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Running Head: WATERPROOF RUBBER VERSUS PLASTIC IN ROOFS
Benefits and drawbacks of using waterproof rubber versus plastic in roofs
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WATERPROOF RUBBER VERSUS PLASTIC IN ROOFS
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Benefits and drawbacks of using waterproof rubber versus plastic in roofs
Introduction/background
This research focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of using waterproof rubber
compared to plastics. The house owner must consider some factors before choosing the type of
material to be used. One such factor is cost. The material selected must be within the budget
limits. The research will look into which material is more pocket-friendly than the other. Another
factor is durability. The house owner must choose a more durable material between the two.
Durability implies cost so that a more durable material will cost a lot compared to a less durable
one. Durability also reflects maintenance cost; a durable roofing requires less maintenance than a
less durable one which needs frequent replacement. Most importantly, our analysis will compare
the durability of rubber roofing versus the plastic one.
On the other hand, another factor to consider in choosing the type of material to use is
rules and regulations governing construction. Primarily, our scrutiny will also consider the setout laws and regulations allowing or restricting the use of either of the two materials in roofing.
The house owner must, therefore, decide which material to use that does not contravene both
local and regional legislation on construction.
Besides, among other factors, builders should also consider the carbon footprints in
selecting the material to be used. The research will determine which material is eco-friendlier
than the other, between the two. Environmental changes have direct impact on roofing materials,
and this should inform the choice of material to be used in roofing. For example, the rate at
which the material absorbs or reflects heat from the sun should be considered. Tom Kraeutler
and Leslie Segrete suggests;
WATERPROOF RUBBER VERSUS PLASTIC IN ROOFS
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“An important part of your roof redo is the weather protection incorporated underneath
the shingles you see. Accumulated moistures are the ultimate enemy of every kind of
roofing material and can cut down on its lifespan in a hurry, so an underemployment like
Grace Ice and Water Shield is a worthwhile investment." (Kraeutler & Segrete, 2008, p.
159).
Those absorbing a lot of heat may lead to overheating of the house, and the reverse takes effect
too in the reflecting materials. A material that is resistant to extreme weather changes like
torrential rains and sun shines is more desirable than those that are vulnerable to the same. This
research compares the pros and cons of waterproof rubber versus plastic roofing in relation to the
above and other considerations.
Body
The rubber roofing' technical name is Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer EPDM. The
biggest advantage of rubber roofs is durability. They can last between thirty and fifty years.
Since the 1960s, it has been the material of choice among homemakers, in canals and irrigations
systems. Due to its significant durability, it is estimated that it has one billion square feet
installed in the entire world's roofs. Steve Bliss affirms the same to the following effect:
“While a variety of single-ply roofing membranes are used on commercial jobs, only
EPDM has become widely used on residential sites. EPDM, a form of synthetic rubber,
owes its popularity to its relative ease of installation combined with its exceptional
durability. If installed correctly, roofs often exceed 20 years of service and callbacks are
exceedingly rare.” (Bliss, 2006, p. 96).
WATERPROOF RUBBER VERSUS PLASTIC IN ROOFS
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Notably, rubber roofs are eco-friendly, having the ability to stand extreme heats, strong
winds, heavy rainfalls and even fire. They are also UV, and ozone stable hence cannot easily
perish. These qualities add to their durability nature. Additionally, rubber roofs require little
maintenance. Any needed maintenance is often accomplished by homeowners, and this implies
very minimal costs in maintenance. Waterproof rubber materials are also eco-friendly because
they are designed to reflect heat. This makes them desirable especially during summer because
of cutting cooling costs. It also acts as an insulator thus reducing heating costs during winter.
Regarding weight, they weigh much less than slate and cedar, therefore, giving the roofer
installation advantages. Besides, they are environmentally friendly because they are made from
recycled materials. Chris Magwood confirms the same as follows: “Each composite product has
a different formulation with greatly varying quantities or recycled content. Post-consumer
recycled content usually carries greater reductions in impact than post-industrial recycling.”
(Magwood, 2014, p. 234).
