Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




Fundamentals: Longevity of roofing materials

Bottom of Page

1 to 16 of 16

  1.  
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014
     
    Some roofing materials last longer than others.

    Longer lasting would seem to be more sustainable

    Lead seems the most durable historically, what modern materials last best.

    Plastic seems inaprocriate to use eg for ventilation tiles and slates, rubber for universal flashing of pipes must be going to fail, mortar seems to fail before the rest of the roof.
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014
     
    Lead only lasts until someone steals it….
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014
     
    Slate lasts millions of years, till it is put on a roof!
  4.  
    The insurance companies here in Sweden reckon that roofing felt only lasts around 25 years. It doesn't matter how durable the roofing material you use over it is you are still going to have to strip the roof to replace the roofing felt in that sort of time scale. So you should also consider to choose a roofing material that can be easily stripped and re-used.
    • CommentAuthorGotanewlife
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014 edited
     
    Over here we have bitumen covered in a thin layer of copper. The copper is imprinted with a hatching to facilitate easy bending, material rolls just like 4mm bitumen - sold in a std 10mx1m roll. Flamed on. Pretty sure it is going to give lead a run for its money longevity wise (but equally sure I'll not be here to eat my words!). The bitumen is not exposed to the elements and cost wise it is much cheaper than lead but a sharp edge can cut the copper and in time this can allow the bitumen to expand through the hole, but just patch it with the same stuff! Meanwhile it can do everything lead can do but MUCH easier to do it with. The only downside I can see is that it is very slippy when wet. Goes a nice colour too and can't be knicked!
    • CommentAuthoratomicbisf
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014
     
    Asbestos cement seems to last a long time ;) Ours was installed in 1948/49 and is still ok apart from where it's recently been cracked by someone getting on the roof.
    • CommentAuthorGotanewlife
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014 edited
     
    Posted By: atomicbisfAsbestos cement seems to last a long time ;) Ours was installed in 1948/49
    But that's only 75 years, is it good for another 100. Actually, forget it, academic question:wink:
    • CommentAuthoratomicbisf
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014 edited
     
    Posted By: Gotanewlife
    Posted By: atomicbisfAsbestos cement seems to last a long time ;) Ours was installed in 1948/49
    But that's only 75 years, is it good for another 100. Actually, forget it, academic questionhttp:///forum114/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title=":wink:" >


    75 years seems a good life for a domestic roof covering I thought? And that is presumably with no maintenance. Would have been longer if a leak that was nothing to do with the asbestos hadn't developed, and required access to the roof which caused a slight crack despite care to spread the load.

    Ed-
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014
     
    Clay; pantile, plain, rosemary, don't seem to do too bad, looking around my village, plus the salvage yards are full of them.
    • CommentAuthorCerisy
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014
     
    When I was a Maintenance Surveyor for a LA we reckoned the basic Rosemary tile struggled past 25 years - we had high performance felts that had been on for longer than that!

    The copper covered bitumen felt product has been around for a while - we used to like it, but, any flat roof is only as good as it's details and cutting and fitting the copper foil felt around roof lights / vent pipes was a problem.
  11.  
    Concrete Rosemaries? I'd agree with that, but surely not clay? I have seen those with over 80 years under their belt.
    • CommentAuthorCerisy
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2014 edited
     
    This was the East Midlands - dirty air around the coal mines!!!:devil:
  13.  
    Ah yes. If my fingers worked faster I was going to query extreme weather or pollution.
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2014 edited
     
    Slate and clay have a reputation for lasting the longest . though these usually require flashing and valley detailing which become the weak spots. Roof designs probably got a lot to do with it.
    A straight pitched gable end house has longevity in its simplicity.

    concrete interlocker Redland49s on my roof are 65 years old and fine . Probably good for 100 years
    I've worked on houses with clay over 200 years old
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2014
     
    What about sedum roofs? What materials and what is the longevity?
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2014
     
    On the Norfolk Grand Designs thread I have been pointed to a list of suppliers. One of them was this
    http://gbr.sarnafil.sika.com/en/group/sika-sarnafil/roofassured/singleplymembranes.html
    They proudly suggest this has been tested for 10,000 hours. So it is good for just over 3 years then (@ave 8hrs/day) :)

1 to 16 of 16

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press