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Torchdown
Often referred to as “single-ply” roofing, torchdown roofing is a flame activated bitumen-backed membrane installed over a fiberglass base sheet. The development of this product style has effectively pushed the “hot tar” roof systems out of use in the residential roofing industry. Its development allowed “pitched roof” contractors to compete for low-pitch or flat-roof installation without incurring the high cost of tar kettles or the equipment needed to get the tar to the roof. Torchdown is available in smooth and granulated styles and can be installed as a single-ply or dual-ply system. Although not technically a “torchdown” product, the self-adhering membranes are also sold in this product category. Some of the torchdown systems available are listed below:
|
Style |
UV |
Manufacturer's Warranty (Years) |
Functional Life |
|
Single-Ply, Smooth |
Required |
10 |
10 |
|
Single-Ply, Granulated |
Not required |
10 |
10 |
|
Dual-Ply, Self-Adhered |
Not required |
10 |
10 - 15 |
|
Dual-Ply, Granulated |
Not required |
20 |
15 - 20 |
Pros
- Ease of installation
- Low cost
- Low maintenance on granulated surface application
Below are links to several manufacturers’ sites. Remember that manufacturers’ web sites are designed to promote their products and will generally provide you with only positive product information.
You can count on Seattle Roof Advisor to provide unbiased advice.
Cons
- Open flame on roof
- Ponding water limitations
- Potential seam failure
- High maintenance on smooth surface application
- Limited life expectancy
Torchdown’s early advantage over BUR in the area of required equipment has been overcome by the increased cost of insurance and the added liability exposure associated with having an open flame on the roof. A large percentage of low-pitched/flat roofing contractors have chosen not to buy the added insurance. This has resulted in a limited number of bidders on this type of installation.
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