Roofing Systems

Elmer W Davis, Inc. has been a leading innovator in roofing since 1936.  All our skilled roofing technicians on demand service vehicles are equipped with up-to-date technology, and capable of servicing every type of roof system. No issue is too big nor too small, from penetration installations to leak detection to catastrophic roof failures, we have what you need. Service requests are responded to within 24 hours.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO)

  

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is a single-ply reflective roofing membrane made from polyprophylene and ethylene-propylene rubber polymerized together. TPO can be installed either fully adhered, mechanically attached, fleeceback adhered, or as a self-adhering sheet, with the seams of the roofing system sealed with liquid adhesives or welded together. The first sheet of TPO roofing membrane was installed in 1989 and since then millions of square meters of TPO has been installed worldwide. TPO membranes commonly are white.

   

TPO membranes are produced by calendaring with lamination, extrusion with lamination, or extrusion-coating techniques. TPO sheets are a blend of polypropylene and ethylene propylene polymers and usually are reinforced with polyester. TPO sheets contain colorant, flame retardants, UV absorbers and other proprietary substances to achieve desired physical properties.

Benefits: Provides long-term durability and the heat welding process provides maximum security

  • Common pigmentation is white which creates a reflective surface and will reduce building cooling cost
  • Most environmentally friendly of the single-ply systems
  • TPO produces no dioxins or chlorine

Membranes can be made in varying thicknesses and roll lengths 

  • Sheet  widths range from 6 feet to 12 feet wide
  • Sheets are typically 40 mils to 100 mils thick

Warranty Capabilities: 5-30 Years, 55-125 MPH 


Approved Installers with: 

Carlisle, Firestone, Versico, John Mansville, GAF & more.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

  

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a single-ply reflective roofing membrane made from polyprophylene and ethylene-propylene rubber polymerized together. PVC can be installed either fully adhered, mechanically attached, fleeceback adhered, or as a self-adhering sheet, with the seams of the roofing system sealed with liquid adhesives or welded together. PVC membranes are produced in numerous colors, though gray and white are the most common.

  

PVC sheets are produced by calendaring, spread coating or extruding, and typically are reinforced with polyester or glass-fiber mats or scrim. PVC sheets contain plasticizers and stabilizers, as well as other additives to impart flexibility and achieve other desired physical properties. Some membranes are available with nonwoven fleece backing adhered to the underside of a sheet.

Benefits: 

  • Easy installation and one of the oldest single-ply systems still in use today
  • Most resistant to oil and grease, making it the preferred solution for (kitchens, manufacturing facilities, etc.)
  • Strong resistance to punctures and tears 
  • A preferred solution in areas with acid rain

Membranes can be made in varying thicknesses and roll lengths 

  • Sheet widths range from 6 feet to 12 feet wide
  • Sheets are typically 45 mils to 90 mils thick

Warranty Capabilities: 5-30 Years, 55-125 MPH 

Approved Installers with:  Carlisle, Firestone, Versico, John Mansville, GAF & more

EPDM

EPDM is an extremely durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) widely used in low-slope buildings in the United States and worldwide. Its two primary ingredients, ethylene and propylene, are derived from oil and natural gas. EPDM is available in both black and white, and is sold a broad variety of widths. EPDM can be installed either fully adhered, mechanically attached, fleeceback, peel & stick, velcro or ballasted, with the seams of the roofing system sealed with liquid adhesives or specially formulated tape.

  

Benefits:

 

  • Performs well because it is highly UV stable          due to the carbon black and has a relatively          high installation efficiency and consistency 
  • Created in 1965 it has a long proven track              record of performance
  • Given an environment with temperature                extremes, it will expand and contract 

 

Warranty Capabilities: 5-30 Years, 55-115 MPH 


 

Approved Installers with:  Carlisle, Firestone, Versico, John Mansville, GAF, Tremco, Sarnfil, Garland, & more.

