Category Archives: roofing

spray foam roofing pros and cons

Spray Foam Roofing Pros and Cons 鈥 Is SPF Right For You?

One way of finishing your roof installation that鈥檚 grown in popularity recently is the spray foam roof 鈥 it provides a number of benefits to your roof鈥檚 integrity and particularly insulation, while being cost-effective (long-term) and easy to apply.

Is spray foam roofing right for you? In this article, we鈥檙e going to have a closer look at the spray foam roofing pros and cons

Spray foam roofing has become a particularly popular solution in the commercial roofing industry 鈥 but that doesn鈥檛 mean it can鈥檛 be right for your residential roof.

Now more than ever, architects are beginning to use materials and design features more common in commercial construction when building domestic homes, so spray foam has a number of uses in that industry as well.

If you want to know more about the pros and cons of spray foam roofing, you鈥檙e in the right place. So what are they?

Spray foam roofing pros

Here are some of the advantages associated with spray foam roofing:

1. It鈥檚 easy to install

spray on roofing pros and cons One of the big reasons why spray polyurethane roofing is becoming so popular is because of how easy it is to install.

This can also save time and money when compared to other roofing solutions. The coating can be applied quickly by the right roofing contractor which means you can carry on using your roof building normally without any disruption.

SPF Roofing can easily be applied to all sorts of different roofs like shingles, concrete, metal and wood 鈥 adding an extra layer of protection.

 

2. It鈥檚 got good energy efficiency

Another big reason for the rise in popularity of spray on roofing is how energy efficient it is. It鈥檒l help keep warm air inside your home when it鈥檚 cold, and reflect it when it鈥檚 hot 鈥 meaning you can save money on energy bills throughout the year.

Spray on roofing provides a solid level of insulation that helps make your roof much more energy efficient.

3. It鈥檚 easy and cheap to look after

When you鈥檝e had your spray on roofing layer applied, you won鈥檛 need to spend much time or money getting it maintained over the years.

However, while it鈥檚 generally long-lasting and won鈥檛 require much maintenance at all, you will need to get it inspected twice a year just in case there has been any damage as some repairs might be needed.

4. It provides a good level of water protection

One of the main reasons for leaks in many other types of roofs is because of seams, but spray on roofs are seamless so this type of water damage is a thing of the past.

With a spray on roof, you can fill gaps, seams and cracks in your existing roof construction, giving you even more protection.

Spray on roofs can also be levelled out more easily, reducing the collection of water in ponds. The foam will also contract and expand depending on the weather which again reduces cracks.

All of these factors combined make spray on roofs some of the best protected against water damage and leaks.

5. It鈥檚 a sustainable solution

SPF system won鈥檛 require the original construction to be 鈥渢orn-off鈥 and produce minimal waste 鈥 that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 one of the most sustainable roofing solutions in the industry. The materials used are also considered to be highly environmentally friendly.

You can read more about roof tear-off in the article we wrote about tear off and overlay.

6. It lasts a long time

With the right maintenance and checks 鈥 a spray on roof can last up to 50 years.

7. It鈥檚 pays for itself in the long-run

Spray on roofs can be expensive to get installed, but this can easily pay for itself and more in the long run when you factor in how long it lasts as well as the amount you should save on energy costs.

Spray foam roofing cons

Here are some negatives to spray foam roofing that might make you want to consider a different option:

1. You need an expert to install itspray foam roofing pros and cons
Spray on roofing can鈥檛 be installed by any contractor 鈥 as it鈥檚 a highly specialized solution that needs immediate care and attention when installed.

That means you need a highly trained team of roofing experts to get the right finish and to make sure your roof is water-tight and completely ready to go.

Precision is needed as well as a full understanding of the chemicals that are being used and how they behave.

2. Some contractors aren鈥檛 as good

When you鈥檙e relying on the skill of a contractor, it鈥檚 important you find a good one.

While other roofing solutions are easy to install and have people in every town who are capable, spray on roofing requires specialist knowledge and experience, so finding the right contractor might not be straightforward, but it鈥檚 important you don鈥檛 settle for anyone who isn鈥檛 the best.

We recently wrote about the most important questions you need to ask a roofer before signing the contract and we recommend you take a look.

