White roofs installation in Montreal

White roofs are a good choice on the Montreal Island

In Montreal, the vast majority of residential flat roofs are made of multi-layered felt and asphalt membranes, which are then covered with gravel.

This practice is now strongly questioned for environmental reasons. Indeed, asphalt is a bituminous product that pollutes landfill sites. The recent increase in the cost of asphalt and petroleum products has had a significant impact on the cost of traditional asphalt and gravel roofing. As a result, non-traditional roofing membranes in the residential market have become more attractive to building owners.

Those looking for environmentally friendly solutions are increasingly turning to white EPDM membranes. These membranes are very durable and have less impact on the environment. They can also be used as a basic waterproofing for a flat roof, a garden roof or a green roof.

White roofs reduce heat

The main advantage of a white roof is that it reflects light radiation rather than absorbing it and transforming it into heat. White roofs therefore reduce urban heat island effects in cities and allow for a much more pleasant use of roofs in the form of roof terraces or roof gardens.

Roof terraces located near asphalt and gravel roofs experience a significant increase in temperature that often inconveniences users. This extreme heat can also be detrimental to the proper development of plants on a roof garden.

White roofs are more durable

A white roof does not overheat when exposed to the sun and heat is a major factor in membrane degradation. This is why a white EPDM, TPO or elastomeric membrane roof technically has a longer life expectancy than a similar black product. In residential construction, the white EPDM membrane is generally the best value. White EPDM membranes come in 16.5 foot wide rolls, 100 foot long and are glued at the seams.

EPDM membranes are recyclable and UV resistant products. After their lifespan of nearly 50 years, they can be recycled into other products in the automotive, piping, carpet and other industries.

An environmentally friendly installation technique for renovation

Among the installation techniques recommended by the Sure-White EPDM membrane manufacturer Carlisle, it is possible to keep the existing asphalt and gravel membrane. This limits waste and reduces the cost of the work, but does not negatively impact the quality of the installation. Simply remove the excess gravel, install a waterproof high density fiberboard and then apply the EPDM membrane. By first removing the excess crushed stone, we ensure that a significant weight is removed from the existing roof. This way the weight of the added material simply offsets the weight of the removed gravel.

Installation of the white EPDM membrane

There are several ways to install an EPDM membrane on a residential wood deck. However, the most common method is to screw a fiberboard into the wood deck. The membrane is glued to the fiberboard over its entire surface.

The joints are sealed by gluing them with a 3-inch wide overlap. The membrane must be cut where there are mechanical service exits such as: plumbing vents, chimneys, ventilation collars, etc. Flexible flashings made of membrane pieces are then glued to the main membrane and run vertically upwards to make the whole thing watertight.

Characteristics of EPDM white membranes

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) roofing membranes have been around for 46 years as roofing membranes, but were first used as water pond membranes. The first roof made of EPDM was the one on the Chicago airport. It is still in place and is a testament to the longevity of the product, but generally speaking it is estimated to last 35 years for a 40 mil (thousandths of an inch) thick gray membrane and 50 years for a 60 mil thick white membrane.

The white color is important to the longevity of the roof because it prevents the membrane from overheating when exposed to the sun. EPDM is a membrane that remains very flexible in winter, keeping a coefficient of elasticity of 300% at -40'C. It is also a very tear resistant product.

The main advantage of a white roof is that it reflects light rather than absorbing it and transforming it into heat. White roofs therefore reduce urban heat island effects in cities and allow for a much more pleasant use of roofs in the form of flat roofs, as those located near asphalt and gravel roofs experience a significant increase in temperature that often inconveniences users. This extreme heat can also be detrimental to the proper development of plants on a roof.

Two installation techniques for the white EPDM membrane

On large roofs, white EPDM membranes can be installed in two ways:

1. It can be fully adhered to a high density waterproof fiberboard. The latter is screwed to the structural deck of the roof.
2. It can be mechanically attached and glued every 6 feet with washers screwed to the wood or steel deck through the membrane. EPDM tapes are then glued to the washers to make them watertight.

