Shrink Wrap Roof Repair
What exactly is a shrink wrap roof?
A shrink wrap roof is just as it sounds. It consists of a large plastic membrane that shrinks tightly to the contours of your roof using heat. Seams are heat-welded to create a water-tight seal over the entire roof. It is a superior alternative to blue roof tarps.
If you need an emergency roof tarp to stop water leaks, you need to consider shrink wrapping the roof as the better alternative.
Shrink Wrap Roof vs. Blue Roof Tarp
For years, the traditional material of choice to temporarily stop roof leaks has been the blue roof tarps you see dotting the rooftops of homes and buildings after a natural disaster.
And while roof tarps provide protection from water leaks, they do have some weaknesses. When you're looking for a longer-term temporary solution, a roof shrink wrap may be the best choice.
Blue roof tarps are generally attached using furring strips and nails to hold the tarps down. This creates more holes in your roof. Seams can be a mess, and tarps degrade quickly under the UV rays of the sun.
By comparison, heat shrink material is waterproof, resistant to UV rays, and can shrink to a drum-tight fit - offering better protection against pooling and subsequent strong winds.
If you've been in a disaster site area, you've probably noticed more and more shrink wrapped buildings.
Disaster Site Shrink Wrap Services
Shrink wrapping is not just for covering your roof.
In addition to your roof, sometimes other parts of the structure get ripped apart by strong winds.
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, when contractors and adjusters are working at full capacity, a temporary solution is needed.
For instance, after a hurricane you may want to wrap your building in shrink wrap until permanent hurricane damage repairs can take place.
In that case, you would have a shrink wrapped temporary roof along with sealed windows and doors.
How to Select a Shrink Wrap Contractor
While shrink wrapping is a temporary roofing solution, you don't want to take chances with an inexperienced contractor offering a cheap shrink wrap price.
It's important to get a professional roof inspection prior to shrink wrapping to document roof damage. You also want to select a roofing company with experience shrink wrapping multiple types of properties.
Look for a roofing contractor with the following qualifications:
- Is licensed, bonded, and insured
- Experience installing emergency roof shrink wrap on multiple projects
- Experience installing the permanent roof solution your property will require
- Experience managing staged roofing projects that may require parallel tear-off and installation
- Experience working with insurance companies on damage claims
An experienced roofing contractor can help you avoid leaks and major problems and provide a roofing systems that lasts for decades.
Shrink Wrap Roofing FAQs
What types of roofs can be shrink wrapped?
Shrink wrap can be used on nearly any type of roof. Shrink wrap works great on commercial and residential properties. Roof types includes: flat roofs, sloped roofs, asphalt shingle, shake shingle, tile, TPO, metal, EPDM, BUR & others. Common property types include: homes, apartments, resorts, retail, condos, churches, restaurants, office buidings, industrial spaces & others.
How long does a shrink wrap roof last?
A shrink wrap roof tarp is a temporary solution to prevent water leaks, while you are waiting for your roofer to install a permanent roof. In areas hit by a major disaster, sometimes roofers are backed up for several weeks or months. Some shrink wrap roofs are guaranteed for a year or longer, up to certain wind speeds. Check with your project manager.
What material is used for a shrink wrap roof?
Shrink wrap for roofs have been specifically engineered for the application. Roof shrink wrap material is a fire-resistant LDPE plastic material that comes on rolls for easy handling. Shrink wrap film is a thick mil material, that when subjected to heat shrinks in all directions, giving the roof a taught membrane.
How are seams handled on a shrink wrap roof?
Seams are heat-welded to create a continuously bonded membrane over the roof.
How much does it cost to shrink wrap a roof?
A ballpark cost for an installed shrink wrap roof would be $3.50 to $6.00 per square foot. Keep in mind this would be a rough estimate, and project costs can vary. There are several factors that go into shrink wrap roofing costs. Those cost factors include:
- Job location & site access
- Size & height of building
- Shape and slope of roof
- Number of penetrations like vents, HVAC, etc.
- Mil thickness of shrink wrap material (when considering how long it needs to last before permanent repairs can be made)
What type of maintenance should be done on my slate roof?
Routine slate roof maintenance usually involves clearing away moss growths and debris accumulations.
If cracks in the slate roof are identified, they should be immediately replaced before moisture seeps into the roof deck and weakens the rafters.