IB Roof

Horrible Rubber Roofing

Posted on by ibroofma

There has been a lot of discussion on our rubber roofing page (created a while ago), with many roofing contractors defending the EPDM rubber roof as a “good and proven” system, that is widely installed. While I agree that it is widely installed, I contest the notion that it is good and proven, for many reasons, which I will outline below, with examples as proof. But first, I will outline the basic premise on which I will base my statements.

Basic Premise of this “Horrible Rubber Roofing” article

Rubber roof (EPDM) is widely installed because of its relatively low cost. It is NOT as good as many roofing contractors say it is, and the reason why I call it “horrible” is a complex, but there are two major parts to it: Continue reading →

IB PVC Flat Roof Installed in Brooklyn NY

Posted on by ibroofma

In December 2012, we installed an IB PVC roof in a duplex-condo in Brooklyn, NY. This new roof replaced an old leaking tar roof that was over 20 years old. The roof was leaking in multiple places, around skylights, and along separation wall flashing.

IB Flat Roof Brooklyn NY

IB Flat Roof Brooklyn NY

The new membrane installed was a 50-mil white IB PVC roof, with hot-air welded seam overlaps. The roof was mechanically fastened to the deck, using corrosion resistant screws and barbed plates, to provide a 130 MPH wind resistance.

We flashed two existing dome skylights, one roof hatch, and about 50 lineal feet of roof to wall / separation wall, using aluminum termination bar.

Why IB PVC Roof?

Although there are cheaper alternatives for a flat roof replacement, IB Roof is the best Flat Roofing material for residential and commercial application. IB Roof is a reinforced PVC membrane that features Fusion Hot Air welded seams and flashing. Hot air welding makes ALL the difference, when it comes to sealing the seams and overlaps.

Unlike traditional roofing materials that rely on sealants to join overlaps, hot air welding creates a permanent physical bond between two sheets of membrane. This means that two pieces essentially become ONE piece. The seam will never come apart (when done correctly) and is actually stronger than the material itself!

By comparison, other flat roof materials that are sealed with bonding adhesive will be leaking in just a few short years, when adhesive (glue) begins to fail. This will result in expensive roof and interior repairs, headaches for you – the owner, and potential frame/substrate rotting and mold.

Watch this short video to see how we at Cool Flat Roof install our IB roofing material:
Continue reading →

Cool Flat Roof Installation in Weston MA

Posted on by ibroofma

In the early fall of 2012, Cool Flat Roof installed an IB PVC roof with tapered insulation and new gutters on a beautiful contemporary new construction house in Weston, Massachusetts.

Initially, the homeowner contacted us, looking for a “rubber roof”, and I immediately explained that we do not install EPDM rubber, because it does not meet our quality standards (more on why we don’t install rubber roofs here and here).

Instead, I suggested our IB PVC flat roofing systems, with Lifetime Warranty, and hot air welded seams, that will never come apart. After receiving аn estimate from us and several other roofing companies, they chose us to install a more expensive, but a much more durable and long lasting IB roof.

Cool-Flat-Roof-Weston-MA

Roof Details

Total roof size was approximately 3500 sq. ft. installed on two levels – the main upper roof, and a lower garage roof, connected to the back porch. The roof was to be installed over unprotected roofing substrate (plywood), and we had to start the roof and get it watertight fast, in lieu of prolonged, massive rains. We installed all roofing materials and welded all seams and flashing in 2 days, to protect the substrate and inside of the house from being damaged by rain water. The roof was priced based on our Flat Roofing Calculator, so there were no last minute surprises about the cost of this project.

IB Roof Installation in Weston MA – video footage taken on the job:


Continue reading →

PVC Roofing in Commercial Applications

Posted on by ibroofma

One of the most important ways to protect your commercial property is to have a durable, long lasting roof. For flat roofs, the most trusted and time tested roofing material is a PVC roofing membrane. Known for their durability, commercial PVC roofs  have been installed on restaurants, shopping centers, manufacturing plans, industrial facilities, etc. covering millions of square feet worldwide.  Learn in detail about all the advantages of PVC roofing that make it an ideal roofing choice for your business. 

IB PVC ROOF IS DURABLE

A PVC roofing membrane is specifically formulated to remain durable in a wide variety of conditions. To ensure optimal strength and durability, it is best to install a membrane of at least 60 mil. A PVC roof offers the following protection:

– Resistance to impact and abrasion (possible with with photovoltaic panels on the roof).
– Withstands inclement weather (rain, snow, wind, sun, hot and cold temperatures)
– High Resistance to punctures, tears, and impact.
– Tough against contamination and rooftop soiling
– Class A Fire Resistance (the membrane will resist flames rather than fuel them)
– Withstands ponding water( the membrane is impervious to moisture and leaks)
– High resistance to oil, grease,chemicals, and  diluted acidic effluents

See full overview of IB PVC Roofing for Commercial applications. Continue reading →

Revive your roof deck with IB DeckShield

Posted on by ibroofma

How would you like to have an extra outdoor private space in your home to relax or entertain guests? A roof deck is an ideal option that will not only be enjoyable for years to come, but will also increase the value of your home.

Whether you are thinking of constructing a new roof deck or would like to improve the one you already have, it is essential for your deck to be leak free.

