VIEWPOINT
LOWER PITCH DOESN’T MEAN POORER PERFORMANCE
Nick King, Area Account Manager at Klober on the importance of balancing pitch and performance.
UNFORTUNATELY, LOW PITCH roofing applications haven’t always had the best reputation. The primary reason being that on a poorly constructed low pitch the likelihood of water ingress is increased. When the right membrane solution is specified and installed correctly however, a low pitch roof can be constructed without concern for future performance.
Merchant teams will come across requests that require a low pitch membrane usually for customers working on residential extension projects, such as rear extensions like kitchens or bathrooms. This is because a low pitch is necessary in order to not obstruct second-storey upstairs windows.
For a low pitch roof, which can vary depending on the minimum pitch of the selected roof, a high- quality membrane solution is the key to safeguarding the roofing investment.
Membranes Explained To explain, roofing membranes are strong weathering barriers installed underneath the roofing covering serving as a secondary barrier to protect against wind driven rain and snow. The most common types of pitched roofing membranes fall into two types - breathable and non-breathable membranes. Both can potentially provide the essential barrier needed to protect the property from possible ventilation problems and unexpected water ingress, but latest innovations have seen Klober develop a membrane that is capable of serving as a primary barrier as long as it is covered by a UV stable covering, such as slate or tiles
Other low pitch weathering options do exist, but generally these will be more costly and
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Even with all the right precautions taken in terms of water damage performance, low pitch applications represent a unique challenge.
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time consuming when compared to using a specific low pitch membrane (a membrane will need to be installed in most situations anyway). A secondary build-up layer, like a thin decking, can be used, or alternatively some systems are available that incorporate weathering devices which need to be installed underneath every single tile or slate. With these options however, it is often mandatory to install them alongside the manufacturer specific membrane, which decreases flexibility and limits the product choices for roofing contractors.
Innovation
Merchant teams have the opportunity to help customers get the best possible roofing membrane solution by advising on innovative new products, as over the years membranes have become more technical and specific in design. This is especially true for low pitch applications that need specific membrane solutions to succeed or will otherwise fail. To solve
the challenges represented by low pitch roofing, Klober’s Permo Extreme, for instance, has been developed to precisely deliver solutions where other membranes can’t and caters for pitches as low as 12.5º for profile tiles, 15º for slates and 22.5º for plain tiles. Permo Extreme is also much stronger than the average underlay on the market, in order to greatly reduce the risk of ripping and tearing whilst installation takes place. To complement the strides taken to improve membranes, significant investments have been made into the development of accessories such as membrane tapes, and this has also improved roofing performance. One example of such innovation is Klober’s Permo Extreme, which comes with double, self-adhesive strips to provide a guaranteed permanent seal of overlaps. It is important to choose wisely and recognise that not all tapes are made equally. Failure to use tapes compatible with the chosen membrane can lead to subsequent failures.
Why it’s Important By recommending the correct low pitch roofing membrane, this will ensure that customers can overcome low pitch roofing installation challenges with both confidence and security that the roof will perform. This cannot be underestimated, as even with all the right precautions taken in terms of water drainage and overall roofing performance, low pitch applications represent a particularly unique challenge. This is why selling a high-performance membrane solution can make all the difference in such applications.
Merchant teams can take advantage of helpful training and
product information resources from Klober in order to better help customers with queries. In fact, all technical information is now located in a dedicated resource hub on Klober’s website, where merchants will find available downloads such as datasheets, installation guides and BBA certificates. A wealth of information is also available on British Standards, ventilation requirements and common technical questions on each of the product ranges.
Overall, with the help of manufacturers who continue to innovate membrane performance and target specific project applications, merchant teams and their customers can be supported with the most up to date roofing product solutions, specification support and installation guidance. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2020
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