SINGLE-PLIES
Because PVC is
thermoplastic, it can be
melted and fused by heat
using a hand-held, hot-air
welder (above) or an
automatic welder (left). The
seam is theoretically as strong
as the membrane.
EPDM, the most common and least expensive single ply, has excellent strength, durability, and
flexibility across a broad range of temperatures.
FOR
SMALL
JOBS
Sorting through the
array of single-ply
roofing options
by Michael Russo
In the last 10 years, the market share of
single-ply systems has increased from 3
or 4 percent to over 50 percent of the
commercial roofing market. Single plies
have proved they are cost-effective,
high-performance alternatives to builtup
roofing (BUR), and can provide
similar benefits in low-slope residential
applications.
One of the primary reasons for the
success of these systems