM Rubber Roofing – Overview of flat rubber roofs, contractors installing rubber for residential customers and why homeowners should avoid using rubber as a flat roofing option on their homes.

Our Services, Job Profiles & Contact information:

Connecticut Flat Roofs – Overview of installation, repair and consulting services that we provide in the state of Connecticut to homeowners and businesses. We specialize in Commercial and Residential roof replacement using IB cool roofing technology. Check out the job profiles for the roofs that we installed in CT including picture gallery and a short video clip

Massachusetts Flat Roofs – Installation, repair and consulting services for flat roofing projects in MA. We specialize in Commercial and Residential projects. Also you can view some of flat and Metal Roofing projects that we’ve completed recently. Picture gallery of each roof installation from start to finish.

Flat Roof Installation & Consulting Services

Roofing Estimate Request

Residential Flat Roofing

Commercial Flat Roofing

Contact Us / Information

Job Profiles:

Some of the Flat Roofs we installed:

Asphalt Shingle textured flat roof – This beautiful IB Traditions roof looks like asphalt shingles, yet it will never leak and will provide energy savings for this gorgeous house in Arlington, MA

Residential Flat & Metal roof (New) This house in Old Lyme, CT had a badly-leaking tar and gravel roof which caused rotten plywood and some framing. Now it has a Lifetime 80-mil White IB roof and Tamko metal slate.

Flat roof house 80-mil grey IB roof was installed on this residence in Wallingford, CT.

Industrial Flat Roof – TesTex Corporation manufacturing facility in Central Falls, RI

Restaurant Flat Roof – Deli / Meat market located in the tourist attraction of Hampton Beach, NH

Condominium Flat Roof – Residential condos on the East Side of Providence, RI

Apartment Building with Restaurant / Deli Beautiful brick building in the center of North Attleboro, MA had flat roof leas for years and patching did not help. IB roof solved all the problems!

Flat Metal Roof – Metal roof acrylic coating – Power Generation Plant in Bellingham, MA

Restaurant Metal Roof – Permanent Aluminum Roof on an IHOP restaurant in Hyannis, MA

Stone-Coated Metal Roof – Beautiful Spanish Tile metal roof on Venus De Milo Restaurant / Reception / Wedding Capitol of Rhode Island located in Swansea, MA

Solar Flat Roofing, Solar PV Guide and Rebates:

Solar flat roofs – IB SolarWise – Building-Integrated Solar PV for flat roofing

Solar PV guide – Prices, ROI, system design & installation guide includes cost break-down for residential and commercial solar systems in MA, CT and RI

Solar Rebates / Incentives – Summary of Federal Tax Credits and State rebate programs for Solar PV and other renewable energy installation in MA, CT, RI

Massachusetts Solar Rebates – Overview of all available Rebates & Incentives for Residential, Commercial and Public buildings solar PV systems

Green Construction Directory and eco-friendly resources:

Green Building Directory – Lists Eco-friendly resources, green construction web-sites, green and solar blogs and construction companies that build green building and use energy-saving technologies.

IB Roof Contractors in US and Canada

Green-Living Directory – Sustainability, Eco-Friendly and Renewable links.

DIY Green Home Improvement – List of websites for do-it-yourselfers with the emphasis on green technologies and energy efficiency.

Home Improvement Sites – General home improvement sites with good number of eco-friendly categories.

Metal Roofing Directory – List of manufacturers and contractors specializing Cool, Recyclable and Permanent Steel, Aluminum and Copper metal roofs.

Suppliers of Metal products – Metal Buildings, Specialty metals suppliers and manufacturers

Energy Efficient Siding and Windows – Manufacturers, Distributes and Contractors installing energy-saving Wood, Aluminum and Vinyl Windows and Siding.

Green home & garden

Roofing Contractor / Manufacturers

Uncategorized / Coming Soon pages:

IB Flat Roof Warranty

Solar PV Price Calculator – Interactive tool to estimate the cost of installing Solar PV for your home or business

IB SolarWise Pay-off / ROI guide

IB roof, originally created to meet high demands of commercial/industrial roofing market, is now available to the home owners in New England. We provide a complete package combined with professional installation and personalized service to meet the needs of our clients, and we strive to surpass your expectations, while providing reasonable pricing.

Whether you have a house with a leaking flat roof or a business structure such as a shop, storage facility, office building, etc., we invite you to join the ‘elite club’ of our customers. We promise that we will treat your roof as our own!

If your flat roof currently leaks, we recommend that you take a look at our flat roof repair guide to get more insight on the options and solutions to solve your leaks problems. To learn more about modern roofing technology, check out the Single Ply Roofing overview.

