Designing a public restroom building can include a lot of details, and the building’s roof is certainly one of the most critical elements. There are a lot of considerations when choosing roofing materials and construction methods. Every choice has benefits and disadvantages in terms of appearance, functionality, and cost. The roof is one of the most conspicuous elements of a park building, and Romtec offers four primary styles of roofing that can be used for your pre-engineered building.
Composition Shingle Roofing
Composition shingles are a tough and inexpensive roofing material. The entire process begins with creating a roof deck, generally out of plywood or tongue and groove planks. The next step is to apply a felt or paper skin treated with tar, asphalt, or another flexible and water resistant material.
On top of that, sheet metal flashing is used on joints, ridges, and edges to strengthen areas where absorption could occur through seams. The final step is to install the shingles, which are made of a organic or fiberglass base that is covered in sand, gravel, or ceramic particles.
Installation of composition roofing can be somewhat time-consuming because each layer must be installed in succession. This type of roofing will last from 20 to 40 years. The aggregate materials are available in a wide range of colors, so creating a signature look is possible with this roofing material.
Sheet Metal Roofing
Sheet metal is the most diverse material for roofing. It is available in a broad price-range depending on the metal type, form, paint, and other qualities. Metal Roofing is easily installed. A skilled roofer can quickly arrange and screw down the sheets in a single afternoon for even the largest restroom buildings. Some important considerations for metal roofing are weather demands, environmental concerns, and lifespan.
Metal roofing is a preferable material in areas with extreme weather because it is almost completely impervious when installed correctly. An added benefit is that metal roofing is one of the lightest roofing materials, placing fewer demands on the roof deck with regard to snow-loads. With heavy moisture, algae and moss can be a concern for composition roofs, but metal roofing is able to withstand this plant life.
When trying to construct an environmentally friendly building, metal roofing offers several benefits. Metal roofing is fairly reflective, and this feature alone improves a building’s environmental impact. The reflection of sunlight means that park buildings with metal roofing will require less energy consumption for heating and cooling. This also reduces a modern environmental concern called the “heat island effect.” The heat island effect is created when buildings store up heat during the day and then release the heat for extended periods after the sun sets. Metal roofing stores very little heat allowing natural air temperatures to prevail. Another environmental benefit of metal roofing is that there is very little waste generated during installation, with most waste being recyclable.
Metal roofing is one of the most durable roofing materials. Typically metal roofing will last as long as the life of the building itself, and many companies will warranty metal roofing in up to 50 years. Metal roofing can also protect the life of a building in that is highly fire resistant. If a flame or heat source is created, metal roofing will protect a park building longer and under more severe conditions than composition roofing.
Spanish Tile Roofing
Spanish tile roofing is made of clay or concrete. This is one of the heaviest roofing materials and sometimes requires additional roofing struts or decking to be installed. In roofs with steeper pitches, tiles also must be predrilled to be screwed in place. These requirements can result in longer and more costly installation times. Tile roofing, in spite of cost, has a distinct appearance with many benefits for a park building.
Tile roofs are very durable. In areas with hard rain or hail, strong wind, or threats of wildfires, tile roofing can protect against these dangers. The weight, thought difficult in installation, creates a heavy shell that is difficult to move or permeate. As a result, tile roofs can last for 50 years or more. In areas of the Southern United States, tile roofs comprise a high percentage of the total roofs in the regions. The appearance and style is all but ubiquitous and can be an important element in these areas.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar shake and cedar tile roofing provide a rustic look that is almost requisite on some park buildings. Cedar shakes can be tricky to install because they can be prone to splitting and damage during the process. Cedar roofing must also be treated to improve water and fire resistance. After initial treatment, cedar roots should be treated about every eight years.
On roofs with a high pitch, cedar is a great choice because the improved drainage will elongate the periods between treatments. Cedar roofs will also need to be cleaned typically every third year or even annually in some areas. Build up of sediment, plant matter, or other debris will cause contact points where water can deteriorate wood preservatives and treatments. Even with increased maintenance requirements, cedar roofing has an appearance and charm that is not possible with other roofing materials.
As you can see, each roofing material has distinct benefits to appearance, cost, environmental footprint, and lifespan. There are so many options today that it can be difficult to choose which style of roofing to install. While going through the design process of your building, inform the Romtec sales staff of the goals you maintain for your pre-engineered building project.
Comments 3
It’s good to know that metal roofing is light and is almost impervious to extreme weather conditions. My husband and I are having a house built right now, and we’re trying to decide on what type of roof we want it to have. Since we live in an area that gets a lot of rain storms, I think metal sounds like a good choice.
It’s interesting to know that metal as a roofing material can be environmentally friendly because it can reduce the impact on the surroundings due to its reflective features. I can imagine how helpful it would be to solve global warming and climate change if both homes and establishments opt for this. Residential and commercial roofing options can definitely be one of the things property owners must consider to save the planet for future generations.
Thank you for noting that metal roofing is a preferred material in locations prone to extreme weather because it is nearly entirely impermeable when properly built. My friend claimed that the weather in his region is unpredictable. I will recommend to a friend that he obtain a metal roof installation that can withstand the weather.