3. You can鈥檛 spray your roof throughout the year

If you need your roof sprayed in the winter, you might need to think again. You can鈥檛 spray a roof when it鈥檚 already damp, moist or icy.

4. You need to be careful when spraying

If you spray too much solution on the roof, overspray can occur 鈥 particularly when it鈥檚 windy. This can cause damage to nearby vehicles or other properties.

5. There are some maintenance issues

Small cracks can occur, especially in extreme weather 鈥 so you need to check your roof regularly (about twice a year) and fix any problems immediately.

6. You need a specialist to repair

As with the installation of your spray on roof, a highly trained specialist will be needed to repair your spray on roof.

7. It鈥檚 hard to remove

While spray on roofs are easy to install for the right roofing contractor, they aren鈥檛 as easy to remove and could be expensive if you decide you鈥檇 like a different roofing solution altogether.

Hopefully, you鈥檝e now seen enough of the pros and cons associated with spray on roofing to make an informed decision for yourself.

With the right contractor, there are enough benefits to SPF roofing that it could be the right choice for you.

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Commercial Roof Maintenance Expert Guide

If you鈥檝e got some experience in the residential roofing industry 鈥 normally because you鈥檝e had your own home鈥檚 roof replaced or repaired at some point, you might think that you鈥檝e got enough knowledge to know exactly what鈥檚 right for a commercial roof maintenance or installation.

The reality is 鈥 that isn鈥檛 always the case. While commercial and residential roofs do share a number of similarities (they鈥檙e both roofs, after all) 鈥 there are also a few key differences. Especially when it comes to maintenance and general roof care.

Some roofing contractors will look after all types of roofs, whether they鈥檙e residential, industrial, commercial or other. However, many firms actually just specialize in one type of roof.

So if you鈥檝e got a good home roofing firm on-call, that might not be enough for any commercial roof needs you come across.

In this article, we鈥檙e going to have a look at a few key things you need to think about when getting your commercial roof serviced.

Commercial roof maintenance 鈥 What material is the roof made from?

Commercial and residential roofs are often made from different materials and will therefore require different solutions and experience to maintain.

Many commercial buildings are covered in low-pitched metal roofs instead of traditional slate, because of things like cost and durability.

However, some of these materials have started to become more popular in residential homes too.

Firstly, architects started adding metal roofs to residential homes as some kind of design statement, but more and more developers have started to notice the benefits they bring.

Metal roofs are now becoming popular in residential constructions as they have been in commercial ones for a few good reasons. They鈥檙e cheap, easy and quick to install.

They also provide good cover, insulation and are lightweight. Not only that, but they also don鈥檛 require much maintenance or upkeep.

What does that mean for you? Well, as more residential homes start using similar materials to commercial ones, you might be able to find some crossover with service providers.

That means you鈥檙e more likely to find residential roofers who can also look after your commercial roof maintenance, although that isn鈥檛 always the case.

How often should your commercial roof be checked or serviced?commercial roof maintenance

One reason metal roofs and other similar roof finishes are popular for larger commercial buildings is because they鈥檙e cheaper, more durable and longer-lasting.

That means you shouldn鈥檛 need to get your roof checked or serviced as often as someone with a traditional residential roof. Generally, some metal roofs will last decades without even needing looking at. Here are 2 simple maintenance tips:

1. Make sure you check when your roof was installed about how long it can go before it needs routine maintenance. If you spot issues with your roof before that time, you鈥檒l still want to call out some experts to have a look.

2. Any leakage, major bending or issues with the integrity of your roof will need checking immediately, even if you haven鈥檛 had it in place for that long.

However, most commercial roofs look after themselves and if you don鈥檛 notice any issues with them 鈥 should stay viable for much longer than traditional residential roofs.

If you鈥檙e unsure, phone up a local roofing company and ask their professional opinion.

How to find the best commercial roof maintenance contractor

As we鈥檝e already looked at, commercial roofs have a number of differences compared to residential roofs, but also some similarities in some cases.

While you might be able to find a major contractor that looks after both commercial and residential roofs (especially in an area where metal residential roofing is more popular), you might want to take a bit more time to find an experienced commercial roofing company.

Here are a few tips if you鈥檙e trying to do that:

1. Do you know any other businesses who can recommend a good roof company?

When you鈥檙e trying to fix or maintain a residential roof, you should probably already know plenty of potential people to ask about their roofs.