The EPDM is also less costly. One can spend between $3 and $4 per square feet for the
installation on flat roofs. Compared to the asphalt shingles which range between $5 and $7
(Bliss, 2006). As stated before, replacement costs are also minimal since it can last from seven to
ten years before requiring any resealing. Less maintenance also minimizes cost since the process
is simple: simple cleaning. You only need to wash the debris with water and no need to use
liquid solvent cleaners like citric based solvents as they can damage the material. Finally, its life
can be extended merely by re-coating rather than incurring costs on replacements.
Significantly, EPDM roof operators do not suffer from laws and regulations. EPDM
Roofing Association is the overall regulatory body governing the use of EPDM. The body
stipulates guidelines and regulatory measures to be taken into account in the entire rubber
WATERPROOF RUBBER VERSUS PLASTIC IN ROOFS
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roofing operations. The body also has standards and codes that require provisions of up-to-date
science-based information regarding EPDM membranes. In short, the EPDM industry is very
well protected by regulatory provisions and enforcement, making homeowners to buy and hire
installations freely. During reroofing, Building Regulation approval must be obtained.
Nevertheless, waterproof rubber roofing materials have some disadvantages. First, very
experienced roofers are needed for the installation. This is true, especially for the flexible ones. It
is so because of the difficulty to ensure protection against HVAC units, chimneys and track
units. Besides, Magwood (2014) asserts that any penetration into the roof can damage its
integrity and easily lead to leaks which will necessitate resealing. Kraeutler and Segrete (2008)
take a similar position. They add that rubber roofing, although durable, is not invincible. They
can easily be damaged by falling tree branches and other hanging objects. Another disadvantage
is that, in as much as they are easy to repair, it is tough to locate the damages. When a
homeowner can easily establish the damages, then it becomes very easy and cheap to fix.
However, when this cannot be done, it will force the owner to call and an experienced roofer for
inspection, which is difficult to find and costly. Rubber roofing has only been used for the past
fifty years hence many fewer roofers have the prerequisite experience and skills in installations
and inspection. You can locate one, they enjoy monopoly and may overcharge. Another demerit
is the limited color options and desired colors may only be obtained through painting.
Another roofing material examined by this paper is plastic roofing materials. The first
advantage is that they are strong and resilient. They can withstand extreme temperatures like
extremes sunshine. However, this is to a lesser degree than the rubber roofs. Besides, it had many
applications and used in decks, garages, conservatories, pool covers, industrial warehouses, and
sheds. Not to mention, it is lightweight hence easy to transport and install than the EPDM which
WATERPROOF RUBBER VERSUS PLASTIC IN ROOFS
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must be installed with a lot of care. It is also capable of blocking UV radiations just like the
EPDM although to a lesser extent. This property also makes it ideal for the construction of
greenhouses. Besides, plastic roofs are highly waterproof and prevent fungi accumulation. To
this end, it has many applications than the rubber roofs that is ideal for flat roofing. They are also
easy to wash just like the rubber roofs. They are durable for more than one hundred years of
longevity, much more than the rubber ones which can go up to fifty years. Moreover, they are
less costly than the rubber roofing. It goes for around $2.15 to 2.86 per square foot which is
much lesser than the EPDM. These are "buildings designed to low-income families, whose aim
is to somewhat reduce the housing deficit." (Perestrelo & Arezes, 2013, p. 109).
Ultimately, plastic roofing has many disadvantages, the first being non-resistant to
extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall and strong winds, unlike rubber roofs. This is
because they are not invincible just like the rubber roofs. This makes them prone to replacement,
and building owners must be ready to incur extra costs in that respect as opposed to EPDM roofs.
Besides, plastic shelters are not environmentally friendly, unlike EPDM. They are nonbiodegradable hence pollute the environment upon disposal as opposed to rubber roofing which
is environmental friendly. Finally, they are vulnerable to damages therefore costly to maintain
and replace than the rubber ones. Sleeper et al. point out that in thermoplastic membrane
assemblies, "the seams and flashing may be vulnerable to defects in workmanship, thus
representing a primary weakness of the system." (Sleeper et al., 2007, p. 237). This position
concurs with Barrow's point that plastic roofing is "vulnerable and can blow around, causing
damage." (Barrow, 2014).
