Compare Other Solutions
On this page you can compare the advantages & disadvantages of other roofing products against Sarnafil Roof Assured.
Felt Roofing
Comes in different grades:
Glassfiber based, BS747 type 3. Better than shed felt but easily ripped.
Green mineral surfaced torch-on modified with a plastic additive. Stronger than the type 3 felt but is still cheap to buy, applied with a gas flame torch.
Polyester based, modified with a rubber additive - these are usually better quality felts installed by approved companies, expensive so not often used for domestic work. Only the most expensive have any BBA certificate.
Advantages
- Cheap materials
- Easily obtainable
- DIY or unspecialized labour
Disadvantages
- No BBA certification
- Thermoplastic construction - effected by hot and cold weather conditions
- Not a system
- Guarantee on product only
- Upstands are vulnerable
- Edge details are vulnerable
- Product dimensionally unstable
- Lifespan - longevity
- Maintenance inspection every 6 months in accordance with BS6229, section 27
- No single point of responsibility
- Cannot spot different manufacturers materials - may be mixed on the roof
- No quality control on system
- No quality control on installation
- Vegetation growth on roof
- Existing problems will still apply
- Damaged by sunlight
GRP - Glass Reinforced Plastic
Usually made from glass fiber matting and liquid resins 'made' on site by painting or rolling onto a new plywood deck. Not used for substantial commercial projects due to high failure rate.
Common brands are Polyroof, Topseal, Tuffdec, The Flat Roof Company, Danelaw Dryseal and Roofdeck.
Advantages
- Strong (tuff)
- Looks good if properly fitted
- Has no joints
- Some are BBA certified
- Could be DIY or unspecialised labour
Disadvantages
- Flammable
- Inflexible - does not cope well with building movement
- Toxic
- Smelly
- Requires a completely new roof deck
- Hairline cracks
- Failures are difficult to pick up
- Manufacturing on site in inclement weather
- Liquid applied - no consistency in roof thickness
- High failure rate
- Moisture gets between layers during build up, which inevitably causes roof breakdown
- De-laminates
- Osmosis, top coat can become porous
- Can only be laid between 5 - 25 degrees
- Not a system
- Guarantee on product only
- Can only be laid in ideal weather conditions
- Product dimensionally unstable
- Damaged by sunlight
- Poor elongation
EPDM - Single Layer Membrane
Also known as butyl, a synthetic rubber used mostly as a pond liner. It is stretched onto the roof and pinned with aluminium strips at edges and upstands.
Advantages
- Easy to fit
- Easily available
- No heat required
- DIY or unspecialized labour
Disadvantages
- Failures and holes are difficult to find
- Easily punctured
- Joints vulnerable when sealed on site
- Quality of solvent joints is effected by site conditions
- Not a complete system
- Product guarantee is limited
- Upstands are vulnerable
- Edge details are vulnerable
- Susceptible to damage if walked on
- Poor fire rating
- Fully adhered fixing is often problematic
- Operative training is limited
- Usually low UV resistance
Sarnafil Roof Assured
Advantages
- BBA certified for 30 years (unique)
- Looks good
- Vapour permeable
- Designed to do the job
- Welded joints
- UV protected
- Fitted only by registered and certified installers
- First NVQ training assessment centre for single ply roofs in UK (unique)
- Product and installation guarantee (unique)
- Consequential loss guarantee (unique)
- Total 5 Point System (unique)
- Install in most weather conditions (unique)
- National support from manufacturers own Field Technicians (unique)
- Effectively dimensionally stable (unique)
- UK based PVC roofing company (unique)
- Recyclable system (unique)
Disadvantages
- None
