The Benefits of Prefabricated Roofing Systems
Prefabricated Stack Flashing in Production at Duro-Last
Prefabricated Stack Flashing Being Installed on a Rooftop
It’s a good bet that a custom-made suit of clothes will fit you better than something you buy off the rack. And the same principle holds for commercial roofing systems. Why buy an “off the rack” roof when you can get one that’s made to fit your building’s precise specifications – and for about the same investment?
UNITED Roofing & Sheetmetal is an award-winning installer of roofing systems made by Duro-Last, Inc., the industry leader in manufacturing custom-fabricated single-ply roofing systems. Each commercial roof Duro-Last makes is designed and manufactured to fit building specifications exactly.
Most single-ply roofing systems are delivered to the job site as rolls of membrane that must be properly positioned on the rooftop then “assembled” into the roofing system. In addition to installing deck membrane this way, the contractor has to “manufacture” membrane-based curb and stack flashings and other components on the job. All this handling leads to common installation errors, which in turn can lead to water intrusion problems.
This process requires a lot of manual labor. For example, on a 50,000 square-foot roof, a typical roll-goods roofing system could require as much as 13,000 linear feet of seaming by hand – that’s about 2-1/2 miles. By comparison, a prefabricated Duro-Last roofing system would require only 1300 linear feet of rooftop seaming on the same roof. Click here to see a diagram showing the difference in seaming requirements between these two approaches.
The Duro-Last roofing system is manufactured in a controlled factory setting and prefabrication eliminates up to 85% of on-site labor, rooftop membrane seaming, greatly reducing the likelihood of on-the-job installation errors and leak problems in the future.
Here are some other advantages of roof system prefabrication:
Easier installation throughout the year, even when weather isn’t ideal. Prefabrication means that there are fewer components to handle and fewer manual tasks to complete. Installation time is reduced so the contractor can get on and off the job quickly.
Less material waste, both during the manufacturing process and on the job site. For each project, the roofing contractor orders the exact amount of material and prefabricated accessories (e.g., flashings) needed for covering the roof, rather than a collection of raw materials that have to be put together on-site.
Better contractor control of the installation in a what can be a harsh rooftop environment. By planning the job carefully ahead of time, the contractor can expect better worker productivity and a higher-quality installation, plus give you confidence in a watertight installation.
In addition to being custom prefabricated to fit your building, the Duro-Last roofing system is durable, energy-efficient, installed with no disruptions, code compliant and backed by the industry’s best warranties.
At UNITED, we would welcome the opportunity to evaluate your current roof situation and propose a new budget-friendly prefabricated roof that will provide years of protection from the elements. Please contact us at your convenience.