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References
Barrow C. (2014). Environmental Change and Human Development: Controlling Nature?
Routledge
Bliss, S. (2006). Best practices guide to residential construction: Materials, finishes, and details.
Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Ingels, J. E. (2010). Ornamental horticulture: Science, operations & management. Clifton Park,
NY: Delmar/Cengage Learning.
Kraeutler, T., & Segrete, L. (2008). My home, my money pit: Your guide to every home
improvement adventure. Guilford, Conn: Knack.
Magwood, C. (2014). Making better buildings: A comparative guide to sustainable construction
for homeowners and contractors. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.
Perestrelo G. & Arezes P. (2013). Occupational Safety and Hygiene. CRC Press.
Sleeper, H. R., Pressman, A., Ramsey, C. G., American Institute of Architects., & Smith Maran
Architects. (2007). Architectural graphic standards. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.
Literature Review Final Paper
(40% of your final grade)
MY MAJOR: CIVIL/ STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.
Assignment: Identify a current discussion within the academic discipline of your major,
use research to gain expertise on the issue, and then write a review of the significant
literature on this topic.
Research Question: For this assignment, Your research question is not a thesis
statement; it is an open-ended question that you do not know the answer to. For example:
What are the benefits and drawbacks of using
waterproofed rubber versus plastic in roofs?
MY RESEARCH QUESTION:
Focused Research: After you have developed your research question, you will begin to
educate yourself on your topic by doing more targeted research. Through your research,
try to identify the most significant writing and research done on the topic of your research
question.
Literature Review: After you identify the significant writing and research, you
will synthesize your findings into a literature review. The purpose of this
literature review is to familiarize your reader with all the most significant
research done on your research question. For this paper, your reader is a thirdyear college student outside your major.
Your paper: Your paper will give a brief, general background of your research question,
including as much context as is necessary for your reader to understand it. It will then
give an overview of the literature you have researched, including quotes from the
original sources. (In this section, you will use your skills in Rhetorical Analysis.) Finally,
your paper will conclude with a section where you synthesizeyour findings into a
broad overview of the topic in your own words. The structure of this section should
be organized logically based on your findings.
Details: Your final paper is a standard, academic essay with an introduction, body
paragraphs, and a conclusion; is a minimum of 1500 words; includes appropriate intext and bibliographic citations, in MLA, APA or a citation style that is appropriate to
your major; cites at least six credible sources (WHICH ARE WRITTEN BY
EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD); as a Word Document in Times New Roman, 12-point
font, double spaced, with page numbers and your name and the class section on the first
page.
Grading:
Followed Assignment Prompt 20% Did you follow the assignment? Did you discuss a
current discussion in your field? Did you use at least six credible sources? Did you quote
at least once from each of your sources? Did you include an introduction and conclusion,
background info., a synthesis section, and citations?
Research 20% Are your six sources credible—written by experts in the field, include
evidence or data, and appear in credible publications/websites free from bias? Are your
sources good representations of the discussion in your field? Did you read your sources
closely and rhetorically, and represent the authors’ arguments fairly?
Synthesis 20% Does your paper include a synthesis section? Does it refer to each of
your sources at least once? Does it evaluate, compare, and contrast your sources in
several different ways? Does it describe relationships between your sources?
Quotations/Paraphrase 20% Do you quote from your sources? Do you select useful
quotations that fairly represent the primary arguments and points of the author? Are
your quotations integrated seamlessly into the body of your paper using the I.C.E.
method? Are your quotations accurate and verbatim from the original text, and enclosed
in quotation marks?
Citations 10% Do you include correct in-text and bibliographic citations? Did you carefully
follow the rules of your academic conventions (e.g. APA, MLA) including punctuation,
italics, quotation marks, spacing, formatting (use hanging indent!) and block quotes?
Sentences, Paragraphs, Grammar, & Spelling 10% Did you put time into revising, editing,
and correcting errors? Are your sentences strong and clear? Are your paragraphs wellstructured, including topic sentences and transitions, and a summary sentence at the end
when necessary? Is your paper understandable and easy to follow?