Fully Ballasted Roof

Holes mean roof leaks and roof leaks mean call the roofer.

Fully ballasted roof.

The stone used for single ply ballast has been sized using astm d448. For the headaches involved with ballasted roof systems consider a mechanically attached or fully adhered roof system. 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. If your building is in an area that s in danger of falling debris such as tree branches or heavy foot traffic opt for a thicker membrane such as 75 mil.

The ballasted system ballasted systems the workhorse of the three epdm roofing systems account for approximately 35 percent of epdm installations today. 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. 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. 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. Because of its reflectivity white epdm is installed using mechanically attached or fully adhered systems. In other states like massachusetts ballast roof systems are illegal in certain towns because of the additional weight it adds to the building. Simply put a ballasted roof is easy to install and basically guaranteed maintenance work for a roofer.

Somebody walking on the roof will undoubtedly step on the ballast and put a hole in the membrane.