fully adhered single-ply roofing membrane

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omarfernandez

February 11, 2025 01:23

Considering a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone like the Miami Area, would it be recommended to have a mechanically fastened or fully adhered single-ply roofing membrane? 

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  Mhen0808 February 11, 2025 17:02

  Fully adhered would be my answer.

  https://www.iko.com/comm/blog/fully-adhered-vs-mechanically-attached-tpo/#:~:text=In%20many%20areas%20in%20North,end%20up%20with%20shorter%20lifespans.

   

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  omarfernandez February 12, 2025 01:16

  Thanks, Mhen0808. From what I understand, a fully adhered membrane is a better choice compared to a mechanically fastened one because it creates a consistent bond across the entire surface, making it more resistant to wind uplift.

   

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  omarfernandez February 12, 2025 01:16

  On the other hand, mechanical fasteners can fail in extreme wind conditions, especially if they aren't properly spaced or installed according to the product's approved guidelines (like the NOA or FL product approval). Incorrect installation is often a key factor in these failures.

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  ccronin04 February 26, 2025 02:32

  If I got this question on the ARE, I would select fully adhered as the better choice because it more evenly distributes the load from wind uplift.

  That said, real life is not so straightforward. Adhered systems are more risky in one really important way: it’s difficult to verify adhesion once the roof is installed. You have no way of knowing whether the correct amount of adhesive was applied, whether it was applied continuously, or if the adhesive (which is often a two-part low-rise foam adhesive) was mixed properly. With mechanically fastened systems, on the other hand, the fasteners telegraph through the membrane and you can very easily verify the number of fasteners and their location. So while it is true that mechanically fastened systems can fail when the fasteners aren’t spaced properly, this is something that would be evident post-installation in an inspection.

  I suppose it might also be worth mentioning that if you were really, really concerned about wind uplift, you’d be considering other roof systems altogether (like a torched down, built-up roof rather than a single ply membrane.) You could also add a “temporary roof” by waterproofing the roof deck prior to installing the insulation, cover board and roof membrane. This is often done on facilities that need some redundancy in an emergency or when it’s time to re-roof. A hospital, for example, would need to stay dry if the roof were to be damaged during an extreme event or for the month or so it could take to replace the roof when it comes time to do that.

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