Leland Torrence wrote:

K-man,

I think a cold applied SBS is an excellent compromise.  Doing torch downs on large flat roofs with new insulation panels or fiber board is a different deal than historic buildings with lots of flat to low slope to steep roof detailing.

Best,

LT

LT,

I am not in disagreement with you. I think there is something to say to a difference of magnitude of exaggeration of human tendencies in the NYC environment in relation to almost anywhere else. There is also a particular way in which the roofing industry works, in and of itself, and that process is not set up to separate out or even recognize historic structures. There is then a very large resource of flat roofs of various sizes in the NYC environment... a somewhat more varied mix of sizes of flat roofs than say in Westchester or Long Island. A workforce builds up that specializes in torch-down roof systems. The manufacturers/suppliers of these systems put a lot of energy into their service and marketing. The huge resource of capacity lowers the overall cost for a roof with a 20-30 year durability. In the mean time cold applied catches up, slowly. The cold applied systems have not been as durable as the torch-down, least ways the manufacturers less willing to give comparable warranties, and there is not the large semi-skilled workforce trained to apply them properly. There are certainly alternatives but the costs of alternatives can be prohibitive in the minds of property owners. Keep in mind that the manufacturers of roofing systems are more interested in commanding market share and profits than they are in historic structures. Then there is always the element that if one knows how to use a system then one wants to use it for everything. Once you have a crew of say 6 mechanics that can blow away a torch-down without having to chase them... but they can't figure out a fully adhered EPDM... or that really kool fluid applied stuff STINKS and the mechanics and the building tenants complain that you are giving them cancer... well, once you get a crew with a system that works the tendency is to try to get a return on the investment (tendency? more like intense pressure to get a return before the system explodes). In the midst of this a whole lot of historic buildings get torch-down... it can be as simple as a church with a slate roof that has a small 5' x 8' flat roofed alcove... and that one area can be enough to burn the church down. I know because I know who did it and it wasn't me.

Like I said previously,  don't want to play with torch-down roofs any more. Been there, done that, bored, can't handle losing any more sleep than I already have to deal with. But I have access to mechanics who are excellent and conscientious and have never burned down an historic building and who beg me to find them torch-down work... they are a bit frustrated with me that I turn them a deaf ear and smile a lot. I tell them, no, here, learn this.

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