That鈥檚 because your home will normally be in a neighbourhood that has other residents you might be friends with. It鈥檚 easy to simply ask them who did their roof and if they鈥檇 recommend them.


With specialist commercial roofs, it might not be that straightforward. Businesses don鈥檛 chat with rival businesses like neighbours do, especially if they鈥檙e the competition.

You might also be located in a commercial area that isn鈥檛 surrounded by other businesses the same way a residential street has loads of other homes.

That makes finding the right roof service firm just that little bit more difficult. But that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 impossible.

Try attending business networking events and keep as talkative to other business owners as you can.

Even though there might be some competitive rivalry between yours and another business 鈥 you never know when you might be able to help each other, whether you鈥檙e trying to find a roofing firm or have another business related problem.

2. Try some online recommendation sites

As with almost anything else these days, you can find yourself a good roofing company with a quick online search.
industrial roof maintenance

There are plenty of different online review sites that should be able to point you in the right direction. Just make sure you ask around in the local area and don鈥檛 only rely on review ratings, as these can be easily faked.

3. Ask to see completed work

Once you鈥檝e got a contractor in mind, have a chat with them and ask to see some roofs they鈥檝e already worked on 鈥 either in their portfolio or by actually visiting the site. If they can鈥檛 show you any, you might want to look elsewhere.

4. Ask for a competitive quote

Make sure you ask for quotes before you sign-up. Don鈥檛 just go on price, either 鈥 make sure you like what the firm has to say and agree with the time-frame they offer. We recently wrote about the most important questions to ask a roofer and you should definitely check it out

Getting your commercial roof serviced and maintained needn鈥檛 be complicated, but hopefully some of these tips have set you in the right direction.

What is a TPO Roof System And Should Your Home Have One

TPO Roofing is a type of membrane that has specific attributes and could be the best solution for your roof. A TPO roof system has grown in popularity over the last few decades 鈥 and for good reason.

In this article, we鈥檙e going to look a bit more deeply into exactly what TPO roofing is and why it could be the right solution for you and your roof.

If you鈥檇 like to start by simply finding out what exactly a TPO roofing system is 鈥 you鈥檙e in the right place. So let鈥檚 get started鈥

What exactly is TPO roofing?

what is tpo roof systemTPO is short for Thermoplastic Polyolefin 鈥 and it鈥檚 a single ply roofing membrane that鈥檚 made from a couple of different combined rubbers.

TPO is normally installed by mechanical attachment, which allows a layer of membrane to remain exposed on the roof.

TPO has been in use since the late 1980s, and has become one of the most popular roofing solutions in the industry.

What benefits does TPO roofing have for your roof?

TPO roofs are especially popular in warmer weather regions 鈥 specifically where cooling equipment (like air con) is used more than warming equipment (like central heating).

They鈥檙e also better in warmer climates because the TPO membrane actually copes well with UV radiation by reflecting it and keeping the roof as cool as possible when the weather is hot.

These characteristics not only help keep the roof and home cool 鈥 they can also help save money.

That鈥檚 because cooling costs in the summer can be expensive, and when the TPO membrane helps reduce how much air con you need, you鈥檙e obviously going to save money.

One additional benefit is by behaving like this, TPO roofing will also help reduce your carbon emissions 鈥 so if that鈥檚 something that鈥檚 important to you, it鈥檚 a great choice.

TPO membranes are also really popular with companies who are trying to improve their environmental profiles.

If you鈥檝e got a self-build with the environment in mind, TPO roof membrane is one of the best choices around.

More and more people are realizing how important both sustainability and energy efficiency is when it comes to home construction these days.

Not only is an energy-sufficient home better for the environment 鈥 it鈥檚 also better for your bank balance.

While the roof is only a small part of building a self-sufficient home, it鈥檚 still an important one. That鈥檚 why more and more people are opting for TPO in their home when they try and make their property as energy-efficient as possible.

Some people even get their properties to the point where they鈥檙e so energy efficient they pay for themselves, or even earn money by selling energy back to the grid.

While these will often be self-builds with some energy generating capacity (like solar panels), you can also renovate an old home to get it into the right shape.

Whether you鈥檙e building a new home or fixing up an existing property, TPO membrane is a great option 鈥 especially in warmer areas.

