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Jenny
1 Posts |
 Posted - 01/16/2004 : 20:23:10
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Hello,
I am need of some help/advice from those of you who are much more knowledgable than I. Today I had an rubber membrane put down on a part of my home that is has a flat roof. Approximatley 15'x 15'. The roofer put the rubber down right over the top of the old rolled asphalt roofing material that I had put down about 10 years ago. I had been sealing the seams of the asphalt with roofing tar for the past few years. He has assured me that this is fine to do it this way. That in fact he said he would rather put it down over the old roofing material rather than lay down a hard board underlayment. I find that odd since he told me that one of the things I want to do to take care of the roof is to keep oil away from it. He said oil will deteriorate the rubber membrane. I'm almost certain that the asphalt and roofing tar are oil based products, are they not? I thought so. I also questioned whether it was too cold to put it down today too. I think the high here today was 26 deg. I climbed up there to look at the work and couldn't believe how bubbly and wrinkley the membrane was. There is no way water can run off to the gutter without traveling through a maze of bubbles. I've read that some bubbling is normal fromt he adhesive fumes not flashing off and it will "relax" after it warms up, but this is 4"-6" humps and bumps and wrinkles. What are your thoughts on this and the way they put it down? I would be most appreciative for any advice on this.I don't want to pay him until I know more.
Thanks so much!
Jenny
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Ghostbuster
476 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 23:59:12
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Sounds to me that the roofer failed to apply an even coat of adhesive for the rubber roofing to stick. Also, the rubber roofing needs to be rolled down flat so it can stick. And, I believe the old roofing should have been stripped and the deck prepped as per the rubber roofing manufacturers installation instructions. You said, "26 degrees"? Is that within the temperature range for installation the manufacturer says is okay?
This whole deal smells like a dead rat to me. |
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katadj
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2004 : 09:27:54
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Jenny,
Please don’t pay the bill...
The EPDM roof materials should NOT be applied over any oil-based product, but rather over a clean dry surface such as a "divorce board" underlayment made of solid material.
The correct method of application for a fully adhered system (this sounds like what you have), is to fold back the sheet, apply adhesive to the underlayment and to the EPDM, allow the adhesive to become "tacky", and then fold the adhesive coated sheet onto the underlayment, pushing all of the entrained air out from under the sheet. This then is done for the balance of the sheet, with the unglued sheet being folded over the glued sheet, and the application of adhesive and installation repeated.
BTW, an adhered system usually requires a 60-mil product, not a 45 mil. Check this out.
If an additional sheet is required, the new sheet should overlap the installed sheet by six inches (6") and the application should be continued. The laps should not buck water. The edges are supposed to be finished off with a termination bar of ¾-1” wide Aluminum affixed at 12” OC
The juncture of the sheets (overlap) is made with a different type of adhesive and the edges are sealed with a special caulking.
Any installation is subject the manufacturers inspection in order to obtain the warrantee. It may be Carlisle, Firestone, Goodyear, JM or any of the others.
Your “tale of woe” is consistent with the poor applications, by poor installers of a very good product that has been used for the past 30 years.
Suggest that you have the entire system removed and replaced with the proper installation, at no cost to you, if not call the BBB and the manufacturers representative to report the incident.
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newguy
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2004 : 22:05:01
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Do not pay. the other guys are correct on installation procedures. But one thing they did not mention is you do not get a manufactures warranty with a rubber roof unless it is installed by a certified installer which has taken a test or sometimes schooling on the manufactures material.
Most people go with a low bid and get what they pay for. they do not check for credintials or insurance or even other satisfied customers. |
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Roof_Dr_Sr
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2004 : 04:15:03
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| ok I have read all the replys and it sounds to me like your stuck if you have paid the bill or used a "out of the back of truck guy to install". A lot of poeple don't know the difference between a modified membrane which is ok to install over a tar & gravel roof and a rubber roof which looks like a car tire intertube material which is not approved to install over a tar & gravel roof without a separater sheet or as someone suggested a hard surface board. You can install a rubber roof 2 ways... #1 with screws and plates and having the seams glued together over the screws & plates. #2 a fully glued system like they were talking about earlier. In either case, no wrinkles are accepted. I suggest you call out another roofing contractor (pick the one with the biggest ad in the yellow pages) and pay him to come inspect your new job. Have him put his report in writting. If he says it is a bad job call your installer back and demand a refund if you have already paid and if not explain to him your not going to pay and why. Do this in writting with certified mail. Good Luck " The Roof Dr Sr." P.S. The Better Business Bureau works wonders !!! |
Roof Dr.Sr. |
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dbeatham
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2004 : 10:03:01
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The real power to force businesses to comply, is with the Attorney General (AG) of your state (his staff will handle the issue). In MO when a complaint is filed with the AG the bare minimum requires him (the AG) to investigate (find out what the complaint is about). This means if there is no file in the AG's office he will be required to open one.
What if there is already a large file on the bad business? Perhaps one more complaint will start the wheels of government rolling against the business.
I have explained this process to a business or two. I ask is this the start of your file in the Attorney Generals office, or do you already have one?
Then I ask do you really want to get started down this road, or would you prefer to give me my money back?
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Traveling man, good with compass and square needs training in Cat adjusting. |
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Rubber Roofing/Flat Roof
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