Getting IB roof installed for your home or business in CT:

We will closely work with you or your builder/architect to provide the best long-term roofing solution for you. We invite you to use our interactive roofing cost calculator to get an instant price quote to replace your roof. To schedule roofing project in Connecticut, fill out the roofing estimate form.

Some of the Flat Roofs in Connecticut, that we have done recently:

Update: Feb. 13, 2009 – We finally implemented a roofing and construction blog, and all our job profiles will be posted there.

First in a series is a 50-mil residential IB Roof installed in Andover, CT

After a major leak of a 5 years old rolled asphalt roof occurred in home-owner’s bedroom, a major rot damage and mold problem was discovered. Find out how the costs of water damage restorations and mold removal, moved this Connecticut homeowner to seek a permanent flat roofing solution, and why he chose IB Cool Flat roofing membrane.

From our customer:

Thanks again for a job well done. It is a good feeling to know that I won’t be dealing with water coming in my house any longer. You have good men working for you. They are very respectful and professional. The roof looks great!

Great Job! Thanks, Alex.

Picture galleries of older roofing projects completed in Connecticut:

Some of Metal Roofs we have installed recently:

We provide Residential and Commercial roofing services for businesses and home owners, using the best flat roofing material available on the market today – IB Flat Roofing systems – PVC single-ply cool roofing membrane. Any roofing system, no matter how good it is, can leak if installed improperly – that is why we install all our roofs in accordance with IB installation requirements, MA building code, and special attention to details and geographic location of the roofing job.

For example, a roof located near the ocean is more prone to strong wind blow-offs, uplift and wind-driven water leaks. That is why in coastal areas, we double the number of heavy-duty fasteners used to hold down the roofing membrane securely attached to roof deck.

We will treat your roof like it is our own:

Our Moto is ‘to install every roof right, so we won’t have to go back for a service call’. This may sound a bit selfish, but it is the most beneficial for your roof, and for you. Since we match the labor warranty of our installations for the same period as the product warranty, we install every roof to be sure there will be no leaks.

Getting IB roof installed for your home or business in MA:

We will closely work with you or your builder/architect to provide the best long-term roofing solution for you. We invite you to use our interactive roofing cost calculator to get an instant price quote to replace your roof. To schedule roofing project in Massachusetts, fill out the roofing estimate form.

Recent roofing jobs we’ve completed in Massachusetts:

Roofing Massachusetts – a series of mini roof installation reviews, covers a few flat and metal roofs that we’ve recently completed in different cites in Massachusetts – Framingham, Westminster, Hingham, Boston, Wellesley, Wayland. We will update this list as well as publish more roof installation reviews as we get more time to do it. New reviews will include flat and metal roof installations in the following cities:

- Metal Roof in Attleboro, MA – A slate impression steel interlocking shingles metal roof installed on a roof of a single-family home on a quiet street in Attleboro, Mass.

- Metal Roof in Revere, MA

- Standing seam metal roof in Plymouth, MA

- Residential IB traditions roof in Arlington, MA

- A flat roof on apartment building in downtown North Attleboro,  MA

- A roof deck installed in Brighton, MA

- A metal roof installed in Haverhill, MA

Massachusetts roofs installed during Winter 2009:

Flat Roof in Lowell MA – We removed old and leaking EPDM rubber roof, installed new 4″ ISO insulation with 24-r value and a new 50 mil IB PVC flat roofing membrane. Besides the IB roof installation overview, we point out the inherent defects in rubber roofing systems, and why homeowners should avoid installing EPDM roof on their home and dealing with shady roofing contractors “specializing” in rubber roofs.

New flat roofs, installed in August 2009:

Solar Decathlon house with IB flat roof & Solar PV panels: Team Boston (Tufts and BAC) built a solar home with innovative green construction technologies such as: 6.4 KW Solar Photovoltaic system, solar hot water and a Trombe wall – a solar-thermal-mass window/wall systems to compete in 2009 DOE Solar Decathlon. Cool Flat Roofs, together with IB Roof Systems sponsored and installed a 50-mil white IB PVC roofing membrane, with water collection system using IB U-flow drains, and helped the team install the solar PV / solar hot water array.

Old rubber roof replaced with 80-mil IB roof in Boston : The old roof was replace, and extencive brick work on parapet walls was perforemed to ensure highest quality of installation and long-lasting protection for this house in Boston / Roxbury. Roof size was just over 400 sq. ft. and it took 8 days total to install this roof. Read the complete review of this roof installation with many picture and videos.