FUN FACT 鈥 TPO use is actually on the rise in popularity. Some say it鈥檚 got the biggest growth in the industry, and its use has increased 18% in the 7 year period prior to 2013.

what is tpo roof system

One other reason for TPO鈥檚 popularity is how versatile and flexible it is. The thing about building and roof construction is that many homes actually move over time.

This is surprising to many people, but it鈥檚 a fact of the construction industry. This means a completely rigid structure can actually have more problems than you might think, and it鈥檚 why you need a roofing membrane that is flexible and moves with the building 鈥 but also one that鈥檚 strong and versatile and keeps water-tight even after these movements.

That鈥檚 something TPO is really good at. It鈥檚 strong, flexible, durable and versatile. It can also be reshaped multiple times, which makes it ideal for covering different roof patterns.

TPO is also relatively cheap compared to many other roofing membranes. Not only that, but it can be installed quickly and easily and doesn鈥檛 require a lot of maintenance.

What issues are associated with TPO roofing?

TPO has grown in popularity over the last few years because the negatives associated with it are minimal, especially when compared to other roofing solutions.

However, there are still a few minor issues you might want to have a look at. Some cheaper TPO solutions have had issues with reinforcement over longer time-spans.

Also, some of the lowest quality TPO providers do not provide the best cool-roof solutions.

These issues are not symptoms of all TPO roofing systems, just the very cheapest ones. While TPO was originally created as a low-cost roofing solution, it might be wise to spend a little more on a slightly better quality finish.

This can still often be much cheaper than many other roofing solutions, but doesn鈥檛 have the problems associated with the very cheapest TPO on the market.

How to choose the best TPO roofing contractor for you

As with any other type of roofing product or service, you need to take care and time to find the absolute best TPO roofing provider in your area.

There are a few simple yet effective steps that you can do to help with this. So let鈥檚 take a look at them鈥

Firstly, do you know anyone who鈥檚 had this work done before? While online reviews can help, nothing beats the review of someone you know and trust.

If you live in a warmer location, you might already know more people with TPO roofs than you think. Have a look at the finish on their roof and ask them about their energy costs.

Also, ask them how good the team that installed their roof was, both with regards to cost and how long it took 鈥 as well as how happy the homeowner was having them in their property.

If you are new to the area or simply don鈥檛 know anyone you can ask about their TPO roof, you can still check online reviews.

There are review sites for almost anything these days, even roofing contractors. Make sure you look at why someone rated a service high or low and don鈥檛 just look at the actual rating itself.

Some people have specific reasons for their review which may not be relevant to you or your property.


The next step is to invite a few prospective firms to your home and ask them to have a look at your roof.

They should be able to give you a competitive quote as well as a time-frame for exactly how long the work should take.

If you can, ask to see a portfolio of their previous work (or even visit some of their finished roofs in the local area).

If they aren鈥檛 able to offer you a whole host of testimonials and happy clients, you might want to look elsewhere.

What is Custom Roof Restoration Service?

What is a custom roof restoration service? Well, if you鈥檝e got a specific or non-standard type of roof that needs either restoring or replacing 鈥 you鈥檙e in the right place. While most standard homes have similar roofs which bring with them similar problems, this isn鈥檛 always the case.

The vast majority of regular roofing companies carry out repairs and restore the same types of roofs again and again. That鈥檚 a good thing if you鈥檝e got a standard roof 鈥 but not if you haven鈥檛.

Whether you鈥檝e got a particularly old roof, or one built out of custom materials 鈥 you might need a specialist roofing service provider to either fix or restore it. In many cases, custom roofs can鈥檛 simply be taken off and replaced by a more standard structure.

They need care and attention from an experienced team to get them back as good as new again. In this article, we鈥檙e going to look at some of the issues surrounding custom roof restoration, along with how to find the right roofing company for your non-standard roof.

What is a custom roof restoration service?

If you鈥檙e still wondering what an actual custom roof restoration service is 鈥 it鈥檚 actually quite self-explanatory. Custom roofs are often on older buildings, perhaps even ones that are protected and therefore can鈥檛 simply be replaced.

If you want to add years to the lifespan of an original roof that鈥檚 made from non-standard materials, without damaging the original essence of the building 鈥 a custom roof restoration service is for you.

