Frazier Roofing Products

Asphalt Built Up Roofs

Built-Up Roofing Systems are one of the oldest and most dependable roofing systems on the market today. The built-up roof system consists of multiple layers of bitumen which are the waterproofing medium; and fiberglass roofing felts which are the reinforcements; combining to form a uniform solid surface.

Each type of base, cap, and ply felt is designed to perform a specific function in the roofing system.

These various forms permit the installation of Built-Up Roofing Systems over many different substrates. The bitumen is also available in various grades to accommodate other variations that may be encountered i.e., slope, products, deck, and weather conditions.

The many benefits of installing a built-up roof are: multiple applications, ease of maintenance, multiple layers of waterproofing embedded in hot asphalt, can be used on several different deck types, and makes roof top equipment installation easy.

Modified Bitumen

Modified bitumen roofs offer benefits over other systems currently marketed for low slope roofing applications. They share many similarities to single ply membranes, add to that a base layer two to three ply built up roof, making the modified bitumen roofing system much less susceptible to problems. The tough and tenacious properties of the modified bitumen blend coupled with high tensile polyester and/or fiberglass reinforcements provide excellent resistance to foot traffic, punctures, dropped tools, hail storms and other abuse. This makes these products ideal for buildings with high traffic roofs, such as those with mechanical equipment, and schools or structures where objects can be thrown onto the roof.

The elastic properties allow these products to accommodate recurring stresses reducing the possibility of a fatigue failure. There are many benefits of installing a modified bitumen roof: UV Resistance, can accept excessive roof top traffic, low maintenance, multiple layers of waterproofing materials, no roof coating required, puncture resistance, excellent choice of colors, surface for fire ratings and durability.

Single Ply Membranes

Thermoset Roof Membranes (Once Manufactured by Colonial Rubber in Dyersburg, TN)

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) or "Rubber" EPDM materials have been used as a roofing material here in the United States since the early 1960's. EPDM is a synthetic rubber material that is formulated with extensive flexibility for use as a membrane sheet roofing. EPDM is manufactured as a vulcanized (cured) membrane. Uncured EPDM is manufactured for use as a flashing material. EPDM can only be bonded to like material with an adhesive when making seams. This adhesive can be seam tape and some liquid adhesives. EPDM membranes range in thickness of .045mils to .120mils. Only fully cured EPDM will bond together creating a molecular linkage. EPDM membranes exhibit good resistance to ozone, UV rays, weathering, and abrasions. EPDM has good low temperature flexibility. EPDM is resistant to some acids and solvents. On the other hand exposure to animal fats, vegetable oil and petroleum based products should be avoided.

Thermoplastic Roof Membranes (including PVC membranes and TPO membranes)

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) polymers were originally produced in Germany during the 1950's. The basic chemical resin is a relatively hard material that requires the addition of plasticizers to make it supple and pliable for use as flexible membrane roofing. PVC sheets are reported to be resistant to bacterial growth, many industrial chemicals and plant root penetration. PVC roof membranes are fire resistant and have good seaming characteristics. PVC is not chemically compatible with bituminous materials.

TPO roof membranes are compounded from a blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber polymers. TPO membranes exhibit positive physical properties, such as heat aging, cold temperature flexibility, puncture resistance and tear strength. They are resistant to damage from animal fats, hydrocarbon oils, and vegetable oils. They will not support the growth of microorganisms.

A summary of Thermoplastic Roof membrane characteristics, both chemical and physical, materials allow them to be repeatedly soften when heated and harden when cooled. Typically there is no chemical cross-linking in the membranes compound. Because of the nature of the membrane, Thermoplastic sheets typically are seamed by heat-welding with hot air.

Key Points

EPDM has tried in the industry to eliminate manual "applications" of glue and solvents, new designs are on going to take the human factor out of the waterproofing procedure. This goes with seam tape, seam flashing, and pre-molded parts - all for ease of application. Many different manufacturers have different formations in the EPDM manufacturer process to help eliminate shrinkage, thin spots, race tracking, etc.

Whatever single ply roof is chosen; all surfaces are not good candidates for this type of roof. Very important considerations should be given such as foot traffic, mechanically equipment maintenance, roof heights, and many more. Please give considerations to all in making a selection.

