Whether you own a commercial or industrial building or simply have a unique flat-roofed home, you may feel your roofing needs are overlooked in the popular market. Traditional asphalt shingles, clay tiles, and steel panels are often a poor choice for flat roofs, as they don't allow for adequate drainage or may be too heavy to be adequately supported. Which roofing options will help extend the lifespan of your roof while providing strength and insulation? Read on to learn about some of the best flat roofing materials.

Polyurethane roofing

When installing a flat roof, the key factors to take into consideration are light weight and drainage ability. A truly flat roof with no downward slope will develop low points where water collects, ultimately eroding whichever roofing material you choose and requiring your roof's structural beams to support this extra water weight. As a result, it's important to construct a slight incline from the edge to the center of your roof to ensure water is funneled to each of the rain gutters around the perimeter. 

Once you've constructed this slope, applying a coating of polyurethane roofing is all that is necessary to quickly create a weather-resistant, long-lasting roof coating. This coating can be sprayed on and quickly dries to a solid, rubbery surface. This coating is one of the most lightweight roofs available and naturally repels water, making it a great choice for flat roofs in regions that experience all four seasons.

Recycled rubber tiles

Although rubber may seem a heavy material for a flat roof, tiles made of recycled rubber can be as thin and nearly as lightweight as a mouse pad. Recycled rubber tires are composed of a variety of rubber products, from car and truck tires to shoe soles or even asphalt shingles or pavement. These rubber products are shredded, mixed at high heat, and molded into identical flat roofing tiles. Because the creation of these tires doesn't require any new crude oil products, they're usually available at a low cost per square foot compared to other roofing options.

Rubber roofing tiles are often processed with UV-resistant chemicals to help make them especially resistant to fading, cracking, or warping caused by the sun. They can be placed in a way to easily assist drainage into the surrounding gutters and are very water-resistant, helping them hold up to extreme temperatures and weather conditions for decades.  

For more information about these roofing options, contact a local roofing company like Taber Reliable Urethane Applicators Ltd.