Whether you鈥檝e got some on your home or traditional thatch, you鈥檒l need a roofer who鈥檚 got the exact experience required working with that material, so your restored roof can be as good as new.

While custom roof restoration is often popular with old, sometimes protected buildings 鈥 that鈥檚 not always the case. And old isn鈥檛 always as old as you think. Custom roof restoration is also popular with unique architectural buildings that might only be a few decades old, but used specialized materials and design ideas when being constructed.

In other words, custom restoration could be for your building even if it isn鈥檛 historic or protected.

Specialist materials

As we鈥檝e just looked at, most historic roofs use materials that simply aren鈥檛 used in roofing much anymore. This means that the restoration process takes time, care and experience. It鈥檒l also need materials that have been specially sourced and a roofing specialist that understands their unique properties.

While you might think metal is a relatively new roofing material, it鈥檚 actually been in use for over a century and is a prominent feature of many historic roofs. While it might be the number one choice for commercial buildings, it was actually popular in high-end home construction 鈥 especially those built in styles like Art Deco and Romanesque. Because these high-end homes were often built for the wealthy 鈥 many of them are still standing today.

So while old metal roofs aren鈥檛 uncommon, not many roofing contractors have the specific skills required to restore them in a manner that befits the original. That鈥檚 one reason why a specialist custom roof contractor could be for you.

While also a metal, copper roofs have their own distinct set of properties (along with issues when restoring). Copper was popular in many high-end homes and local government buildings, but restoring it isn鈥檛 always straightforward.

That鈥檚 because the copper ages and turns a shade of green over time, so restoring part of a roof to keep it in-place with the rest of the building takes time and attention, along with a set of specialist skills.

As slate is one of the longest lasting roofing materials, you鈥檒l find lots of older buildings still with the original slate in place. An original slate roof could last over a hundred years 鈥 but if you look closely, many individual shingles might need replacing. Again, this takes care and attention from an expert team who know how to work with old slate and who can make sure the replaced areas still look right.

Clay roofs have also been popular for centuries, especially in Spanish architecture. Replacing parts of old clay roofs that are within existing structures takes a lot of care, especially when producing an overall look and feel for the building that doesn鈥檛 look out of place with new clay. This will often mean using handmade clay products, and it takes a lot of experience to get this right.

When replacing isn鈥檛 an option

Some people think that when you鈥檝e got an old or worn roof 鈥 you simply need to rip it off and replace it. While that might work with standard buildings 鈥 it simply isn鈥檛 an option with old and historic roofs.

Not only can it be extremely difficult to re-create a new roof that has the same historic feel as the original, actually doing so might be violating protected building status. That鈥檚 why many of these buildings need their original roof restored so it鈥檚 as close to the original as possible.

How to pick the right custom roof service for you

If you鈥檝e got a specific historic or custom roof that needs taking care of, you need to take your time finding a contractor with the right experience. Ask around, and don鈥檛 simply go for the cheapest quote 鈥 as this is one type of roofing service where you often get what you pay for.

Try checking other historic buildings in your area and asking their owners who they used for their roofs. Remember, while there are some custom roofing companies that will have experience in all types of historic roofs, some might specialize in one or two specific types of roofs.

So if you鈥檝e got a copper, slate, traditional metal or clay roof 鈥 it might make a difference when you鈥檙e choosing a contractor. Make sure you check their references and portfolio of work before signing-off on anything.

Hopefully, you鈥檝e now got enough of an idea about custom roofing services and what they mean for your roof.

The Difference Between Residential and Commercial Roofing

You probably think that residential and commercial roofing are reasonably similar. While this can sometimes be true 鈥 it鈥檚 quite often not the case. Both commercial and residential roofs have a distinct set of characteristics and specific demands that often require a completely different approach.

In this article, we鈥檙e going to look at the difference between residential and commercial roofing. 

While you might be able to find some commercial roofing contractors who specialize in both 鈥 many roofing firms only look after either residential or commercial roofs. That鈥檚 because they鈥檙e almost a completely different industry and require a different set of skills and materials. We鈥檙e going to look at some of the key differences.

So, what are some of the key differences between residential and commercial roofing?

They use different materials

First and foremost, the type of materials recommended for residential and commercial roofs will often vary quite a lot. While there鈥檚 sometimes some crossover, you should expect to use completely different materials if you鈥檙e roofing a home compared to roofing a business.

