Question

what is the advantage and disadvantage of MR-24 BUTLER ,EPOM, TPO,AND BUR roofing system ?

Answer 1

1. MR-24 Roof System

Harsh weather conditions such as snow, rain, hail, and wind can take their toll on any roof. With the industry’s first standing-seam metal roof system that has over forty years of proven weather-tight performance, Butler’s MR-24 roof system is one of the finest in the industry.

Canada is known for its rough weather and a roof must be prepared to face the diverse and ever-changing weather conditions that Southern Ontario faces every year. This is what the MR-24 roof system was built for. It will make your building more energy efficient as well as more resilient. This means your roof will last longer and save you both time and money.

Abcott Construction is a certified Butler Builder with over forty years of construction experience. With the implementation of the design build strategy, and Abcott’s vast experience in the construction sector, Abcott is able to quickly assess client needs and get the projected started on the right track.

Butler’s MR-24 roof system provides advantages such as the ability to install Butler’s roof system over your current roof structure, eliminating tear-off costs. A variety of colour options are also available, including energy-efficient cool colours.

The numerous benefits of the Butler MR-24 Roof System include:

• Covers your entire building, providing superior protection .
• Designed with moveable clips to support roof movement under changing temperatures and weather conditions.
• Designed and manufactured to ensure proper alignment and accurate installation Provides added insulation thicknesses to improve energy efficiency.
• The MR-24 Roof System is an efficient option with compelling sustainability qualities Save upwards of 90% on roof maintenance costs with the MR-24 Roof System Let Abcott install the innovative MR–24 Roof System on your building, and get the peace of mind for years to come.

2. EPDM ROOFING SYSTEM

EPDM - ethylene propylene diene terpolymer

ADVANTAGES

1. Cost

Compared to other types of roofing, the cost of EPDM is generally very low. It’s also a great option that is commonly chosen for low-sloped roofs. While the contractor and manufacturer costs will vary, this material is mostly chosen by price-conscious building owners.

2. Eco-Friendly

While the majority of EPDM roofs are black, they can also be white, allowing them to reflect UV rays and even reduce energy costs. They are compatible with rooftop gardens and solar cell arrays. This material is also lightweight, allowing it to adapt to any shape or style of the roof while providing the same advantages.

In addition, very little effort or materials are required to manufacture this material, and it’s 100% recyclable!

3. Fire-Resistant

Not only is this material fire-resistant, but it actually slows down the progress of fires.

4. Long-Lasting

You can expect an EPDM roof to last around 20 years or longer, provided that it is installed correctly. In fact, new manufacturing formulas have allowed this material to become impervious to radiation and damage from UV rays. They are also resistant against wind and hail of up to 3 inches. You can also depend on them to be leak-proof, given that the material is fairly new.

5. Lower Energy Costs

EPDM is easily paired with polyiso insulation. As mentioned above, it also comes in white color. These two attributes mean that it is energy efficient.   Properly installed, this material can be great for keeping out the sun’s heat as well as keeping heat in the building during colder temperatures. EPDM can also be coated to prolong its life and provide additional reflectivity and hence, greater energy efficiency. There are different material thicknesses to choose from, including 45, 60, 75, and 90 mil. The cost to install does increase for thicker materials. But regardless of the size, an experienced roofer, like Reliable Roofing, can install this for you.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Installation Costs

Yes, we said cost was also an advantage of EPDM. It is true that ballasted EPDM systems are relatively inexpensive roofing systems when compared to others. However, fully adhered or mechanically attached systems are slightly more expensive that EPDM’s thermoplastic rival, TPO. Because cost can be both an advantage and a disadvantage to this system, your contractor must be very knowledgeable about what installation method best fits your building’s unique needs. Beware of companies claiming to know this material but who actually have no experience with it. Many roofers who claim to know how to install this material properly are not trained to do it correctly.

2.Relatively Fragile in the Wrong Environment and at End of Its Life

Many manufacturers do offer reinforced EPDM, but EPDM is most common in its non-reinforced form. Non reinforced EPDM punctures more easily. This is especially true later in the life of the membrane. EPDM is subject to shrinkage as it ages and at the end of its life can shrink up to 4%. This leads to “bridging” where the membrane once sat and hugged the substrate, it now stretches across like a drum skin. This is when your EPDM roof, and your building, are most vulnerable. Bridging leads to punctures. Make sure you have your EPDM roof maintained at minimum twice a year by a qualified roofing contractor to spot this condition as the roof ages.

3. Not Pretty To Look At

A black rubber roof is unsightly in certain locations. Low roofs on apartment buildings or hotels, for example, can be seen by people on higher floors. In this application, consider white EPDM or digitally patterned PVC. Also, course the material can be painted over using the acrylic coatings that are designed for the roof. You may be surprised that a little color can go a long way as far as making this material easier on the eyes.

3. TPO ROOFING SYSTEM

TPO stands for thermoplastic polyolefin, a single-ply roofing membrane that covers the surface of the roof. The name is a bit misleading, because rather than being a plastic, TPO is actually one of a few different types of rubber, usually a blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber.

