I have a flat roof over my kitchen that serves as a balcony. I have lived in the house for 6 years and didn’t have a problem with it leaking until last fall. I striped the old roll roofing off (several layers) and replaced it with new. This got me through winter but this weekend the 4 inches of rain we received exposed yet another leak. The roof has very little slope (almost flat) and I would like to continue using it as a balcony. Are there any products on the market that would allow me to put down a seamless roofing material that would hold up to foot traffic? Any suggestions on this or otherwise would be appreciated.
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Another on ewhere prosepero lost my post
Short version, EPDM rubber
Did you replace it with a hot rolled roof? They should last longer than a few months. Rubber membrane is much easy to apply and would probably last a lot longer. If you plan to use it as a balcony and walk on it, you should put down some kind of decking because a roll roof or a menbrane roof are not designed to be walked on on an everyday basis.
Tom
if you wan't to walk on this without leaks it first needs to be framed like a floor. 3/4 T&G plywood over over joists with the correct spacing for there size. if it was framed as a roof you may need to add more joists. I would top this with either spantex or gaco deckit, aplied to manufacturers specs. both of these products require adding a coat every 5 to 7 years.
It has the 3/4 decking so I will check if the joists are laid out right and check into spantex or gaco. Thanks for the advice . . . Fletch
also make sure the flashing is good. it sounds like there are walls around this. and flashing makes all the diff. multipule layers. it's cheap and these products are not a susitute for a good job. also i have to to admit ive never used gaco deckit i was going to but it does have temp. requirments. i do have friends with gaco froof/decks. i used spantex on my roof because it dries at any temp and it was mid winter here in the N.W. as a last tip i think spantex is probably easier to apply and perhaps more durable, but not as envirmentaly sound as gaco deckit. if you use spantex you must use a resperator rated for v.o.c. i didn't the first time and was i cant remember.
Piffin has the right idea,EPDM,.060. Properly installed it should do wonders. Most large manufacturers don't give residential gaurentees,even if you pay for it like commercial work. 10 years ago there was a company called MuleHide,maybe in Pa that gave it to residential users.
Even on commercial work ####continuously used walk path has to be covered with tread pads. There used to be a product made of recycled tires that was ~ 3/4" thick,2'x2' and perforated,attached with PVC dowels on all sides. The perimeter had to be laid in a bead of water cut-off mastic. Good product,but expensive. Can't remember the name,it could have come from Firestone but I'm not sure. Maybe somebody else will recall it if it's still around.