One area where that鈥檚 started to change in recent years is with metal roofs. These were often a mainstay of commercial and industrial roofing, but were rarely used in residential roof construction.

That鈥檚 slowly started to change 鈥 and more and more residential architects are starting to incorporate metal roofs into their designs. That鈥檚 because of the relatively low cost of a metal roof, along with how light and durable it is. However, this is often just in architecturally designed homes rather than mass-market residential roofing.

The reason different materials are used for either residential or commercial roofing is because those types of buildings have different requirements and needs. Many commercial buildings will need to cover a much larger area, while residential roofs have to keep the home weather-proof and warm to a much higher degree of certainty.

That鈥檚 why residential roofs are often steeper, to help with the flow of rain and snow from the property. This is less important for commercial properties that don鈥檛 have people living in overnight 鈥 and also because a flatter roof is cheaper when covering a much larger area (commercial buildings can be much, much bigger than residential homes).

They鈥檙e for different size buildings

We touched on this already, but commercial buildings are often much bigger. That means they need a slightly cheaper solution to cover a larger area whereas residential homes need something that is as weather-proof as possible for a smaller footprint.

The slope of the roof plays a big role in weather protection, and it鈥檚 why residential roofs often have a much steeper pitch. This kind of steep roof would be extremely expensive and difficult to put in place on a large commercial building, which is why a low flat roof is often good enough 鈥 especially as these aren鈥檛 buildings people live in.

The cost will vary a lot

Cost plays a huge role in the difference between commercial and residential roofs as we鈥檝e already looked at. Low metal roofs are cheap for large buildings, and it鈥檚 actually why more and more residential architects are incorporating them into their design. However, they are traditionally only for commercial buildings.

A hand-built slate or tile roof can be more expensive, but might provide better insulation for a building. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 popular for residential homes that don鈥檛 cover the same large area as commercial buildings.

Many business owners simply want the cheapest roof possible to keep their building secure, rather than thinking too much about insulation and weather protection.

They have different designs

Again, we鈥檝e already touched on why 鈥 but commercial and residential roofs will vary a lot when it comes to design. As we鈥檝e already looked at, low metal roofs are better for covering larger areas whereas residential constructions have slightly higher demands for protection (but smaller areas to cover). That鈥檚 why many residential buildings have steeper roofs.

Different skills to install

While cost might be important for both types of roofs, and a low metal roof might be cheap to per square-meter 鈥 commercial roof constructions are actually quite difficult to install because of their size.

This can require a different set of skills to sometimes simple residential roofs, and not all roofing providers are experts in both. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important that you take your time when choosing a roofing constructor in your area.

Some firms will be expert at both commercial and residential roofing whereas others will simply specialize in one or the other.

Different finishes

Not only are the main roof builds often different, they鈥檒l also have different finishes and touches that can vary a lot. Things like or construction can be common in residential builds and require a specific set of skills to work with or around.

You might also want solar panelling so that you can move towards self-sufficiency and help the environment in the process. Again, this type of installation can require a roofing firm with the right experience.

How to find the right roofing contractor for your residential or commercial roof

As we鈥檝e looked at 鈥 there are lots of differences between residential and commercial roofs. While you can find one contractor who鈥檚 great at both, this isn鈥檛 always possible. If you鈥檙e looking for a residential roofer, ask your neighbours or other people in your local area if they know someone they can recommend.

If they鈥檝e had their roof done before, they might be able to point you in the right direction of someone they recommend (or someone to avoid).

Check online and weigh up the quotes from different firms before you make a decision. If you can, ask to see their portfolio of work or even finished roofs they鈥檝e worked on. Picking the right roofing firm is an important decision whether you need a commercial or residential roof, so it鈥檚 not one that should be taken lightly.

What Does SBS Roofing Stand For And What Are The Advantages

An SBS roof is one constructed from specific materials to help make it waterproof. If you鈥檇 like a little more detail on exactly what SBS roof is, and what the benefits are 鈥 then this article is for you.

We鈥檙e going to dive deeper into the subject so you know exactly what does SBS roofing stand for and what it is, also why it鈥檚 a good option for your roof.

SBS specifically stands for Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene, but this might not mean much to you unless you鈥檝e got a strong background in chemistry. Another way to look at SBS if you don鈥檛 really know what Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene means, is that it鈥檚 a family of synthetic rubber.

