A roofer is a roofer is a roofer, true? Not necessarily. There are several types of roofs and consequently various types of roofing professionals. When you think of a roofer, you probably think about the guys who come up in a pick up truck with shingles and nails to put a roof on your home. Well flat roofs are unique and don’t even use shingles.
So working on a flat roof should be a lot easier than working on an inclined roof, true? This is not correct in all instances. Flat roofs until really recently were covered with tar and gravel to protect them from the elements. However, tar and gravel tends to wear down and crack over time because of the elements and needs to be fixed periodically. The tar used to restore a flat roof is hot tar kept in a high temperature vessel until it is ready to be poured out onto the roof. This tar is hot enough to seriously hurt someone that gets in contact with it. Check out flat roofing for more details on this and why newer roofing styles can be much better and safer.
Another danger to working on a flat roof is that the roofers are standing vertical rather than sitting on the slope of the roof. If the roof is in a weakened state, it is quite possible that the roofer could fall right through the roof with no warning, and nothing to stop him but the broken roof. A sloped roof can cave in, also, but if the roofer is sitting, he is spread out to a greater extent and is less likely to go directly through than if he were in a standing position.
Newer flat roofs are constructed with rolled material that acts as a membrane. Have a look at epdm rubber roof for details on newer flat roof materials. This material is often less hazardous to work with than hot tar and gravel, and repels water and other elements better, too. The problem with the membrane material is that it doesn’t hold people effectively. It is easily damaged if walked on. Numerous apartment buildings with a flat roof will give access to the roof for occupants to use. This cannot be done with a membrane roof unless something is reinforced over the membrane to protect it.
The most recent innovation in flat roofing is the green roof. This roof will have the membrane material as a foundation, but will be topped with top soil and grass. The top soil will absorb any water that lies on the roof, and will also act as the preservative layer over the membrane material. Residents can have a small garden on a green roof if they wish, but need to be mindful of flowers and plants with long roots, as the roots can hurt the membrane layer of the flat roof.