Notable Recent EPDM Projects

Rochester Region

  • Hilton Central School District (Hilton High School)
  • Legacy Tower
  • Victor Central School District
  • Canandaigua VA 

Buffalo Region

  • Alberta & Niagara Falls Wegmans FoodMar kets
  • University of Buffalo Center for the Arts
  • Hanes Supply

Finger Lakes/Syracuse Region

  •  Auburn Wegmans Food Markets
  • Geneva Central School District
  • Cornell University Boyce Thompson Institute
  • Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant
  • Syracuse University Heroy, Schine, & Newhouse 2

North Country Region

  • Saranac Lake Central School District
  • Lowville Central SchoolDistrict
  • Corning Glass (Canton)
  • New York Power Authority

 Eastern NY/Capital Region

  • Canajoharie Middle School
  • Thurlow Terrace (Albany)
  • Summit Tower (Schenectady)
  • Hudson Shores (Watervliet)
  • Cayuga Plaza- Cohoe

Built-Up Roofing

  

Built-up roofs include smooth asphalt built-up, either hot or cold, and ballasted asphalt built-up. All types are generally comprised of three parts: bitumen material, ply sheets, and one or more surfacing materials. The type of surface coating used can be instrumental in cost and durability.

The bitumen material commonly used in built-up roofing systems is either asphalt, coal tar, or cold-applied adhesive. The surfacing and materials are varied and depend entirely on your project and your budget. Ballasted asphalt is being used more regularly these days because it can provide an excellent finish surface and its material is a better fire retardant agent.

Cold built-up roofing is also available. This can be sprayed or applied with a squeegee. It doesn’t require hot asphalt for application, and it doesn’t give off toxic fumes when it’s applied. It’s often preferred for environmentally sensitive projects for this reason. Cold built-up isn’t dependent on weather and it has a better performance when compared to hot built-up roofing.


Benefits:

  • Time tested roof system as it multiple layers provide protection and durability
  • Has the ability to be coated with reflective material to provide the building owner with additional heating/cooling efficiency 
  • Given the multiple layers, they are easy to repair and will withstand heavy foot traffic

Warranty Capabilities: 10-35 Years 

 

 

Approved Installers with:  Tremco, Garland, Carlisle, Firestone, John Mansville & more.

Modified Roofing

Two most common types;

  • SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) systems are bituminous based that have been modified with rubber.  This is beneficial, specifically in colder climates as the material is more flexible. This type of system has been around since 1975 and has four primary installation options including torch, hot asphalt, cold-applied and self-adhering rolls.  The application flexibility allows installation at all temperature levels, especially when construction dates shift to the colder months. The rolls are typically reinforced with polyester or fiberglass which makes them very durable. Two potential downsides are the system does not hold up well if constantly exposed to oil or hydrocarbon chemicals and installation can require a longer investment window that would not be beneficial to property owners looking to flip the property because of a high initial cost.  
  • APP (attactic polypropylene) systems have a higher softening temperature which makes them preferred in hotter climates.  They are very similar to an SBS system but their chemical compound can make them more brittle in colder temperatures. The benefits to the system are that they hold up at high temperature and strong wind events.  Given the resistance to heat the only two installation methods are cold adhesive and torch

Metal Roofing 

Provides outstanding durability, ability to customize design, extremely low lifecycle costs.  Commercial-grade metal roofs will save time on installation while providing a range of gauges, colors, and styles. 

Benefits: 

  • Easily customizable to the building owners design requirements and colors
  • Low maintenance and long-lasting performance
  • Proven dependability in a variety of environments, including water, ice, snow and hail storms
  • Environmentally friendly, re-roofs provide little waste that will end up in landfills
  • Customizable, standing seam roofs can be easily insulated with a variety of product to reduce energy costs and noise

     

Liquid Coating Restoration

Liquid Coating Restoration has a number of other benefits. It is much less expensive than replacing a roof with a comparable one, and represents an excellent value by protecting an existing investment. There is little disruption to those using the building, since little or no roof membrane is removed; furthermore, using low odor cold process restoration eliminates noxious fumes (and the risk of fire) and alleviates building occupants’ health concerns related to roof work. The restoration process can often be repeated, truly maximizing the roof’s life. Finally, reusing the existing roof saves tear-off and disposal costs, as well as being environmentally responsible.

Warranty Capabilities: 5-25 Years 

 

 

Approved Installers with:  Tremco, Carlisle, Kemper & more

Vegetative Roof

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

Benefits

  • Building incentives government agencies have been providing incentives to help offset the cost of a green roof
  • Stormwater retention – this will decrease impact on existing sewer systems and potentially reduce water runoff by 40%-95%
  • Thermal Resistance – especially during warmer months as it can reduce the buildings cooling cost 
  • Reduction of pollution and noise levels – filter out dust and smog as well as filter the rainwater nitrates 
  • Additional space – can increase the building value by making more space for building occupants