There are a number of issues that cause leaks in roof decks and a number of best practices that you can follow to keep leaks at bay.

Common leak causes and other issues with roof decks

One of the common reasons why roof decks leak is ponding water that forms on the roof. Ponding water occurs for a number of reasons such as inadequate roof drainage or roofing material failures. Most flat roofing materials, such as EPDM rubber, rely on adhesives to seal the seams and flashing around penetrations. Over time these adhesives break down and cause leaks. Ponding water further exacerbates this problem by increasing the rate at which seam adhesive fails. Continue reading →

CoolFlatRoof.com Free Roofing Calculator App – iPhone and Android

Posted on by ibroofma
CoolFlatRoof.com Roofing calculator app on iPhone
image of Roofing Calculator app for Android

We are pleased to introduce to you our specially designed CoolFlatRoof.com app – a roofing calculator, our blog reader and free estimate submission – all in one simple app for iPhone, iPad and Android phones / tablets!

With CoolFlatRoof.com free calculator app, you can now estimate your roof replacement cost even easier – you don’t even have to go to you PC or Mac – just enter roof size and other information into the calculator app, click the “calculate” button – and voila – all prices are in front of you!

image of CoolFlatRoof.com roofing calculator app on iPhone image of CoolFlatRoof.com roofing calculator app on Android - HTC One X image of coolflatroof.com roofing calculator results screen

You can even fill out the Free Roofing Estimate form within the app. We will receive it immediately and will get in touch with you shortly to schedule roof inspection and estimate. If you live outside our service area (New England, NY & NJ), we will forward your information directly to IB Roof Systems, and they will put you in touch with certified IB Roof installers in your area.
Continue reading →

Flat Roof Repair in Needham, MA

Posted on by ibroofma

We performed this PVC roof repair in Needham, Mass. in October 2011. This was the second time we repaired this 25+ years old Sarnafil PVC flat roof in the last two years. The first time we fixed this roof was exactly two years ago, in October of ’09 – check out our first overview, which covers this roof in particular, and nuances of repairing old PVC flat roofs in general.

Quick Overview of the First Repair

In October of 2009, we fixed this roof for the first time. A contractor was doing some fascia repair work there, and threw some tools onto the roof, creating a hole in the old PVC membrane. We repaired it using new IB PVC flat roofing material. First, we cleaned the old roof with warm water (to remove all dirt and small debris). Next, we rubbed it with acetone and a rough brush, to clean the membrane thoroughly, so the new patch would weld nicely. Then, we welded a PVC patch over the hole, which sealed the roof.

Old patch next to 2 new patches:

Image of PVC Flat Roof Repair in Needham, MA, done by CoolFlatRoof.com

Continue reading →

Flat Roofing Tapered Insulation Questions (from an email conversation with a customer)

Posted on by ibroofma

This post is actually an email conversation with a customer, regarding Tapered Insulation and our flat roof installation in Cambridge, MA done in the summer of 2010. This email conversation is posted as is with the customer’s permission – the only editing on this post was done to remove any personal information, and spelling :). I thought this would be helpful to our readers, who are interested in tapered insulation and/or have ponding water problems with their flat roofs.

Here is the original roof video, so you have a better idea about this roof:

Continue reading →

What makes PVC the Best Single-Ply Roofing Membrane for Flat and Low -sloped Roofs

Posted on by ibroofma

Senior project written by Riess Stanley
Nov 4, 2010

With economic strife on the rise, it has now become necessary to seek out ways to save money, as well as to find ways to “stay green”, and to do what you can to help the environment. Unfortunately, accomplishing both at the same time seems to be very difficult. Believe it or not, there is a smart, fairly simple, and very efficient way to succeed in these two areas in a way not often looked upon as a money saver, but rather a necessary and costly project when it doesn’t need to be; the roof. When you really get down to it, the roof is either costing too much, or saving plenty.

First off, if a building with a flat or low-sloped pitch was to have a black tar roof, it would be taking more money than one would realize. In warm weather, the black roof will absorb so much heat that an abundance of energy and money would need to be invested into cooling down the building. Moreover, all that heat beating down on the roof will make it crack, which in turn will cause it to leak once the rainy weather begins. This defeats the entire purpose of a roof. So, what is a low cost alternative for a black tar roof, that can keep the roof cool during summer months and can keep out the rain? The answer; PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) single-ply membrane. Continue reading →

Flat Roof Installation in Cambridge, MA

Posted on by ibroofma

Image of Flat Roof in Cambridge MA

We installed this flat roof near Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the summer of 2010. The installation consisted of four separate roof sections on different levels of this house, which at the time was undergoing major renovations inside and out, including total new insulation in walls and between roof rafters, a new heating system with radiant floor heat, new energy efficient windows, and a new IB PVC flat roof (which we installed of course).

The old rubber roof was leaking and we had to remove it, including the wet roof insulation. We installed a new 50-mil white IB Flat Roof, with 4 inches of tapered insulation (4 inches at the highest point and 1 inch at the lowest level). The tapered insulation system was utilized to eliminate ponding water on the two bigger sections of the roof. At the deepest point, there was as much as 2 inches of ponding water, and a puddle with at least 12 feet diameter. This ponding water caused both roof leaks and the roof rafters settlement.

Continue reading →