SBS is widely used in the roofing industry for waterproofing roofs because of its flexibility and elastic properties. That means it can adapt it鈥檚 shape in various weather conditions while still keeping the integrity of the roof and also making sure everything underneath the roof stays dry.

SBS therefore isn鈥檛 just used in roofing, and is relied upon in a number of other applications that need this level of flexibility and durability 鈥 like coatings, sealants and paving.

What are the advantages of an SBS roof?

There are a number of advantages to using this type of chemical sealant in a number of different applications, including roofing 鈥 let鈥檚 have a look at them.

1. SBS is compatible with a huge number of different applications that aren鈥檛 simply limited to roofing (although that鈥檚 one of its most popular uses). It can be used to waterproof all sorts of surfaces, including tons of different types of roofs 鈥 but also car decks, bridges and more.

2. It鈥檚 also an extremely resistant and resilient chemical, and will stand up against extreme heat and cold without giving way. That means you can keep a wide range of surfaces watertight no matter what the weather. It鈥檚 also resistant to frost, freeze-thawing, heavy rain and heavy snow.

3. SBS roofing is also an extremely long-lasting solution. It retains integrity and water-proofing decades after being applied to a surface.

4. Another reason more and more professionals are starting to use SBS for roofing and more is that it鈥檚 extremely flexible while managing to maintain the integrity of a sealed roof. One of the main issues with large roof constructions is that many of them are required to move slightly under different environmental forces.

5. Buildings (and therefore roofs) can expand and contract during hot and cold weather conditions, or sway under heavy winds. This can sometimes make it difficult to keep a proofing sealant in place, but not with SBS. This flexible solution can stand up to extreme pressure and will keep your roof watertight no matter what the weather.

6. SBS roofing solutions are also easy and cheap to install, and that鈥檚 another key advantage. You can get a large roof sealed in under a day, and it can be applied after the roof construction has finished (sometimes a long time after). That鈥檚 something other proofing solutions often fail to match.


SBS proofing can be torch applied or mechanically fixed depending on the specific roof or surface in question.


An SBS roof is also a secure one 鈥 both against weather and any other external threats you can think of. You won鈥檛 need to worry about leakage or damp, or even cracks opening that could lead to a security risk.

These can sometimes be a problem with unprotected or old roofs that haven鈥檛 been sealed. One small opening could be enlarged and used to enter your property. But not with an SBS roof 鈥 there won鈥檛 be any gaps in your coverage.

Why do roofers like using SBS?

More and more have been turning to SBS coverage, and for good reason. Many older sealant processes fail to match up on many (if not all) of these benefits.

Traditional plastic-based roof sealants are often nowhere near flexible enough and can create cracks and other issues when a roof naturally moves.

One other key reason that roofers like SBS is that it鈥檚 easier, safer and cheaper to install. When torching an SBS roof sealant in place, it can actually be applied with a much lower temperature. This is a big benefit to roofing professionals.

Not only is it cheaper and easier to reach a lower temperature when compared to the high ones needed for other roofing sealants 鈥 it鈥檚 also safer.

What sort of roof is right for SBS?

As we鈥檝e already touched on, SBS is a great product not just for roofs, but a wide range of other solutions. That means it鈥檚 also great for a wide range of different roof solutions. SBS has grown in popularity for all sorts of roofs 鈥 but particularly flat and industrial roofs.

Because of the solution鈥檚 excellent flexibility and all-weather finish, it鈥檚 particularly useful for roofs that are in places with extreme weather conditions.

Not only can it cope with heavy rain and snow, but it鈥檒l also keep in place when your roof expands and contracts because of high or low temperatures. 

SBS is particularly recommended for those roofs that retain water for long periods 鈥 like flat or nearly flat roofs (or ones that don鈥檛 have the best drainage). That means it鈥檚 also a great option in areas that receive a lot of snow 鈥 especially if it sits on the roof for long periods and slowly melts.

It鈥檚 also thick and extremely durable which makes it a good option for roofs that people walk across regularly.

Hopefully, you鈥檝e seen how good an SBS coating can be for your roof. There are tons of reasons why more and more roofing professionals are deciding to use SBS coating to weather-proof their roofs. SBS could be the right option for you.