In a post-pandemic world, the world of work is set to change forever leading to a hybrid way of working both remotely and in offices. Many homeowners are faced with a lack of office space in their existing homes while housing developers are looking for ways to maximise a small site’s potential. With the UK having some of the smallest homes in Europe, we traditionally do not explore the basement or roof space. Basement construction is costly and complicated so the next logical place is to expand upwards. Kevin Sherlock, Managing Director of Smartroof explores ‘room in roof’ solutions, a prefabricated roofing package that offers ease of installation, improved energy efficiency and cost certainty as we look for more space and bigger returns. Habitable roof space Creating habitable roofing spaces has been easier by the increased use of off-site fabrication and systems such as structural insulated panels (SIPS), and pre-engineered insulated roof systems such as Smartroof’s ‘room in roof’ system. Manufactured offsite, the Smartroof system is a complete room in roof system. Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulated roof panels, spandrel wall panels, dormers, roof windows, GRP chimneys, soffit and fascia, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require roof tiling. In addition, the interlocking design of the system makes it ideal for housebuilders adopting a fabric first approach. Production of the system in a factory-controlled environment ensures consistent and predictable thermal performance. With the latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, Smartroof’s factory insulated panels eliminate voids or cold spots and offer design flexibility as insulation levels can be easily upgraded to meet requirements. An off-site solution such as Smartroof can also reduce the detrimental impact of bad weather on build times, whilst faster weatherproofing of structures will reduce delays for follow on trades. Its off-site manufacturing reduces the time spent working at height and decreases on-site wastage to provide a cost-effective, modern method of construction. A full vaulted ceiling and an extended floor area in the eaves can be achieved in a matter of hours, making it a highly cost-effective package for house building projects of all sizes. Plumb Park Situated on the fringes of the seaside town of Exmouth, Plumb Park, being built by Taylor Wimpey, comprises 264 two, three and four-bed homes designed in the arts and craft style. The centrepiece of the development is a curved crescent of 18 terraced homes overlooking a public hilltop park. Each of the 2½ storey homes in the terrace feature a panelised ‘room in roof’ system with the developer specifying Smartroof as the company to deliver the bespoke curved roof structure. For Smartroof, the big challenge was the curve and how to make straight timber appear as if it is effectively bending. In addition, the gable roofs on these terraced houses had a triangular apex projection on the front elevation which also necessitated a curved design. To achieve this onsite would have been a huge technical challenge for the joinery contractors, however the controlled environment of the Smartroof offsite fabrication facility meant the technical team could achieve the architect’s design with millimetre precision both in terms of cutting and fabrication. At a time when the skills shortage and tight margins are commonplace across the sector, the offsite fabrication of the roofs at Plumb Park provided Taylor Wimpey with huge benefits in terms of health and safety, speed of construction and quality control. For this bespoke design, it is estimated the Smartroof system saved up to eight weeks installation time when compared to using traditional onsite methods of roof construction.

Bow River Capital (“Bow River”), a private equity firm based in Denver, Colorado, announced today that it has completed the recapitalization of Progressive Roofing (“Progressive” or the “Company”). Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Progressive Roofing is a full-service commercial roofing business providing re-roofing, new construction, service, and emergency repair solutions to customers across the education, government, industrial, healthcare, hospitality, and retail landscape. Serving as a value-added partner to customers, Progressive provides unique roofing solutions, as well as consistent, safe, and quality project delivery. Progressive’s self-performance model emphasizes technical excellence on large, complex projects and small maintenance repairs alike. From concept to project completion, the Company focuses on creating long-term value for clients. “Progressive’s commitment to customers and quality, which is supported by our family-oriented culture, is the centerpiece of the Company’s success. Over our decades-long history, our leadership team has continually identified new advances in roofing materials, technologies, and installation, and our highly-skilled, trained, and certified professionals continue to deliver extraordinary work every time we set foot on a roof,” said Mark Farrell, Progressive’s Chief Executive Officer. Farrell’s long-time partner and Progressive shareholder Mike Hadden went on to state, “We could not be more excited about the partnership with Bow River, and we look forward to making continued investments to enhance how we serve our customers and support the growth of our business and our employees.” Bow River Capital seeks to invest in leading middle market companies that provide infrastructure solutions. “Progressive is a market leader in commercial roofing solutions, and the leadership team has assembled a long roster of clients that trust the Company time and time again,” commented Greg Hiatrides, Managing Director at Bow River Capital. Progressive’s management team (who participated in the recapitalization) will retain a meaningful ownership stake in the Company and continue to lead the organization and deliver quality services to customers as they have for the past several decades. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP served as legal counsel to Bow River. Gammage & Burnham served as legal counsel to Progressive.

