White Roof

Protecting Your Duro-Last Roofing Investment

A simple and basic roof maintenance program will help protect your Duro-Last roofing investment by eliminating many costly repairs as well as potential damages to your building.  You have purchased a strong and long-lasting roofing system, but some general routine maintenance is required to protect your investment.

If a leak should appear, you should do the following: Call Duro-Last immediately at 800-248-0280.

Duro-Last must be notified in writing within 30 days in order to meet the terms and conditions of the warranty. Caution should be taken when reporting leaks, as the Duro-Last warranty does not provide for leak investigations of claims not attributable to Duro-Last or not covered by the warranty terms.
You should inspect the leak area to verify that the cause of the leak is indeed covered by the Duro-Last warranty.  If an authorized contractor or Duro-Last representative is sent to investigate a leak and finds the leak is due to a cause not covered by the Duro-Last warranty, you will (as with all manufacturers) be invoiced for the cost of the investigation by the contractor or Duro-Last.

Even if a problem is reported to an authorized Duro-Last contractor, it must also be reported directly to Duro-Last as well.

If emergency repairs are required, the building owner should take immediate action to prevent entry of water into the roofing system and building interior.  The building owner must still notify Duro-Last of the repair no later than the next working day.  Emergency repairs must be reasonably controlled in the judgment of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. to have not significantly increased the scope of necessary permanent repairs.
Why Regular Inspections and Maintenance?

Roofs are constantly under attack by weather, structural movement, and stresses as well as chemicals present in the atmosphere.  While normal aging will occur on all roofs, small problems stemming from neglect, abuse, contamination, error or accident can result in costly repairs or premature failure of the roofing system, if not detected.  A regular program of inspection and repairs will help detect minor problems before they become serious, avoiding interruptions of the internal functions within the building, and most importantly, protecting the owner's investment by adding years to the life of the roof.

Setting up a Maintenance Program

A maintenance program has two areas of responsibility.

SCHEDULING ROOF INSPECTIONS.  At least two inspections should be made every year.  Ideally, inspections should take place in the spring to check on damage that may have occurred in the winter, so repairs can be scheduled during the fair weather, summer months.  The second inspection should be in the fall to be sure that the roof is in good condition for the upcoming winter months.  Inspection should also be made after any other occurrences that might affect the roof.  (Example: storms, construction activities, fires, etc.)

CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS.  All components of the roofing system should be closely inspected and a record made of any signs of deterioration, unusual traffic patterns, poor drainage, accumulated debris, displacement or loss of ballast, or other conditions.
 
1. Sealants
The primary area of maintenance is the sealants on the roofing system.  All pitch pan fillers, caulking, and sealants must be examined during all regular inspections.  Sealants are a major item in any maintenance program due to the extreme stresses created in these areas.  Sealants are susceptible to cracking, pulling away from the walls or other surfaces, and splitting.  Sealant replacement should take place at the first sign of deterioration.  Duro-Last uses only the highest quality sealants for the Duro-Last roofing system.  Sealants must be supplied by Duro-Last.
 
2. Drainage
The roof structure should provide for positive drainage to eliminate ponding water whenever possible. Note: Duro-Last does not exclude ponding water in the Duro-Last warranty; but Duro-Last shall have no liability for any structural damage which may result from ponding water.  The weight of ponding water may deflect the decking and framing members, causing damage to the structure and the roofing system.  Proper roof drainage is a very important item in a maintenance program.  These structural issues should be addressed with your engineering and architectural advisors.
Drains should be kept clear, and any debris that may clog a drain such as tennis balls, baseballs, beverage cans, etc. should be removed during each inspection.  Every drain should have a clean "leaf" grate present to prevent clogging of the drainpipes.
A roof inspection in the late fall should also include the removal of leaves.  A clean industrial broom can be used to sweep the leaves from the drainage path(s).  Another way of removing leaves and other debris as well as observing drainage patterns and activity, is to "wash" the roof.  Washing also removes the dirt from the roof surface, which is helpful for reviewing typical membrane wear during the roof inspection.  Washing will also help maintain the Duro-Last white membrane's solar reflectivity.  When cleaning the membrane surface, use a non-sudsing, non-abrasive, powdered cleanser (Ex. "Spic-n-Span").
 
3. Parapet Walls
Parapet walls should be inspected for deteriorating copings, cracked or open mortar joints or other signs of wear and tear.  Degradation of the parapet wall can lead to water penetration into the structure, which is not only harmful to a structure, it may also cause the failure of parts of the roofing system.  Insulation, decking, framing members, and the fasteners in a mechanically-attached roofing system may all be adversely affected by moisture penetration.
 
4. Building Structure
The condition of the interior and exterior of the building structure should be visually checked during your regularly scheduled inspections.  Defects within a structure can affect the roofing system because of the interactions between the structure and the roofing system.
Building Structure: Interior
If a drop ceiling is present, the interior can be viewed by removing ceiling tiles.  The walls should be viewed for settling, cracking or movement.  The decking should not be rusted (if metal) or deteriorating (if wood).  Any water stains that become evident after the installation of the Duro-Last roofing system will require research to determine the entry point of the water/moisture.  A concrete deck should be checked for spalling, cracking and/or distortion of the deck to reveal possible structural defects.  Any or all of these items can affect the roofing system because of the stresses revealed.  Contact Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. for an evaluation when encountering any of these items.

5. Building Structure: Exterior
The exterior of the structure should be inspected for open mortar joints, poor laps in siding, concrete spalling, loose fascia or general degradation.  Any of these items will allow water and moisture penetration, which may affect the longevity of the roofing system, and the structure itself.  New water stains on exterior walls may indicate that the coping or other terminations are leaking.
 