Flat roof deck in Wellesley, MA: A new construction addition was built and a flat roof deck was installed over a garage roof. We used an 80-mil grey IB roof to ensure permanent water tightness. A new deck will now be installed over sleepers, for which we welded down 2″ wide strips of membrane to protect main roof. Also a prefabricated post flashings were installed over 4×4 railing posts to insure that post would not leak. Roof installation was completed in one day.

Sanding seam metal roof in Wayland:

In the middle a of June 2009, we’ve completed a standing seam metal roof installation. Roof was installed on a residential house in Wayland, Massachusetts. As some may recall, May and June of 2009 had lots of rainy days, so we had to cope with weather as well as many unnoticeable complications which this roofing job has posed for us.

In a nutshell, the roof was constantly subjected to Ice Dam related roof leaks, due lo relatively low roof slope and some heat loss from inside the house, falling ice which would tear off the gutters in the winter and pose danger to people living and visiting the home. One of the most strange things we’ve encountered was the masonry chimney which had a wood frame built around it and stucco installed on the outside, for visual effects. This was actually the first such chimney I’ve seen. Usually stucco is installed right over the chimney, which I though was the case here. Later, after the job was complete, we;ve discovered that the stucco shell of the chimney had cracks in it and was leaking. Where as before such leak would be attributed to old roof, now we could easily pinpoint and eliminate the source of leaks.

You can read more about this project on our roofing blog: Metal roofing in Wayland, MA

Home owner’s remarks after the job was completed and chimney leak eliminated:

Leo,

I did manage to find some time to seal and refinish the chimney. The moment of truth came yesterday when I went into the attic after a long steady rainfall to find the former leak site completely dry. The spot I suspect is at the joint between the concrete cap and the stucco on the front side of the house. There was a crack there that lined up with water flow marks down the side of the chimney. I think the water was able to curl under the cap to that crack and then pass behind the stucco to cause the leak.

I am now very happy to have a completely watertight roof that should stand up to winter ice and snow for a long long time. Thanks again for your work and for the trip you made to assess the leak. With any luck, you won’t hear from me for a long time about the new roof. I wish you and your crew success in your business and in life

Glenn.

EPDM Rubber Roof repair service in Mass.

Rubber roof repair in Massachusetts – we now offer a service to repair your leaking rubber flat roof (EPDM rubber roofing), for a fraction of the cost to install a new IB roof. Although it is usually a better idea to replace the roof as leak damages will only progress and throwing money away or roof repairs that last a short period of time in not economical, it may sometimes make sense to repair a rubber roof if it is only a small flashing that is leaking because of a bad seam, or a failed rubber components.

We can repair corner flashing (inside and outside corners), fix in-field leaking seams  with rubber seam tape, or re-seam the existing seams with 9″ cover tapes, to dramatically extend roof service life.

For these rubber roof repairs we use only the best flashing components such as Carlisle and Firestone peel-stick flashing and cover tapes in 6″, 9″ and even 12″ width – this allows us to be able to repair nearly every type of rubber roof leak, as well as install new flashing around skylights, chimneys and other flat roof penetrations and curbs.

We also do custom copper flashing work when performing a rubber roof repair. As you can see in the picture above, a new copper counter-flashing was installed after a rubber corner patch was applied to the chimney flashing. The couterflashing  was replaced after squirrels chewed and ate the lead flashing that was originally there.

Some of the Flat Roofs in Massachusetts, that we have done recently:

Some of Metal Roofs we have done recently Massachusetts:

• Types of flat roof decks – Choose between IB DeckShield & traditional wooden deck over flat roof.
• Flat Roof deck prices – Learn how much a flat roof deck will cost.
• Roof deck leaks – Learn why flat roof decks leak and how to prevent/eliminate these leaks.
• IB DeckShield – Details of IB DeckShield roof assembly – how it works and what goes into it.
• IB 80-mil with PT deck – Details of PT wooden deck over IB 80-mil roof assembly.

Roof deck & leaking.

Many homes in New England have a walk-on flat roof decks with living space under them, and 90 percent of these deck roofs leak, ruining your rooms. Stains on sheet-rock ceilings, popping hardwood flooring, wet carpets and rotted framing are just some of the damages that you may sustain as a result of these leaks. Destroyed personal property such as beds, book shelves, computers, TVs and other electronic equipment can also be considered in cases of severe roof leaks.

All these items are very expensive to fix and even more expensive to replace. Yet you can easily solve these problems in a fairly cheap way (when compared to costs of replacing and repairs you have to incur if you let the leaks continue) with IB’s life-time roofing product. With IB Roof, you will never have to worry about roof leaks again and you could finally regain full use of your roof deck or patio.

Creating a leak-free Roof Deck with IB roofing systems

We offer two different solutions for you to permanently solve your roof deck leaks. Both ways utilize IB’s time-proven CPA membranes featuring hot-air welded seam. The main difference between the two methods is the product you choose to use, and aesthetics you desire.