Building your home is an exciting but daunting experience. After laying the foundation and having the framing of your soon-to-be house, the next step is to install your roof. As it protects you against the outdoor elements, choosing the roofing material for your home can be a frustrating decision you need to make. With various roofing options to choose from, it can be challenging to find the right one that fits your home’s aesthetics and functionalities.  With that said, this article would make it easier for you. Provided below is a breakdown of the different roofing materials available, highlighting their benefits and weaknesses so you can choose the right one for your home’s needs. 1. Asphalt Composite Shingles  Being the most common material offered by roofing companies like Smith Roofing and others, asphalt composite shingles are preferred for their efficiency across several climates and environmental conditions.  Its upfront cost is generally low, depending on your area. Asphalt shingles can resist water and can be designed to resemble wood, tile, and slate shingles. It’s easy to install, maintain, and repair, making it an excellent option for the basic American first-time homeowner.  They do, however, have a shorter lifespan than most materials and require replacement after about two decades. 2. Slate Shingles Slate shingles are a mainstay roofing material option for homeowners who accept only the finest. This roofing material features timeless beauty and comes in numerous shades and colors with pleasing textures. This is why most historical buildings and luxurious homes choose it as their roof. Genuine slate roofing is made from thin sheets of real stone that can last for centuries. It’s no wonder why it’s called the ‘forever roof,’ outliving homeowners and generations. Since slate tends to cleave off thin sheets, this material is easy to quarry, making it suitable for roofing. Plus, its longevity also makes it eco-friendly since a single slate roof lifespan equates to 3-4 roofs being replaced and thrown in landfills in its time. Slate roofs are entirely fireproof and can withstand snow, high winds, heavy rains; also, they don’t grow mold or fungus. With such significant advantages, you should expect a slate roof to be expensive. While it’s durable, slate shingles tend to break easily when hit with force from hail and other debris. Repairing the damage can be pretty costly too, especially that you can’t go the DIY route. Slate shingles will require highly specialized skills to install and repair. However, if you’re interested in making a life-long roofing investment, then slate shingles will be your best choice.  3. Rubber Slate Tiles If you’re looking for a greener, safer, and more lightweight alternative to authentic slate shingles, rubber slates are a good option. They’re convincing stand-ins for natural slate tiles that it’s virtually impossible to distinguish from the real ones. This material is constructed from engineered polymers combined with recycled rubbers and plastic.  Synthetic slate tiles are fire-resistant and are effective against external fire exposures. They’re also quite lightweight, making them suitable for houses that can’t support the heaviness of natural slate. They’re also cheaper than real slate and can be trimmed to make custom adjustments to roofs. Although synthetic slate tiles may not be as durable as real stones, rubber tiles usually come with a long warranty of up to 50 years.  4. Rolled Roofing This type of roofing material is preferred for low-slope residential roofs and out-buildings such as sheds, garages, shops, and other utilitarian structures. A rolled roofing features long rolls of asphalt- and mineral-saturated material topped with mineral granules. They come in large strips of thin roofing rolls of about 36 ft. long by 36 in. wide that are easy to cut and customize as needed.  However, it comes with several disadvantages. You don’t get a lot of color choices; also, it’s not that appealing and it only lasts about 5-8 years. Still, rolled roofing provides a convenient, fast, and cheap way of covering sloped-roof buildings such as home workshops where aesthetics isn’t that important. 5. Wood Shingles And Shakes Do you want something appealing with a rustic aesthetic? Go with wood shingles and shakes. Wood roofs are among the most attractive roofing materials, making them a popular option for luxury houses. Wood shingles and shakes are generally manufactured from 4 kinds of trees— redwood, red cedar, pine, and cypress. While both are made from natural wood, there’s a difference between wood shingles and shakes.  Shingles are usually thin, wedge-shaped wood slabs produced by precise sawing. This offers an even and clean look to your roof. Shakes, on the other hand, are produced by splitting wood and features thicker wedges with rougher textures. These rough edges somewhat give a unique rustic look that many homeowners desire. It offers a lot more dimension, particularly when layered together.  While properly installed wood shingles or shakes can last between 25-40 years, they’re a poor choice in high-moisture areas as well as places prone to wildfires. The good news is some wood shingles are treated to be fire-resistant, preventing premature decay in some climates. Some wood materials like pine are also treated with preservatives to keep the pesky insects and early decaying and rotting.  6. Built-Up Roofing (BUR) One of the oldest material choices for flat roofs or low pitch roofs, built-up roofing systems has been here for over 100 years. Sometimes called tar and gravel roofs, a BUR system is constructed with several layers of roof felt saturated with asphalt. The felt is applied in overlapping layers, forming a barrier of 2-4 layers of thick material. Then, a coating of finely crushed stone is embedded in the hot tar over the top, creating impenetrable and durable roofing. It can have a different number of layers or plies, depending on what you need. BUR systems are often applied directly to roof decks or insulation. They’re great for warmer climates and can be walked on without any damage. On average, they have a lifespan of 15-30 years, but some well-maintained BUR systems can

