If you have ever needed to install or replace roofing material on a flat roof, chances are you would have heard about this type of roofing. There are some pros to using this seemingly cheap and easy to install material, there are also some serious cons. Let us discuss these below.
- Get a completely free quote of this roof, without any obligations.
- Some of the basics of rolled roofing.
- Where should you use this type of roofing?
- What materials do you commonly find it in?
- How much does it cost and what is its typical lifespan?
- What are some of the pros and cons of this roofing material?
Some basics on this roofing material
This is a bitumen or rubber roofing material used for waterproofing and weather protection for either very shallow sloped roof or completely flat roofs.
It primarily comes in rolls of 100 square feet, but that being said it is possible to find suppliers that sell smaller portions, however, they are most often at least 3 foot wide. They are very common and can be found in most, if not all home improvement or hardware stores, they are very cost-effective, easy to obtain and simple to install.
I would not recommend using rolled MSR roofing for an entire roof of a home, it is not as durable as the traditional asphalt shingles. I would only recommend using it in buildings that are not used for residential use but instead use it freely on sheds, coops or garages. They do well for some insulation, waterproofing, and weather protection.
Where should you use this type of roofing?
As stated above, this roofing material is not often used for residence or buildings that are used for living as they do not give the optimal protection that more conventional roofing materials do.
It is primarily used in buildings like sheds, barns, kids tree houses and outbuildings. Usually, these roofs will have low slopes (about a 1:12 pitch), this is best practice as it is not recommended to use it on steep roofing.
That being said, there are some places that this material can be used for house roofing. Namely, areas that are hard to fit in shingles, you could cut a small section out of rolled roofing and apply this to the area. Areas these can include are near chimneys or saddles.
What materials is it made out of?
How much does it cost, and how does it compare to traditional shingles?
Rolled roofing is quite a substantial amount cheaper than asphalt shingles that may make you just want to jump at it and resort to choosing it over the shingles. I do encourage you to read the next section however and consider the lifespan as well.
Rolled roofing will set you back in most markets between $1.5 and $4 per square foot. It is sold is almost always sold in 100 square foot rolls meaning you are often going to have to buy an entire roll or two to yourself. However, if you are to use a contractor they will often only charge you for the square feet that they use for your roof and the excess they will use for another project.
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Asphalt shingles are going to usually cost you between $8 and $10 per square foot, quite a premium when comparing that to rolled roofing, however, do keep in mind that they have a far superior life span and can take way more wear and tear, especially in harsh weather environments.
What is its lifespan and how does it stand up to asphalt shingles?
While the cost of rolled roofing is a huge bonus when it is being compared to asphalt shingles and may make it very tempting for you to jump at this point, however, please do consider the life span as well before making up your mind.
Most asphalt shingles boast a remarkable life span of between 25 and 30 years! It should also be known that they can take way more wear and tear than its counterpart as well if you are living in a particularly harsh environment.
A lot of these brands say that they have a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years, however, because it is thinner and made of a softer material, I would not push it past 15 years, with 10 years being the worst-case scenario if you are in a particularly harsh environment.
Why should I use this type of roofing?
I’m sure after reading this article you can answer this yourself. For your home, you would want to avoid roll-on roofing as it is not a great fit and does suffer some serious flaws. However, it is a great option for those other types of structures such as sheds and garages, their price and ease of installation is unbeaten.
So if you have a shed, kids tree house, garage, etc. that you need to be waterproofed, consider using roll-on roofing. Take 1 minute of your time and get your free quote above, it is commitment-free and you will not be charged at all!
From this, we can see that anyone that wants to get great protection for your roof on a budget should seriously consider peel and stick. Although we always recommend a roofing professional to do all your roofing repairs and installations, peel and stick is definitely a great choice for those on a budget and are able to do it themselves. It provides great protection for your home and is very versatile.
What are some of the pros and cons?
Now that we have told you just about all we can about this type of roofing, let us get into some of the pros and cons of using or installing it.
Some pros
Some cons
Con #1One major con of this roofing is that it does not last as long as many other options that are afforded to you. With their life span only being between 10 and 15 years.
Con #2It is at risk of tearing because there are not many interlocking materials, this roofing is fitted in long sheets, should there be any shifting of expanding in the building, tears are a very large risk, you would then need to replace large areas of the roofing material.
Con #3This type of roofing, at least at the time of writing this article, only comes in one color, black. Aesthetically this may be a downside for your home as you may want a different look for your home. This would have to be something you take into account.
In conclusion, I would not recommend this type of roofing material for just anyone, especially for a residential home. It does, however, seem fine should you be wanting to install in on a shed. But don’t take my word for it, why not take to our friends at Networx, they can give you a quote for not only rolled roofing but also for the more traditional shingle roof. If you have any questions or general comments, I would love to hear from you.
Jack French is the CEO of EZPZ Roofing. He has over 10 years of experience in the construction industry and has been with EZPZ since its inception. Jack is a hard worker and a natural leader. He takes great pride in his work and always puts the customer first.