Fully Ballasted Roof

The ballasted system ballasted systems the workhorse of the three epdm roofing systems account for approximately 35 percent of epdm installations today.

Fully ballasted roof.

When the concept first came to the u s plenty of roofers scratched their heads and wondered how the roof stayed on without being anchored especially during high winds or storms. It is however ballasted generally with gravel. Simply put a ballasted roof is easy to install and basically guaranteed maintenance work for a roofer. Built up roofs are designed to be fully adhered to the underlying roof matrix either the roof deck or insulation that is above the roof deck.

Because of its reflectivity white epdm is installed using mechanically attached or fully adhered systems. Ballasted roof systems are simultaneously a roofer s best friend and arch nemesis. A ballasted roof means that the roof membrane is not anchored or adhered in any way to the decking material. It can perform well in high winds if it is adequately embedded into the asphalt matrix or is on a roof with a high parapet.

Although a ballasted epdm fully adhered roof comes really close. For the headaches involved with ballasted roof systems consider a mechanically attached or fully adhered roof system. A ballasted roof also helps protect the epdm membranes from punctures from tree branches. Holes mean roof leaks and roof leaks mean call the roofer.

In other states like massachusetts ballast roof systems are illegal in certain towns because of the additional weight it adds to the building.