ABOUT FLAT ROOFS

Thirty years ago flat roofs had the reputation of being very prone to leak. However, with modern technology and appropriate design, flat roofs can now have a long and satisfactory life. There are three main types of material for flat roofs: bituminous materials (either applied as flat sheets or as liquid); thermoplastic sheet; and rubber sheet.

LEADING UK SUPPLIERS OF FLAT ROOFS

Sarnafil Flat Roofs. Sarnafil is a leading supplier of thermoplastic flat roofs. Flat roofing using vinyl membranes was first developed in Switzerland and Germany in the 1960s. It came to the USA in the 1970s. Sarnafil is one of the longest established companies in this field. The key feature of thermoplastics for flat roofing is that when the material is heated, it goes into a semi solid state, which allows the edges of panels to be fused together, returning to a solid state when the material cools. The continuous sheet which is produced is designed to withstand the effects of wind, snow, frost, and standing pools of water. Vinyl, sometimes known as PVC, is made up of hydrogen, carbon and chlorine, which is taken from salt.

Ruberoid Flat Roofs. Ruberoid supplies a wide range of materials and systems for flat roofs. It is now a subsidiary of the IKO Group, which is one of the world's leading waterproofing firms, with its headquarters in Toronto, Canada. It has 20 factories in the USA and Europe, with other 3000 employees. Ruberoid has operated in the UK since 1906, and is the UK market leader for bituminous and mastic asphalt systems for flat roofs. These are applied using a hot melt process. Ruberoid also supplies poymeric single-ply systems for flat roofs.

Permaroof UK Flat Roofs. Permaroof is a national contractor for flat roofs and supplier of single ply EPDM single ply rubber roofing systems. It is an distributor of Firestone flat roofing materials, and also offers its own brand AquaGard. EPDM Rubber flat roofs have been installed in North America over more than 40 years. It is estimated that 28% of flat roofs in the USA are covered in EPDM Rubber. Where the roof is a simple rectangle, for example of a flat-roofed house extension, the EDPM rubber can be installed as a single sheet without any seams. Decking or paving may be fitted over the top of a Permaroof EPDM rubber roof.

Roof-Pro. Roof-Pro, of Kempston, Bedfordshire, is a leading supplier of systems for supporting building services, such as pipe runs and air conditioning units, on flat roofs. Its main product categories are: Roof-Pro Systems for Building Services, Standing Seal Clamps, Roof-Nek for Pipe & Cable Risers, Proliner Refurbishment Material, Redline & Flamline Flat Expansion Joints, and Lite-Anchor Lightning Conductor Fixing. These products may be used in combination to provide complete solutions to the fixing of building services to flat roofs.