Lost in the Dark No More - Page 2

FOAM ROOFING

"One-and-one-half inches of foam [insulation], and we see a ten- to 15-degree drop in interior temperatures on a hot day," points out Abril Roofing co-owner Rick Abril about the foam system his company installs.

"Eichlers have no attics, and we're usually replacing [worn-out] tar roofs, which let a lot of heat escape. We see big gains with foam roofing, especially in East Bay, Concord, and Walnut Creek, where it can get into the triple digits."

Waterproofing is another plus with foam, he says. "Flat or low-slope roofs are significantly more prone to leaks. As a protective coating over the foam, we use an acrylic/elastomeric coating that can expand and contract" and provide a waterproof shield. Recoating the elastomeric application one time after installation, at either the five- or ten-year mark, is recommended.

Also, Abril says, since flat roofs tend to sag over time, another benefit of foam is that "we can contour the foam that is sprayed on the roof, and [by eliminating the valleys] reduce ponding water by 80 to 90 percent."

The Abril company, which has been in operation since 2003, says the current price for a foam roof installed on an Eichler is averaging around $27,500.

SINGLE-PLY ROOFING

Single-ply is another popular flat-roof system—consisting of thermal membrane sheets of TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), oftentimes assembled in the factory and then mechanically attached to the roof on site. The Network is represented by three single-ply installers: Wedge Roofing in Marin, Cal-Pac Roofing on the Peninsula, and Done-Rite Roofing in the Sacramento area.

There are many single-ply manufacturers, but Done-Rite prefers both the Johns Manville and Carlisle brands. "Flat roofing is all I've ever done—single-ply TPO," says Done-Rite owner Fred Drees, whose company has been in business for 40 years. "Did commercial work for years—Air Force bases, post offices, schools—and then we decided to go out on our own, beginning in 2000, and focus on Streng homes."

Touted as weatherproof and energy-efficient, single-ply naturally is what Drees favors for the Strengs and Eichlers. That system, he adds, has an important environmental benefit, since it's "what's known as a 'cool roof,' with maximized reflectivity, which is what the State of California wants [on every home]."

"Original Strengs had the tar-and-gravel, old-style hot-mop system," Drees explains. "Today we tear that off, lay down rigid insulation board [one to two inches thick], then the white [single-ply] membrane, which is more like a pool liner. Big rolls are kicked out, and a big machine heat-welds it and melds them together."

"Keep debris off the roof and maintain it," adds Drees, "and single-ply is basically a 20-year, maintenance-free roofing system."

Drees says his current Sacramento-area price for a single-ply roof installed on a Streng home is averaging $25-29,000 (including a one-layer tear-off and insulation board). Some smaller Strengs run $15-20,000.