Jody Dove, Vice President Commercial Roofing, Southland Rowe Roofing, Inc.
I have been doing this a long time…”
My Dad used to tell me that when I first started working with him in the roofing industry and would ask why we did things the way we did them. Truth is, I think that’s the same thing my grandfather used to tell him when Dad first started working for him.
Single ply roofing systems have certainly become the systems that we typically see specified on commercial projects and there are legitimate reasons for this. So why should roofing contractors still look at a modified bitumen system as a possible solution to a specific roofing issue?
“I have been doing this a long time…” Let’s discuss a couple of reasons by looking at a few scenarios.
Modified Bitumen roofing is a multi-ply system – this provides built-in redundancy. Built-in redundancy is, in itself, a good thing; multiple layers of waterproofing protection can help a roofing contractor sleep better at night. But this
redundancy could provide an additional benefit.
Consider: You are negotiating a job with a general contractor, could be new construction, could be a re-roof or renovation. The things that are complicating this job are the non-roofing work items that will need to be performed on the roof surface (new or raised mechanical equipment, clerestory glass installation, etc.) and the work that will be performed inside the building shell needs a roof to protect it; drywall comes to mind. The general contractor wants to fast track the roof to get or keep the building dry so that the interior work can move forward. You, as the roofing professional, do not want to put down a roof that you will be responsible for while other trades will need to work on the roof surface with sharp-edged heavy equipment, cutting tools and then likely need to open your new roof to the deck.
With a modified bitumen roofing system in your arsenal, you could install the roof insulation and base ply of modified bitumen, providing a watertight membrane over the building shell. Work that needs to be done inside the shell can be performed, while work that needs to be completed on top of the roof area can be performed. At this point, you, the roofing contractor, can return, make repairs to your base ply, install your cap ply and complete your finished roof, after roof
surface work by other trades. Yes, there are limitations to this approach. A base ply cannot be left unsurfaced for an extended period of time and your manufacturer may want to perform an inspection of the base ply prior to the cap ply installation if this is a warrantied application, but it can be done. Make sure to check with your manufacturer regarding their limitations prior to offering this solution. This is a workable solution that can make you a hero to the general contractor and, in doing so, make you the roofing contractor that a general contractor wants to work with.
Almost every major manufacturer of thermo-plastic single ply membrane has a Florida Product Approval for a fleece-back, single ply roofing membrane installed over an existing modified bitumen roofing membrane using a low-rise foam adhesive. Based on the application, manufacturers typically will offer a 20-year warranty.
Consider: You are providing a re-roofing proposal to an owner who is looking long-term. Your owner considers a new roof to be a long-term investment in his or her business, not just something to stop the leaks so they can move along for the next couple of years.
With a modified bitumen roofing system in your arsenal, you can discuss with the owner re-roofing with a 20-year modified bitumen roofing system. You can share with the owner the benefits of an annual roof maintenance program, offered by your roofing company, to protect the owner’s investment and, because you will be inspecting this roof annually, you can also share with the owner a long-term plan. A plan where, possibly 15 years down the road, before this roof has begun to demonstrate signs of failure, you recover the roof with a fleece-back single ply system. This plan, which will save him future tear-off costs, will utilize the existing roof insulation and minimize disruption inside the facility during operation. A plan that is environmentally-friendly because it is saving landfill space and allowing for reutilization of the insulation for a second roof cycle. A plan that provides for a real long-term investment solution.
These are two scenarios where having a modified bitumen roofing system as part of your arsenal might provide you with a solution that can make you and your company the solution for a general contractor or an owner and make you and your company the roofing contractor they look to. No roofing system is “THE System” for every application. But having modified bitumen as an option that you can use, might just provide you with the system needed for a specific situation.
Jody Dove is the Vice President of Commercial Roofing at Southland Rowe Roofing, Inc. He received his AA from Florida State University and his BA from Flagler College. Jody and his wife Gayle are native Floridians, residing in Tallahassee. They have two sons, Lawson and Sawyer. Jody is a third generation “ asphalt in the veins” kind of guy. He is a CPRC, FRSA Past President and Life Member and the creator and longest tenured holder of the OG Position, “ Not So Immediate” Past President.
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