Flat roofing A Comprehensive Installation Guide

Flat roofing

This article covers: All types of flat roofing

Torch on Felt membrane roofing is now the most popular system used for flat roofing

As the title suggests, the technique involves heating a layer of bitumen that has been applied to the felt using a Propane gas torch, which melts the bitumen allowing it to bond to the substrate or under layers of felt previously applied. Together the layers form a flat roofing system. Traditionally the roll and pour method for felt flat roofing was used. This involved heating Bitumen in a specially designed boiler and transporting it to the roof in buckets.

Torch on felt membranes

The roll and pour method and still the Rolls Royce of installation & requires great skill -Note thumbs facing forward to avoid rolling hands into the hot bitumen @ 410 deg F

It would then be poured out andthefelt rolled over the molten bitumen. This type of application is veryspecialisedand dangerous and a major influence for the introduction of Torch on Felt. This application is far easier to use and subsequently has allowed installation to be carried out by inexperienced people. The correct installation of flat roofing is a skilled art and should only be carried out by suitably skilled contractors, so many of the problems associated with flat roofing are due to incorrect installation. Installed correctly with modern high tensile felt membranes, there is no reason why a flat roofing felt system should not last just as long as a tiled roof.

Whilst the advantages of having a Torch on Felt flat roofing system installed are obvious, there is a lot of choice on the market that can cause confusion. Some of these options availableinclude torch-on, self adhesive, pour and roll and glassfibremembranes. Any roofing company will be able to give you professional roofing advice on the right type of flat roofing membrane for your property.

Torch-on membranes can be applied to a wide range of flat roofing scenarios in a relatively straightforward manner.

Felt flat roofing is generally applied in four layers comprising of:

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Flat roofing A Comprehensive Installation Guide