Tough Choices in Product Selection?

	One of the areas to be completed.
	Completed single-ply roof. You can see how difficult it is to get material to each of the little roofs and why product selection is so important. There are over fifty small roofs of this type covering almost one city block.
	This system qualifies for the "Cool Roof" energy rebate from the State of California.
	The building height and irregular roof affected the roof system chosen.

The building is almost five stories above the street and there are over fifty different flat roof areas covering almost an entire city block. Almost all of the roof areas are small with four to eight heat pumps on each roof. Many different roof areas combined with the buildings' height, made getting the materials to the roofs a major concern, not to mention the cost consideration. We needed a product that was easy to get on the roof and one that was so durable that it would not have to be replaced again for more than twenty years.

Hot tar was ruled out as it would require multiple set ups and long walks carrying boiling hot asphalt. The Cold process would be too dirty and foam would present an overspray problem of epic proportions. The selection was narrowed down to the torch-applied APP modified roofing membrane or a single-ply roofing system.

Both products have similar long-term material and labor warranties offered by the manufacturers. Both have proven themselves as extremely durable. Both products are inspected upon completion by a third party inspector before the warranty is issued. What to do? As we looked further into this problem, the single-ply system started to separate itself from the torch- applied modified roofing membrane.

By using the single-ply roofing system, the association would become eligible for the State of California "Cool Roof" energy rebate of $15.00 per 100 square foot. The single-ply system is so light the roofing material could be loaded daily using the elevator to the fourth floor and then carrying it up a ladder to the roof top. In addition, all of the material could be stored on site in a 10' X 15' utility room. Fire was also a major concern if we were to use the torch-applied roofing, as the parapet walls are stucco and flames could get behind the stucco causing the kraft paper to catch on fire. The single-ply system is applied with screws and fastening plates on the seams and the seams, are welded with hot air, not a torch.

The single-ply system was chosen for many reasons. It was lightweight, odorless, easy to load, safe to use, and energy efficient. Additionally, the manufacturer guarantees it for 10, 15 or 20 years and the State of California will provide a rebate of $2,700 for this project. Was the product selection a tough choice? Not really.

Mike McConnell is the principle estimator for A -1 All American Roofing Co., a full service roofing company. A- 1 All American Roofing provides services to building owners and individual homeowners through its residential division. (858) 581-5177 • MMcConnell3@qwest.net

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