ADVANTAGES

1. Cost

The most impactful advantage of TPO roofing is its inexpensive cost. In the US, the price of a 1500 square foot flat roof varies according to the type of material used: On the low end of the cost spectrum, a rubber roof averages $7065, while a TPO roof costs $7455; at the high end, a PVC roof will cost property owners on average $8055.

While TPO roofing compares to PVC roofing in terms of benefits, such as energy efficiency and being heat weldable, selecting a TPO roof is far more economically advantageous.

2. Flexibility

TPO roofing can be installed on both residential and commercial properties. Variations in color, such as white, black and light gray are available to meet the aesthetic preferences of property owners. While a white roof may seem to generate optimum heat-reflective and energy saving properties, TPO roofs are manufactured to be UV resistant no matter what color is opted.

3. Easy Maintenance

Mold growth, punctures and tears, and the accumulation of dirt are practically non-existent with TPO roofing membranes. TPO roofs are flexible and allow for shifting or settling in the building. Even thermal expansions and contractions are readily accommodated by TPO roofing systems. Since algae and mildew growth is an unlikely possibility with TPO roofs, pressure washing is not required.

4. Easy Installation

The lightweight sheets of TPO roofing membranes allow for ease during installation. The wider sheets also mean fewer seams require attention. Due to the quickness and ease of installation, property owners pay less when installing a TPO roof.

Building owners also have a choice in how the TPO roof is installed. Adhesives or direct fastening to the roof deck are dependable options. TPO roof membranes can be heat welded to areas such as those surrounding chimneys and similar roof protrusions.

5. Energy Savings

Building owners choose TPO roofs because of the reflective nature of the membranes. The white, reflective materials surpass the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR requirements, while the gray, white and tan colored TPO roofs are featured with the Cool Roof Rating Council. During summer weather, air conditioning costs are significantly reduced with TPO roofing systems, as the building stays comfortably cool. The TPO roof also prevents the buildup of heat within the structure.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Newness

Being so new on the market, TPO roofs have not undergone the test of time. Product research is still conducted today to develop long-lasting, durable TPO roofs that are also cost effective. Since TPO roofing’s introduction, seam failures and membrane curing and cracking have occurred in many instances.

Formula testing by researchers continues to produce differing TPO products. Customers are advised to select manufacturers that have sustained longevity in selling TPO roofs, since these manufacturers are more likely to offer a formula that ensures long lasting products.

2. Quality Variations

Different manufacturers produce widely varying qualities of TPO roofing membranes. One roofing manufacturer may produce a superior product, while for the same price, another manufacturer will construct a far lower quality product.

3. Thickness Disparities

Some buyers mistakenly believe that a thicker TPO roof will be long lasting. In reality, the thickness of a TPO roof has no impact on its quality or durability. Again, since TPO roofs are so new on the market, there is little evidence and research done to say how long this type of roofing membrane will last. Generally, roofing expertsestimate a TPO roof will last 10 to 20 years.

4. Lamination

The uppermost part of a TPO roof is laminated. The sheer presence of lamination on any material introduces weak points, spurring shrinkage, cracking, and general deterioration over the course of time. Less costly TPO roofs are known to develop surface cracks rather quickly.

5. Seams

TPO roofing membranes are sold in small-width rolls, meaning seams are present in every six to eight feet. Contractions and expansions occur in the membranes, and the seams are often areas where the membranes become loosened, leading to water leaks in the roof.

4. BUR ROOFING SYSTEM

BUR - Built Up Roof System

Built Up Roof Systems (BUR) are the oldest roof systems that are still being installed today, even though a new BUR roof installation is rare. They have been installed since the mid 1840’s and, like modified bitumen roofs, are typically installed in 2-5 plys. BUR roofs come in black and need to be covered by either gravel or granules to prevent cracking caused by heat from the sun.

BUR roofs are installed by hot-mopping. The product itself comes in a solid form, and needs to be broken down into smaller pieces. Once broken down, the pieces are thrown into a heated kettle, where it is cooked to 400 degrees. At 400 degrees, the product turns from a solid into a liquid, where it can be picked up by a mop or bucket, and spread across the roof. After the product is spread, felt or fiberglass based paper is applied over the liquid product which, as it cools off, turns back into a solid again. Once the felt paper is applied, another layer of liquid asphalt or pitch can be applied right over it. Note that the picture is of hot mopping a modified roof in, not a BUR.

Detail work is completed in the same fashion, with all details being completed 2-5 times based on the number of ply’s in the system.

Benefits of a BUR Roof

Some of the benefits of Built Up Roof Systems are:

• Proven system that has been installed for over 150 years.
• Proven performance of asphalt, which is known to go the distance.
• Excellent puncture resistance.

Drawbacks of a BUR Roof

Built Up Roof systems have a few disadvantages, which are:

• Very high cost, since there are 2-5 ply’s that require labor and materials to install.
• Asphaltic based roofs rely on gravel or granules for protection from the sun. Without them, Asphalt based roofs crack and break apart.
• Mop down installation methods are very unsafe to the workers.
• Asphalt products don’t last as long as they used to.
• Much heavier than comparable single-ply roof systems, since 2-5 plys of heavy product are installed.
• Very few contractors still have the required equipment to install a BUR Roof