Commercial and industrial buildings are often designed with flat roofs. One of the reasons for this is its easy access and replacement. When it’s time to replace your roof, you will be faced with the dilemma of choosing the best and most affordable roofing materials and systems. There will be lots of considerations and roofing systems to choose. A wise way to resolve your roofing issue without going overboard on your construction budget is understanding the benefits and strengths of each roofing material and coating options. To ensure you get the best results, explore all possible roofing systems, the available materials and coating products. For a start, here are some considerations: Modified Bitumen Roofing Modified bitumen roofing is a single-ply roof system that is simply rolled on top of the roof surface. This is different from the conventional laying and heating of the roof with a blow torch. Installation of modified bitumen is no longer dangerous as it used to be. The new roofing system is simply done by peeling off the protective layer and sticking the material to the flat surface. This is even tagged as environment-friendly material as it cuts energy costs. The sun reflects on it so solar energy is contributing to the light inside the building. This is, so far, the most preferred roofing installation option. This is called by roofing construction experts roofing asphalt. It contains polyester and fiberglass. Mixing them with asphalt guarantees you good quality and strength to your roofing system. All the materials are held together in sheets with refined crude oil. The finished product is normally 39 inches long mod bit sheets. Built-Up Roofing The main material used for this type of roofing is gravel. This is pleasing to the eye though. The price for this type of roofing system is a bit lower compared to the other roofing installation works. The top layer of your roof will be heavy as it would carry the whole weight of the gravel. For this reason, joists will be required. It must be installed alongside the existing roof as a reinforced foundation. Otherwise, the roofing might collapse and can cause more damage. Building contractors are not fond of this as this would require more manpower. While you save from the cost of the materials, you will be paying more for labor. This flat roof option is best for structures that do not have occupants yet. That means closing the building temporarily while the installation is going on. Plus, it requires a healing or drying period. Business owners look at it as business downtime. They would rather look for another option. Something that would not hamper the business. A choice that can keep going even when flat roof repair or installation is going on. Ethylene and Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) Roofing Rubber roofing is the other term for EPDM Roofing. This type of roofing system is lighter compared to the other flat roof replacement systems. When you choose this type of roofing work, you need not install roof deck reinforcements. The byproduct of ethylene and propylene mixed with natural gas is a single-ply rubber sheet which when installed are tucked with adhesive by the seams. As time passes by, seams would require maintenance as this is where the leaks start to develop. Thus, this is not the most preferred option among roofing contractors. EPDM Manufacturers are in the works to develop a leak-free sealing system along with the sheets to avoid cumulation of running water on the sides. EPDM roofing comes in 4 layers – Elastomeric Base, AFR Fire Retardant, Polyester Reinforced Fiber, and EPDM Top Layer, which is sometimes optional. Due to the tough layering, this type of roofing can withstand strong winds and heavy rains. The material may be cost-effective. The long-term roofing goal is something that holds up building owners in choosing this. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Roofing Insulation boards are installed over roof decks’ membranes. This is the typical installation of a PVC roofing system. Flat roofs are not supposed to be complicated. If it can overcome rooftop hazards, that will be good to go. The cons of PVC materials primarily include the cost. This requires the initial roof removed and that would mean additional cost to the building owner. This option is perfect for structures that must be highly resistant to fire, grease, and other harmful chemicals. PVC is favored over EPDM among contractors. It has a life expectancy of around 20 to 30 years. Clients can pick from varied thickness options for much better quality. The thicker the PVC boards, the more likely they can withstand stronger roof dangers. The seams of PVC roofs are welded so it is great in keeping the water out. No leaks for years. That is when seams are properly welded. Professional repairmen are the best go-to installers to ensure quality work and fewer chances of poor installation.

In response to the construction industry’s drive to build a more sustainable future, Sika’s Roofing experts are hosting a live online launch event for its new Green Roof systems on 1 June 2021. All attendees will be in with a chance of winning their very own bee hotel. The launch will cover everything an architect or contractor needs to know about the sustainability and economic benefits of green roofs and what to consider when specifying one. The event is free to attend and suitable for any construction professionals who are interested in the future of sustainable building solutions. During the 45 min session, experts from Sika’s Roofing Team, including Sustainability Manager Sarah Peake, will cover a number of topics, including understanding what constitutes a green roof, the benefits they provide, the different types Sika will provide and their suitability to certain applications, as well as the required design considerations. The launch will close with a Q&A session. Sika’s new systems, available from June, provide solutions for three types of green roofing build-ups – extensive, intensive and biodiverse. These systems will be available as part of a complete, high-performance package from Sika that also includes the waterproofing element of the roof – whether this is hotmelt, reinforced bitumen membrane, single ply or cold-applied liquid solutions. The new Sika Green Roof will be backed by the same trusted technical support that the company has continuously provided over the years. From initial design and specification through to installation, site inspections and final sign off of the roof, Sika’s technical expertise is available every step of the way. As an added bonus, Sika is giving ten lucky attendees the chance to win a bee hotel to aid biodiversity in their own gardens and outdoor spaces. These small structures are designed to be the perfect breeding places for solitary bees, which naturally nest in hollow stems, earth banks or dead wood.