6. Roof Tie-Ins
Tie-in areas should be thoroughly inspected for any sign of failure.  Tie-ins have different materials in contact, which may create an area of stress.  The sealants and other items in these areas should be reviewed for cracking, splitting or gaps.  Degradation of the other roofing system may have direct impact on the performance of the Duro-Last roofing system.  Any questions regarding the life of a tie-in should be directed to Duro-Last for warranty considerations.
 
6. Air Conditioning Units
Care must be taken to insure that any small, sharp debris is removed from the roof.  Check around air conditioning equipment, other penetrations and elevation changes, and areas of access.  Air conditioners should be checked to insure that the access panels are properly fastened in place, and that the drainage lines are functioning properly.  Clogged drain lines and missing panels are items that create leakage into the structure.
 
7. Ballast
If a ballasted system has been installed, make sure the ballast is evenly distributed.  Extreme care should be taken when inspecting the ballast, reviewing the corners, perimeter, and around penetrations for bare spots due to the increased wind effects in these areas.  The ballast should be redistributed, taking care to not damage the membrane.  If your inspections reveal that the ballast is being moved repeatedly, it may be necessary to place an interlocking paver system in these areas.  The even distribution of ballast can have a direct correlation to the longevity of a roofing system.
 
8. Good Housekeeping
The final area of inspection is the general appearance of the roof and the surface conditions of the membrane.  General appearance is primarily a function of housekeeping.  Debris, poor drainage or ponding water can directly affect the roofing system.  An effective maintenance program will address these items and prevent damages to the roofing system.

Learn about the Duro-Last Roofing System

The Duro-Last vinyl roof membrane is a proprietary thermoplastic formulation consisting of PVC resins, plasticizers, stabilizers, biocides, flame retardants and U.V. absorbents. A weft-insertion knitted scrim that is laminated between two layers of PVC film gives the membrane its strength and durability. The Duro-Last membrane is available in white, tan or gray.

Duro-Last has met or exceeded all major fire and wind code requirements, and regional approvals as necessary throughout the country. These certifications reinforce Duro-Last's
leadership in providing the consistent, watertight integrity that building owners expect.

Duro-Last has been approved by Factory Mutual as a 1-60,1-75, 1-90, 1-95, 1-105, 1-135, 1-150, 1-165, 1-195, 1-210, 1-270, 1-435, and 1-495 roofing system. Duro-Last is also listed by Underwriters Laboratories as a Class A, B, & C approved material. Evaluation services ICBO and NES have merged to form ICC-ES, which has evaluated Duro-Last for the International Building Code (IBC). The Duro-Last roofing system has been approved by the IBC and by code agency MIAMI-DADE for use in their respective jurisdictions.

Duro-Last is proud to be a charter partner of the ENERGY STAR® Roof Products Program. The ENERGY STAR label indicates to building owners and managers that the Duro-Last white vinyl roof membrane can save them money on cooling costs due to its high reflectivity (reflects 88% of the sun's energy). Duro-Last is also a charter member of the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) and a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Duro-Last participates in all major technical committees in the roofing industry, plus the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM).

Duro-Last Roofing Warranties

We're proud to say that Duro-Last's warranties are the best in the industry. Here's why:

The Duro-Last 15-year commercial warranty comes straight from the company that has manufactured over a billion square feet of roofing membrane since 1978. And our warranty is in addition to any warranty your roofing contractor may provide.
With a Duro-Last roof, you pay nothing for material or labor for warranted repairs or replacement.
Duro-Last protects the commercial and industrial building owner with either a 15-year full warranty or a 20-year prorated warranty. Both warranties are transferable, and both provide maximum protection. Our standard warranty includes coverage for consequential damages that result from defects in the Duro-Last material and/or installation.
Here's the best part about your new Duro-Last roof: the warranty is included at no additional charge.
The Duro-Last warranty does not require your costly investment in a maintenance program, but regular common-sense attention to building maintenance just adds to your Duro-Last roof investment.

Energy efficient Roof

Rooftop reflectivity has received substantial attention during 2009, perhaps most notably in Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s remarks recommending that the world’s roofs be painted white. The upshot is that a roofing material’s ability to reflect solar energy has environmental implications, including its contribution to (or mitigation of) the urban heat island effect and impact on emerging carbon markets, among others. In fact, a roofing system’s energy efficiency is really determined by a couple of interrelated attributes.

Reflectivity (technically, albedo) is the percentage of solar energy reflected by a surface. The higher the reflectance value, the more solar energy that will be reflected from the surface.

Emissivity is the measure of how effectively a material sheds the heat it has absorbed. Materials with a high emissivity value may absorb energy easily, but they also radiate large amounts of it back into the atmosphere.

Roofing systems that provide both high reflectivity and emissivity are most likely to have a significant impact on a building’s energy cost. Some systems can reduce a building’s energy consumption by up to 40%.

The solar reflectance index (SRI) is a tool that evaluates reflectivity, emissivity, and other factors to determine a roof’s overall ability to reject solar heat. Its calculation is defines by ASTM E 1980-01 and is based on a formula that includes values for solar absorptance, solar flux, emissivity, the Stefan Boltxman constant, and other coefficients.

Standard black (reflectivity 5%, emissivity 90%) has an index of 0, and standard white (reflectivity 80%, emissivity 90%) has an index of 100. Very “hot” materials can actually have negative values and very “cool” materials can have values greater than 100. Materials with the highest SRIs are the coolest choices for roofing.

The Duro-Last Cool Zone® roofing system, a PVC membrane, has initial reflectivity and emissivity measurements of 87.5% and 95%, respectively, and a resulting SRI value of 108.

Here are the SRIs of some other roofing materials as measured by Lawrence Berkeley Labs and the Florida Solar Energy Center: