Blending asphalt and reinforced materials such as polyester or fiberglass, modified bitumen systems are a fusion of traditional and modern roofing technologies. The combination of asphalt with modifiers elevates roofing durability to new levels.
They come in one-, two-, and three-ply systems and are factory manufactured to integrate the redundancy of built-up roofing with the ease of application seen in the single-ply systems. Modified membranes can also be used in conjunction with built-up roof materials to form a "hybrid" roof system. For this reason and others, they have proven to be one of the best choices for commercial and industrial buildings.
Modified Bitumen Systems come in two sub-categories: the SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene) and APP (Atactic Polypropylene) systems. The difference is in the installation mechanism. SBS systems are installed using hot asphalts or cold adhesives whereas the APP system is installed with a torch method.
Advantages include:
- These roofing materials are factory manufactured with strong quality control measures.
- Each system is well-suited to expand or contract with building movement.
- The systems can be finished with a variety of surfaces that enhance their resistance to oxidation and UV ray damage.