Roofing Services
We have you covered – quite literally. Our low-slope roofing options are sure to fit your needs and budget.
Roofing For Every Building
ARCO Construction is a commercial and industrial roofing contractor that has provided the tri-state area with quality roofs for more than two decades. We are approved by most major manufacturers for installing a wide variety of roofing systems, which maintain 10-25 year warranties. Our expert installers are capable of handling any of your roofing needs. Whether it’s building brand new roofing systems, redesigning and repairing weathered roofs that may leak or drain improperly, or performing routine maintenance – ARCO has you covered.
Cutting-edge Tech or Tried and Tested?
We’ll answer with a question – Why not both?
Today’s technology uses new chemical and technological advances to allow for roofing materials that are better performing, easier to apply, and safer for the environment. Whether it’s liquid-applied membranes or hot aphalt, we use the newest and best possible materials from the top manufacturers in the United States.
Our Roofing Services
Built-Up Roofs
Built up roof membranes, referred to by the acronym BUR, have been in use in the U.S. for more than 100 years. These roof systems are commonly referred to as “tar and gravel” roofs. BUR systems generally are composed of alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabrics that create a finished membrane. The number of plies in a cross section is the number of plies on a roof: The term “four plies” denotes a four ply roof membrane construction. Sometimes, a base sheet, used as the bottommost ply, is mechanically fastened. Built up roofs generally are considered to be fully adhered if applied directly to roof decks or insulation.
The reinforcing fabrics also are called roofing felts or ply sheets. Roofing felts are reinforced with either glass-fiber mats or organic mats. Felts are produced in a standard width of 36 inches and metric width of about one meter.
The bitumen typically used in BUR roof systems is asphalt, coal tar or cold-applied adhesive. The asphalt or coal tar is heated in a kettle or tanker and then applied by mop or mechanical spreader. Asphalt is a petroleum product refined from crude oil; coal tar is derived from the distillation of coal. Cold-applied adhesives typically are solvent-based asphalts that don’t have to be heated in a kettle or tanker. Surfacings for built up roof systems include aggregate (such as gravel, slag or mineral granules), glass-fiber or mineral surfaced cap sheets, hot asphalt mopped over the entire surface, aluminum coatings or elastomeric coatings.
A roof system composed of a built up roof membrane with two or three plies and a polymer-modified bitumen membrane cap sheet is commonly referred to as “hybrid” system. NRCA considers this type to be a polymer modified bitumen membrane system.
PVC & TPO Roofs
Thermoplastic materials are distinguished from thermoset materials in that there is no chemical crosslinking. These membranes can be repeatedly softened by heating or hardened when cooled. Because of the materials’ chemical nature, thermoplastic membranes typically are seamed by heat welding with hot air or solvent welding.
There are five common subcategories of thermoplastic roof membranes.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- PVC Alloys or Compounded Thermoplastics
- Copolymer Alloy (CPA)
- Ethylene Interpolymer (EIP)
- Nitrile Alloys (NBP)
- Tripolymer Alloy (TPA)
- Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO)
- Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)
The most common thermoplastic roof membranes are PVC and TPO. The following provides general descriptions of these two systems.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC sheets are produced by calendaring, spread coating or extruding, and typically are reinforced with polyester or glass-fiber mats or scrim. PVC sheets contain plasticizers and stabilizers, as well as other additives to impart flexibility and achieve other desired physical properties. Some membranes are available with nonwoven fleece backing adhered to the underside of a sheet.
– Sheet widths range from 6 feet to 12 feet wide.
– Sheets are typically 45 mils to 90 mils thick.
– Seams are sealed by heat or chemical welding.
– PVC membranes are produced in numerous colors, though gray and white are the most common.
Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO)
TPO membranes are produced by calendering with lamination, extrusion with lamination, or extrusion-coating techniques. TPO sheets are a blend of polypropylene and ethylene propylene polymers and usually are reinforced with polyester. TPO sheets contain colorant, flame retardants, UV absorbers and other proprietary substances to achieve desired physical properties.
- Sheet widths range from 6 feet to 12 feet wide
- Sheets are typically 40 mils to 100 mils thick
- Seams are sealed by heat welded with hot air
- TPO membranes commonly are white or black
PVC and TPO roof membranes can be installed fully adhered, mechanically attached or ballasted. Most PVC and TPO membranes do not receive surfacings.
Modified Bitumen
Polymer-modified bitumen or modified bitumen (MB) sheet membranes were developed in Europe in the early 1960s and have been in use in the U.S. since the mid-1970s. Polymer-modified roof membranes are composed of reinforcing fabrics that serve as carriers for the hot polymer-modified bitumen as it is manufactured into a roll material. MB roof system membranes are composed of multiple layers, much like BUR membranes. MB roof systems typically are installed as a two-ply system and almost always are fully adhered.