When the roof is partially covered with vegetation and soil, their weight can also be used to retain the membrane which is then simply placed on the structural deck. However, the thickness of the soil must be significant as it is a relatively light soil. A roofing expert is essential to determine the right type of fastener for each major project.

White granules

Elastomeric membranes are generally covered with ceramic granules of various colors. A green, brown or beige roof can be obtained, but in general, elastomeric bitumen roofs are light grey in color.

A light color reduces the overheating of the membrane and therefore extends the life of the roof while also reducing heat radiation to the building.

Since 2008, Soprema now offers to cover the membranes with white slate flakes. These are stone chips that have a flat shape and can adhere well to the elastomeric bitumen membrane.

This protection reflects more light than light grey membranes and contributes to the reduction of urban heat islands while protecting the membrane against summer overheating.

You are thinking of installing a white roof on your building in Montreal...

The white roof is a type of roofing system that reflects sunlight and absorbs less heat than a standard black asphalt shingles. A white roof can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s rays, while a black asphalt shingle only reflects 20%. This means that a white roof helps keep your home cooler in the summer by reflecting sunlight away from your home.

In the winter, a white roof helps keep your home warmer by absorbing less heat from the sun.

A white roof can also help save you money on your energy bills. By reflecting sunlight away from your home in the summer, you can reduce your air conditioning costs. In the winter, a white roof can help reduce your heating costs by absorbing less heat from the sun. A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that installing awhite rooftop could save homeowners an average of $250 per year on their energy bills.

In addition to saving money on energy costs, white roofs can also help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Black asphalt shingles absorb heat, which causes them to release pollutants into the air.

White roofs reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it, which helps keep pollutants out of the air. Additionally, because they stay cooler than black roofs, white roofs don’t require as much energy to cool down, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

A summary of the steps involved in installing a white roof

Installing a white roof is a great way to save money on cooling costs and make your home more energy-efficient.

Here are the steps involved in installing a white roof:

1. Choose the right type of white roofing material. There are many different types of materials available, so it’s important to select the one that will best suit your needs.
2. Prepare the surface of your roof for installation. This may involve cleaning and repairing any damage to the surface of your roof.
3. Install an underlayment before installing the white roofing material. This step is important in order to prevent leaks and ensure proper adhesion of the new material.
4. Measure and cut the pieces of white roofing material to fit your roof’s dimensions perfectly.
5. Install the white roofing pieces starting at the bottom edge of your roof and working your way up.
6. Apply a sealant along all the seams where two pieces of white roof material meet to prevent leaks.

The benefits of white roofing...

A white roof is one that has been coated with a special type of paint or other material that makes it reflective.

This reflects sunlight away from the building, helping to keep it cooler in warm weather. In winter, a white roof can help reflect heat back into the building, making it warmer. White roofs can also help reduce energy costs by lowering the amount of energy needed to cool or heat a building.

The downsides of white roofs...

There are many downsides to white roofs. One of the most significant is the high reflectivity of sunlight, which can cause problems for both people and animals. The glare from a white roof can be so strong that it can actually cause sunburn or other skin damage. In addition, the reflected light can also be disruptive to sleep patterns and make it difficult to focus on tasks during the day.

Another downside to white roofs is that they tend to absorb more heat than darker-colored roofs, which can lead to higher energy bills in warm weather months. In extreme cases, the extra heat absorbed by a white roof can even contribute to melting asphalt shingles or warping of metal panels.

Do you have technical questions about white roofs in Montreal?
Here is an excellent document directly from the Conseil régional de l'environnement de Montréal : Matériaux réfléchissants et perméables pour contrer les îlots de chaleur urbains

If you have any questions about your white roof project in Montreal, do not hesitate to contact us at (514) 600-4891. It will be our pleasure to discuss with you and answer all your questions.