Assembly type 1: IB DeckShield – a fully integrated waterproofing membrane system designed for use on walk-out roof decks. DeckShield as highly slip-resistant that Complies and exceeds ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements.

Learn how IB Deck Shield membrane is installed, installation prices and more general information of roof deck waterproofing using IB DeckShield membrane.

Download DeckShield brochure

IB DeckShield – a beautiful and durable decking waterproofing membrane.

Benefits of using IB Deckshield assembly:

• Enhances the appearance of decks
• Eliminates annual painting and staining of wood decks
• Durable, Slip resistant Waterproofing system.
• Resists mildew, chemicals, and UV rays.
• Eliminates hazardous wood splinters and unsightly concrete cracking.
• Complies with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements.

Assembly type 2: Deck on top of flat roof: IB PVC membrane with a wood deck installed over it – a more traditional way of roof deck construction, features an IB Lifetime single-ply membrane with fusion-welded seams. This method will ensure permanent water-tightness of your roof deck combined with a deck and railings system built with your choice of wood and pattern. Download IB Roof brochure

Benefits of using IB 80-mil membrane with PT / Composition deck on top:

• Wooden deck on top of IB 80 mil roofing membrane protects the roof from accidental mechanical damages.
• Allows people to have a more traditional wooden deck / patio.
• Composition deck assembly eliminates the need to stain / paint the wood.
• Allows extended use of outdoor grills without worrying that you’ll burn through the roof.
• Allows the Creation of beautiful deck designs and the use of Steel outdoor furniture.

IB 80-mil PVC roofing membrane with composition board deck assembly create this beautiful patio

Happy client enjoys her private roof-deck in Arlington, MA. Roof assembly consists of 80-mil IB Roof for waterproofing, and a diamond-shaped, low profile deck.

Cost of flat roof decks

Why roof decks leak?

Most roof decks in existence today, use a flat roofing material that were created over a century ago and were not designed for use as roofing for residential homes and living area. Another reason is original design flaw implemented by architects and/or builders, who were not qualified in flat roofing and did not have appropriate roofing technology to use.

Ponding Water leaks:

Very often you can find ponding water accumulating on these deck roofs. Majority of flat roofing system existing today cannot sustain constant ponding water and as a result water enters your house, and destroys your possessions and property.

Wood Deck and Railing leaks:

Often there is a wood deck installed on top of a flat roof or some sort of a railing system. To make these railings securely attached to the roof, builders often create roof penetration for every railing post on the roof. The only way to “seal” these penetrations for most builders, is to use roof cement or pitch-pockets – both of these methods are considered unacceptable by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Yet most builders don’t have the appropriate products, expertise and many times, don’t care enough to make these penetrations water-tight.

This, results in more leaks – usually these leaks don’t appear inside your home for years, but the hidden damages can cost thousands of dollars to fix. Water slowly enters your home and rots the beams and studs. While unnoticed for a long period of time, such leaks my sometimes result in partial or complete re-framing of your roof and/or support walls.

Leaking Flat Roof Deck

Details of roof deck construction using IB Membranes and DeckShield

IB DeckShield roof / deck assembly and installation:

DeckShield is easiest to use in new construction, however it can be easily adopted for retrofit use on existing homes. IB Deck Shield is installed as a fully-adhered application on top of Dens Deck – a fiber-cement type board that is 1/4 of an inch thick, or over plywood.

The surface for installing IB DeckShield must be clean, smooth and flat. That is why in some retrofit applications use of DeckShield may be difficult or impossible. When you have an uneven surface it is best to use the regular IB Roofing Membrane with a wooden deck over it. If you still want to use Deck Shield for a retrofit roof deck project, expect the additional costs of making your roof surface even.

DeckShield can be used for a small balcony as well as a large roof deck, and for everything in between. Hot-air welded seams make IB DeckShield a long-lasting waterproofing solution that is both eye-pleasing and safe to walk on when it is wet. Expect many compliments from your family and friends when they get to see your new roof patio with IB DeckShield.

DeckShield colors and texture:

DeckShield has a look and texture of tiny pebbles – something similar to a floor in a swimming pool. You can choose between two distinct colors – Tan and Grey – both look great and will compliment your home.

Since IB DeckShield is made from the same material as other IB membranes, it is easy to accommodate for any roof penetrations such as Railing System and Roof-Wall detail. This will ensure that your roof will be water-tight and you can take full advantage of your deck or patio once again and will not have to worry about leaks. Invite your friends and family for a cookout, enjoy a cocktail or watch the stars.