Staying true to its culture of innovation, Sika has launched Sikalastic-652N, an upgraded version of one of its most popular liquid-applied single-component polyurethane waterproofing membranes, Sikalastic-625. This versatile, durable cold-applied membrane is used up and down the UK in a range of flat roof applications, from industrial and commercial roofs to balconies and walkways. The new and improved Sikalastic-625N incorporates Sika’s patented i-Cure Technology, an enhanced chemistry that gives the product greater temperature stability, extended shelf life and improved workability. Thanks to these benefits, the waterproofing membrane is capable of curing in a wide range of conditions, making it ideal for use in the unpredictable UK climate. Application is quick, easy, and will not be delayed by adverse weather, which is a huge benefit for the specifier, contractor and client. “We’re excited to be able to offer our customers the benefits of our exclusive new i-Cure Technology with the launch of Sikalastic-625N. It delivers a whole host of performance enhancements while maintaining the trusted weather resistant waterproofing properties of its predecessor,” said Gavin White, Marketing and Product Manager at Sika Roofing. “Sika has been manufacturing high performance protection and waterproofing systems for over 50 years and we’re proud of that expertise. Our aim isn’t just to pioneer new market-leading technologies, but also to continually improve existing ones – especially those that are already loved by our customers,” he added. The high quality and durability achieved by this membrane is evidenced by its BBA and ETA Accreditations. Sikalastic-625N is a direct replacement and upgrade to the existing Sikalastic-625 formulation and will be available in the same colour range and tin sizes. Coverage rates and guarantees – 10, 15 and 20 years – also remain the same.

Merchants can edge ahead of the competition with the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system, the proven dry fix roofing solution from Ariel Plastics that is fast, easy-to-fit and fully compatible with an expansive range of roof tiles. Developed and designed for ease of installation, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system provides a neat mortarless finish at roof verges on new build and retrofit projects. The system is a 100% mortar-free, dry fix solution, offering a hard-wearing, durable and attractive finish to the roofline without the inconvenience of using mortar bedding. Manufactured from lightweight, modern plastic materials that are easy-to-install and weather- resistant, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system protects the roof verge from wind uplift, pest infestation and weather degradation in accordance with BS 5534. Available in Brown, Anthracite Grey and Terracotta, this all-weather system includes Starter Piece, Verge Section, Batten Clip, and Angled, and Half-Round Ridge Caps options to suit the ridge style. Fully adjustable for installation with tiles of between 260mm-350mm gauges, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system is quick and easy to install, and offers a wealth of features so that installers can fit with confidence, giving a more superior dry verge solution for both new build and renovation projects. The temporary ‘True-Line’ guide in the Starter Piece ensures it is correctly lined up with the tiles, guaranteeing a perfect and secure alignment on the roof, whilst a handy cut out area provides the flexibility to work around existing gutters. Attention to detail and consideration of the installers needs have played a crucial part in developing this product. The Verge Sections are not handed to fit both the left hand and right hand sides of the roof verge for ease of installation. The ‘True-Connect’ locators fit the ‘True Mount’ allowing adjustable positioning of the Verge Sections to suit various tile gauges. An in-built ‘drip strip’ allows rainwater to run off the Verge, avoiding wall staining and potential damp. There are flex points on the Ridge Caps which allow for differing roof angles and a choice of angled and half round options to suit the ridge style. “With the construction industry reaping the benefits of dry fix products, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge System is fast and simple to install, and fully compatible with a wide range of tiles. It’s set to become the go-to, hassle-free dry verge system for merchant customers, offering a clean, attractive and maintenance-free finish,” said Paul Goddard, Sales Director of Ariel Plastics. Offering the widest choice of roofing sheet, rooflights and roofing accessories available in the UK, industry leader Ariel Plastics is renowned for providing specialist roofing and glazing solutions for any application. The Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system complements Ariel’s extensive Corodrain roof drainage and Corovent roof ventilation portfolios. To assist each outlet in selling the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system, merchants can also benefit from a free Display Unit with every stock order.