SPRA launches Homeowner Guide to Single Ply Roofing

- guide provides tips and guidance for homeowners seeking durable, low carbon impact roofing solution -

25 July 2016 - Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA), the trade association for this exciting technology, has published a new Homeowner Guide for Single Ply Roofing to raise awareness and provide helpful guidance to homeowners seeking a durable roofing solution with low environmental impact for their home renovation or construction project. The guide provides concise help on design; materials; choosing a manufacturer and contractor; insurance and durability. There are also useful checklists for key stages such as obtaining quotations.

As the number of homeowners in the UK opting to renovate their properties, rather than move home, continues to grow, the search is on to find construction solutions that have low environmental impact, but that are both durable and more cost effective. Nowhere is this more evident than in the roofing sector, where single ply roofing has experienced rapid growth in recent years due to its versatility, durability and low environmental properties in comparison to other types of membrane waterproofing.

“Single ply roofing membranes can be used on all kinds of roof shapes from flat to pitched as well as curved and spherical, so it’s suited to almost any design challenge. While it's been it’s been widely used in commercial building in the UK since the 1970’s, it’s still relatively new in the domestic market, but people are beginning to recognise the merits that such a solution bring,” explains Jim Hooker, Technical Director, SPRA. “At SPRA, our role is to maintain the highest standard of products and installation, and the Homeowners Guide is designed to do exactly this by providing information about the whole process, from selection through to application and maintenance, so that the best possible results are achieved on any given renovation or improvement project.”

Single ply roofing has many benefits over other roofing membranes including:

• It’s easy to install;
• It doesn’t require a naked flame, so it’s also safer;
• It’s available in a variety of colours;
• All single polymeric materials offered by SPRA members are resistant to weathering, chemical oxidation and UV radiation. Careful formulation ensures that physical properties are retained over a temperature range exceeding –300C to +800C to suit the variable climate typical of the UK;
• The materials used are extremely durable and all SPRA members’ products are independently certificated for durability in the range 25-40 years as opposed to other types of membrane waterproofing, that is typically 25 years;
• Single ply membrane receives the best rating for environmental impact (A+) in the BRE ‘Green Guide’ if used on timber panel decks, many of the products are recyclable and because the membranes are laid in a single layer, they are very efficient in the use of resources.

The Homeowners Guide to single ply roofing is now available as a free download from the SPRA website: http://www.spra.co.uk/technical/housing

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Contact: louise.burke@thrivestudios.co.uk

Notes to editors:

About Single Ply Roofing Association :

Established in 1978 the Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA) is the industry’s UK trade association and is focused on promoting single ply roofing systems as roofing of choice and ensuring the highest standards of products and application to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. Its membership is made up of roofing contractors, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers and as such promotes employment and training opportunities and the export of its members’ products and services. SPRA provides help and guidance to all users and specifiers of single ply roofing systems in addition to co-operating with other trade bodies for the purpose of improving the UK roofing industry.