There are two types of MB roofing membranes:
1. SBS polymer-modified bitumen membranes commonly are installed in hot moppings of asphalt (similar to BUR systems) or cold adhesive. Some SBS modified membranes are self-adhering; that is, they contain an adhesive backing.
2. APP polymer-modified bitumen membranes typically are heat-welded or torch-applied. Consumers should be cautioned that NRCA does not recommend torch-applying a modified bitumen membrane sheet directly to a wood deck.
Generally, APP modifiers impart a “plasticized” quality to asphalt, and SBS modifiers impart a “rubberized” quality to asphalt. MB membranes and EPDM, a thermoset membrane, often are confused by consumers because of colloquialisms used by roofing contractors. MB and EPDM membranes are sometimes called “rubber roofs.”
Surfacings for MB membranes include aggregate surfacing, mineral surfacing, metal foil-laminate surfacing and smooth liquid-applied surfacing.
A roof system composed of a built up roof membrane with 2 plies or 3 plies and a polymer-modified bitumen membrane cap sheet is commonly referred to as “hybrid” system. NRCA considers this type to be a polymer modified bitumen membrane system.
Coatings
SPF-based roof systems are constructed by mixing and spraying a two-component liquid that forms the base of an adhered roof system. SPF can be installed in various thicknesses to provide slope to drain or meet a specified thermal resistance (R-value). A protective surfacing is then applied to the foam to provide protection from the elements.
The first component of an SPF-based roof system is rigid, closed cell, spray polyurethane foam insulation. The foam is composed of two components: isocyanate and polyol. Transfer pumps are used to get the components to a proportioning unit that properly meters the two at a one to one ratio and heats and pumps them through dual hoses. The components are mixed at the spray gun, which is used to apply them to a substrate.
The second component, the protective surfacing, typically is a spray applied elastomeric coating, though hand and power rollers can be used. The protective surfacing also can be a membrane, such as a fleece backed thermoset single ply membrane. The purpose of the surfacing is to provide weatherproofing, protect the foam from UV exposure, provide protection from mechanical damage and assist with the fire-resistant characteristic of the roof system.
The generic types of coatings used on SPF-based roof systems include:
- Acrylic
- Butyl Rubber
- Hypalon™
- Silicone
- Aromatic Polyurethane Elastomer
- Aliphatic Polyurethane Elastomer
- Modified Polyurethane Elastomer
Mineral granules or sand may be broadcast into a coating to provide increased surface durability and aesthetic value.
The chemicals used to produce polyurethane foam compounds are manufactured or blended to perform in various temperature ranges. Manufacturers of spray polyurethane foam based roof systems offer materials in different reaction profiles. Profile change is created by altering the chemical ingredients, usually with a catalyst, to compensate for ambient temperature changes. Conditions such as wind speed, sunlight, surface moisture, humidity and temperature of the substrate can affect the reaction of the polyurethane foam.
EPDM Roofing Systems
Thermoset membranes incorporate principal polymers that are chemically cross linked or vulcanized. Membranes that are vulcanized also may be referred to as “cured.” One characteristic of true thermoset polymers is once they are cured, they only can be bonded to similar materials with adhesives.
There are five common subcategories of thermoset roof membranes:
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)
- Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSPE)
- Epichlorohydrin (ECH)
- Neoprene (CR)
- Polyisobutylene (PIB)
The most common thermoset roof membrane is EPDM. EPDM principally is composed of two compounds, ethylene and propylene, that are derived from oil and natural gas. The following are some characteristics of EPDM roof membranes:
- Sheet widths range from 7.5 feet to 50 feet wide.
- Sheets are typically 45 mils and 60 mils thick.
- Seams are sealed using liquid adhesives or special formulated tape.
- The membranes commonly are black, but white is available.
EPDM roof membranes can be installed fully adhered, mechanically attached (using batten bars) or ballasted. Most EPDM membranes do not receive surfacings.
EPDM and polymer-modified bitumen membranes often are confused by consumers because of colloquialisms used by roofing contractors. Contractors commonly call both of these membranes “rubber” roofs. However, in most cases, when contractors specify rubber roofs, they are referring to EPDM.
Standing Seam Metal Roofing Systems
There is only one category of metal roof systems used in low-slope applications — structural metal panel. Structural metal panel roof systems can be used for low slope roofs because of their hydrostatic, or water barrier, characteristics. It is important to note structural metal panel roof systems can be used for steep slope roof assemblies, too.
Most structural metal panel roof systems are designed to resist the passage of water at laps and other joints, as sealant or anti capillary designs can be used in the seams. Structural metal panel roof systems possess strength characteristics that allow them to span supporting members.