Which Type of Roof ?
need new roof. is APP or SBS better ? Are they applied the same ? Can I use ridgid insulation under them and apply the insulation right over them ? getting lots of opinions and not sure what to believe !
need new roof. is APP or SBS better ? Are they applied the same ? Can I use ridgid insulation under them and apply the insulation right over them ? getting lots of opinions and not sure what to believe !
sorry, but apparently nick is one of these so called roofers who know only one kind and method of roofing. he apparently knows very little about torch down roofing. i have been a roofer for 27 years and have done just about every kind of roofing out there. first and foremost all the roofing products available will do a decent job if applied correctly. the problem is not with the material but with the so called contractors who install the roof. nick says bad things about app but what he says is flawed, very misleading and shows he has very little knowledge of how to roof with app. a torch applied app roof without question is much superior to a sbs roof when applied correctly. you never torch directly to the old roofing as suggested by nick. you dont have to coat the roof every year, it is not a fire hazard if done correctly. app when applied over a living area should be a two ply torch down over a nailed fiberglass base sheet. the first layer of app should be smooth with the second layer a ceramic granulated finish. the finished app roof will have not a single bubble, unless applied by nicks method, and will have the finish look as the sbs roof. but in my opinion a correctly applied app roof, contrary to nicks belief will be more expensive not cheaper than an sbs roof. also the app roof done in a two ply will long out last and out perform the sbs roof. but the problem is as said previously not so much with the roofing materials but in finding a decent contractor who has a conscience and the know how to apply the roof correctly not cheaply. gboek
Great question!
Torch down roofing APP (Atactic Polypropeline Plastic) which is not rubber. Nor does it have any rubber in it at all. Also, APP is illegal to torch over any roof that has a wood deck. Even if it already has several layers of roofs on it. The law was not enforced for quite some time.
About 8 years ago, (after several deaths caused by fires as a direct result of APP torch down roofing, not to mention the countless fires caused by that method) The law was actually enforced for a few years.
Right after the total destruction that torch down roofing caused to the house of the well-known Dick Cavett and a huge hotel in Las Vegas, in the very same week, where several people died. Officials began to enforce the law for a few years nationalwide. There was hudreds of fines and several arrests in New York alone over a two-year period.
For several months, New York City had helicopters scanning the roof tops day in and day out until they felt they had it under control. Because it appeared to be under control plus the enormous expense NYC has lighten up considerably on enforcing that law. It seems as if most contractors are starting to torch down again. The reason is, its cheaper, faster and easier for the contractor. APP can easily be bought at Home Depot for a song and a dance.
Also, just as important its not as sloppy for the inexperience laborer and since anyone can learn to install APP torch down (which is more like a band aid, when you think about it) in no time at all. Also, contractors can pay laborer wages to their helpers that use the torch.
Now lets address the difference between APP torch down and SBS Rubber Roofing. First, APP merely sticks lightly to the top of your existing layer of roofing and since the old granules are barely clinging to the asphalt of your old roof as it is. The APP lays a bit loosely to your existing roof. This is why you frequently see so many air bubbles on torch down roof.
By the way, as I already stated APP is plastic and has no rubber in it at all. This is because rubber loses its consistency after suffering the intensive heat that the high BTU propane torch puts out. So the manufacterers came up with a cheaper rubber like membrane that can withstand the high amount of heat.
Also, you have to coat your APP roof every year with an aluminum coating to maintain its warranty in its preferred climate.
Originally, APP was created for warmer climates. This was so because regular asphalt roofing rarely lasted for more than half of its life expectancy in tropical climates. While APP, holds up well in year round warm climates. It does not fair well in climates such NYC where temperature can vary dramatically in the colder months. It the colder months it can be 55 degrees in the daytime and drop into the teens at night. This is why you have to coat your foof every year with an aluminum coating.
Also, if you go up to your roof and look at your neighbors houses that have APP roofing on them. You will notice that their roofs have hundreds if not thousands of little fractures on them. This is because of the “shock” the membrane suffers as a result of such variable winter temperature. The manufacters love this because they sell more material when the APP roofs prematurely deteriorate.
SBS Rubber on the other hand is a roofing membrane that is a combination of Rubber and Modified Asphalt. The asphalt is modified in order to make it compatable with the rubber. It also has Ceramic granules adhered on its outer surface. The Ceramic granules reflect the ultraviolet rays of the sun to help your house stay cooler in the summer and to facilitate a much longer life for your SBS roof.
SBS Rubber is applied by an adhesive as opposed to torching it down.
This adhesive saturates your old roofing membrane or (if you tear off your existing roof to your deck) the fiberglass felt. After the application of the adhesive the SBS Rubber is installed over the bed of adhesive. When it dries, it binds totally to each other along with your existing roof. You now have two new layers of waterproofing on your roof.
Since SBS is Rubber, it expands and contracts at a larger rate than APP which is plastic. So the installer has to have ample experience in order to install it properly.
Because SBS is Rubber it costs more money. It also requires the additional expense for purchasing the adhesive. But it is by far worth it!
In the final analysis, SBS is worth the extra money INITIALLY because it will last atleast twice as long as APP. And you will not have to hire someone for about $300.00 every year to reapply aluminum coating.
I hope, I have answered some of your question sufficiently. Please forgive me; if you find any grammatical or spelling errors. My roofing skills are by far greater than my writing knowledge.
My name is Nick Kontzamanis, owner of LEAK MASTER ROOFING. I am 52 years old and I’ve been doing roofing all my life.
LEAK MASTER ROOFING specializes in flat roofs and we only use SBS Rubber Roofing on all of our installations.
If you have any further questions or if you would like a free professional roof inspection, please feel free to call me at 718-421-2000.
Best Wishes,
Nick Kontzamanis
hire an architect.
do a “green-roof” great for insulation, mitigates heat loss/gain and great for the environment… and really attractive.