Will you please help me identify these roof covering materials?
The most articulate thing that I have to say about it is that it’s a metal roof with a rolled roof covering it.
Please advise me if there is a more sophisticated way to phrase it.
Also, can you please tell me what you would say about the white material surrounding these plumbing vent stacks and the stack to the concentric vent? What do you think it is? It’s a super hard glossy sealant, if that’s what it is. Could it be considered a flashing? Sorry in advance to all of the elitists for my stupid questions.
I can’t identify the roof covering from here, but I can say it was not installed properly.
That looks to me like a standing seam roof that they covered.
In a case like that, roofers infill between the standing seam so it is flush with the ribs and then cover with the appropriate roof covering require.
That flashing cement they used looks like this here;
It should have had the proper vent boot flashing appropriately for the new membrane.
2 Likes
Agree with Marcel
It is hard to tell what the roofing is from looking at the pics, But it looks like Modified Bitumen roll roofing with an adhesive backing, just a guess from here, let’s see what the others say.
1 Like
It’s some type of V-Rib metal roof. If it was a standing seam roof, I probably would’ve recognized that, unless they bent the standing seams over some how.
The plumbing vent stacks did not have vent boots.
It doesn’t matter what kind of rib it was, the installation procedure is the same as I described. Infill is required to bury the ribs, then a fiberboard is installed to properly apply whatever membrane they want to use.
1 Like
It does look like a modified bitumen. Thank you for the input.
What it sounds like you are saying is that a flat, overlapping standing seam roof of unknown rib style was infilled to bury the ribs. Burying the ribs with infill was probably done to keep the next layer that they applied over that from tearing. Then, a fiberboard–possibly a modified bitumen rolled roofing material with an adhesive backing–was applied over that.
I’m guessing that would void the warranty for both of the roof coverings.
1 Like
Interesting. The standing seam now becomes the roof decking material once it layered. The warranty for modified bitumen would depend on an approved substrate I would suspect.
The metal ridges are going to promote loss of adhesion, creasing and wear. The ceramic cement is often used with an embedded cloth which is not flashing (as previously stated).
I would consider this a temporary fix and replacement in the short-term likely.
2 Likes
These are the comments that make this forum so helpful for me. Thank you, Brian.
1 Like
Definitely modified bitumen over standing seam. That’s not the proper technique as Marcel mentioned above. What they really should have done is remove the standing seam first.
The pic/link shows you what a low slope pipe flashing should look like. That one is for EPDM but they all look basically the same.
2 Likes
I called it out in the report. It would be interesting to hear what a roofing contractor would say about the warranty of the roof coverings. And how significant is the weight of the second layer of roof covering? That’s a great pipe flashing.
Thanks for sharing!
1 Like
How about “it’s a frigging disaster, installed by idiots, and likely to fail soon”.
1 Like
Technically two layers are allowed for shingles and most other products. The weight adds up and can put stress on the structure if you go beyond two. I’ve been a licensed contractor and have been installing roofs for over 20 years now. I have never installed a second layer of roofing over the first layer. We always did full tear offs only. You can’t tell the condition of the roof sheathing without tearing off the first layer. It’s a bad practice to install more than one layer but I see it all the time. In Baltimore some row homes have 5 or 6 layers of mod bit on them. That’s a lot of weight!
I’ve never seen anyone install mod bit over standing seam before though. The manufacturer’s of roofing products are quick to void warranties when their products are not installed properly and rightfully so. That’s something I often point out to my clients.
Having a basic knowledge of the manufacturer’s installation instructions for common roofing products is really good info for home inspectors. It’s a good idea to be familiar with that type of stuff. It makes you a better inspector. You can also watch YouTube videos from the manufacturers on how to install their products properly.
3 Likes
Thank you for the insight, @rschmidt4 .
1 Like
Hard to tell for sure. Asphalt/mineral rolled BUR, likely hot mopped. Has there been a silver surface coating applied?
2 Likes
That’s what I thought. Insurance company wouldn’t accept Rolled but wants built up. I always saw BUR as having an aggregate of some sort on top. At most I’d say built up rolled. They also say its a flat roof but it’s actually a Mansard roof. She’s comparing to “Other inspectors” but it’s obviously mansard (See Pic). The insurance form states Hip, Flat or Other (I picked Other). That’s why I had to verify.
Thanks
No coating on top, just asphalt with granules.
Flat roof with a mansard attached to the parapet for aesthetics. Some people will call that a hip. It is never ending.
I know what you mean. It all depends who you get. In a year or two the next insurance agent will have a different view. SMH
1 Like