Metal Roofing

Few products have obtained as much notoriety in recent years as metal roofing. Metal is not a newcomer to the roofing market. Metal is the oldest continually used roofing material. For years metal roofing has been nailed and screwed down on homes. Now homeowners have a choice; a new snap seam roof panel with no screws or nails showing through to cause leaks.

There are three basic types of metal roofs going on houses here in West Tennessee: agricultural, residential and commercial. There is a significant difference in method of application and the quality of material.

Agricultural metal roofing is by far the most commonly used metal roof panel because of the low price. It is made of a lightweight 29 gauge galvanized metal and can be nailed or screwed over existing shingle roofs. The wide panel makes for quick and easy installation. The metal panels can be ordered and shipped as soon as one to two weeks. The paint finish on most agricultural panels have a siliconized acrylic or siliconized polyester paint finish that carries a ten to twenty year paint finish warranty. Very low maintenance is required, only once or twice a year.

Residential metal roof panels are used on homes where looks and long term value are desired. The residential panel is made of a heavy 26 or 24 gauge steel and can be screwed to the roof decking or purlins over a single layer of shingles. The most noticeable difference is there are no screws showing through the roof panel. The panels are made in twelve inch wide widths and any length needed. This makes a very strong panel that can be handled and installed easily without the need to splice panels. The panels are made on the job site as needed, one to three days on orders. The paint finish on residential metal panels is a fluoropolymer. The metal panels carry guarantees of twenty, thirty and fifty years. The key to these warranties is found in the paint finish. It is a carbon / fluoride bond, one of the strongest chemical bonds known, very similar to Teflon. No maintenance is required on a residential snap seam panel.

Commercial roof panels are not widely used in residential roofing due to the high cost. The panels are made of heavy 24 gauge steel and are installed over wood decks or steel framing. The panels can be fabricated to custom widths and are more difficult to handle. The panels are made on the job site to any length. They are installed with hidden clips that are screwed to the deck. The seams are then crimped or rolled together with a seaming robot. The paint finish is the same fluoropolymer that is used on the residential panel. The noticeable difference in a commercial panel is that it can be used on roofs with less than a 3:12 slope because of its high rib profiles.

Not all metal roofs are the same. Agricultural panels are intended for use on barns, sheds and utility buildings. Residential is designed for use on homes, light commercial buildings and mechanical screens. Commercial roof panels are designed for use on airports, schools, government buildings and other commercial uses. Choosing the right metal roof reflects to everyone who passes, the pride you have in your home.

Shingles

Asphalt shingles have been used in North America since the early 1900s and are the most common type of roof covering used for steep-slope roof system construction. Asphalt shingles are factory manufactured roofing materials that are installed in courses to create a multi-layered, overlapping, water-shedding roof covering.

Asphalt shingles first were produced around 1901 and came into general use about 1910. Around 1915, machinery was developed for roller-die cutting of granular roll roofing materials into irregular shapes on a continuous production line. These new products were more fire resistant than wood shingles; offered more colors, shapes and patterns; and were less expensive. Single unit shingles often were 12 inches by 16 inches (300 mm by 410 mm). Early strip shingles were 10 inches to 13 1/2 inches (250 to 340 mm) by 36 inches (910 mm).

An asphalt shingle generally is composed of asphalt, fillers, a reinforcing mat and a granule surfacing. They are available in a variety of colors, shapes and thicknesses. Asphalt shingle roof systems typically are applied over wood decks, such as structural wood panels, wood boards or planks, and are attached to decks with nails. An underlayment, positioned between asphalt shingles and a roof deck, is part of an asphalt shingle roof system.

Elastomeric Roof Coatings

Elastomeric roof coatings are designed to restore and protect new and existing metal roofs. Unlike traditional paints and sealants which dry hard and brittle and only last a few years, elastomerics are "rubber like" and flexible, reflect the suns UV rays and will not blister, crack or flake off when exposed to harsh weather elements or movement in the building.

In addition, because the are "rubber like" they can help seal leaking fasteners, seams, skylights, vents and other penetrations in the roof. The advantages of installing a roof coating: reduce cooling cost, restores to a new look, many colors to choose from, will not crack or peel, and will last for years.