Alternatives to Sarnafil roof covering

[freddiemercurystwin]

Thats odd, I've spec'd it and used it on many a building for years and have never had problem. It also consistently comes out cheaper than the other single ply manufacturers. Funnily enough we've just use Derbigum on a roof which has been absoulutly rubbish, leaks a plenty which up to now have stopped the handover.

 

[mondial]

I am about to have a new flat roof fitted, approximately 40 sqr mtrs. The existing roof is asphalt, covered 18 months with felt. (a waste of money). I am now looking at either Alwitra or a one piece Firestone rubber. Can anybody make a recommendation for or against?
Thanks. Mondial

 

[TC1]

Hi Mondial
Firestone is ok if you use a good fitter - but will normally last 20 years max (thats what the BBA says see www.BBACerts.co.uk). If you like something that looks better and lasts longer then we could quote you at Fatra, bit more expensive (but normally cheaper than Alwitra), looks good and has excelent environmental performance

 

[roofer1234]

try and get here to look at a liquid plastics roofing membrane as your more likely to find someone to do a small roof area and to be honest its alot better material than any single ply or if you could get her to change it completely try and show her that a felt roof would be just as good and works better in small roof locations.

sounds like she only knows of one product probably the sales man that took out to dinner and now she tells everyone they have to have it

 

[MarkWHarrisG410]

Before passing comments I will declare my role as marketing manager for Sarnafil, and the elected Chairman of the Single Ply Roofing Association for 8 of the last 10 years.

Now that you know who I am, and my credentials for providing some impartial information, I would like to some with you.

1. Over 80% of all single ply membrane supplied in the UK come from SPRA manufacturer members, each of which has to meet the membership criteria (www.spra.co.uk). There are 9 members in total but more than 30 supply the market. SPRA sets the quality standards, I am sure you can work out why the others are not members.

2. Sarnafil roofs nearly 1 in 3 of single ply roof in the country. If it is too expensive, as suggested by an ex-employee, would that be the case?

3. Sarnafil is available in the domestic market, over 5,000 domestic roofs were installed last year (www.sarnafilroofassured.co.uk). Ask the others if they have a specialist domestic arm to the business or if they just send round a commercial contractor who does not understand the planning legislation affecting the home owner.

4. Lord Norman Foster, the highest profile architect in the UK and possibly the world, has specified Sarnafil for more than 20 years, including on his own apartment.

5. I especially like the claim that Fatra is more environmentally friendly, would love to see the evidence on that one. The BRE (experts in the field) give Sarnafil an A+ rating, the highest you can get. I am so confident of the products environmental I wrote an entire brochure on it, and you can get it free from www.sarnafil.co.uk

Hope this helps your considerations as to what to use, drop me a line if you want any further help. Or contact Jim Hooker at the SPRA for an even more unbiased bunch of truthful facts.

Regards

Mark Harris
Marketing Manager,
Sarnafil Ltd

 

[TC1]

Hi Mark

Not sure you can call yourself impartial after those statements!

1-The BRE do not say that Sarnafil have A+, they say that ALL single plys have, including Fatra.

2- Can he confirm that the domestic 'roofing companies' (Many used to be double glazing suppliers) are working to those same spra guidelines and buy at the same prices from Sarnafil that the big projects do?

Many manufacturers meet SPRA's criteria but prefer not to be members. Sarnafil is a good product, but so are many others in the market place and not all of them are SPRA.

 

[MarkWHarrisG410]

Tom,

I have no interest in an online argument or debate with you, I simply aimed to assist all parties with gaining knowledge from which they can make educated decisions - and avoided making negative statements about any other product in the market as I respect my competitors and would rather sell the actual merits of Sarnafil.

Good to see you now admit that Fatra is not more 'environmentally friendly' than Sarnafil by the way.

For the record. I lead changes to the SPRA membership criteria for membrane manufacturers to ensure Sarnafil did not breach any of the rules when Roof Assured was acquired 100% by Sarnafil.

All Roof Assured installers are trained in the same way as commercial contractors - 4 days in Norwich with back up support on site ongoing. Most Installers are professional Home Improvement companies, who understand the domestic market and the consumers needs. We teach them to become professional high quality roofers - successfully. The consumer gets a great roof and an insurance backed guarantee covering the deposit, materials, design and workmanship free of charge. They can also get their fascia's, gutters, windows, doors, conservatory etc completed at the same time if they want, all from the same professional consumer focused company.

No Roof Assured Installers do not buy at the same prices the commercial contractors do for large projects, but they do buy at the same prices as commercial contractors for many smaller projects. Do you give rebates to every customer in the same way you do for your large customers?

If anyone has any specific questions I am happy to answer them or help them find the information they want - [email protected] (Tom, that's the Sika that bought Sarnafil in 2006, not Trocal who Sika also own - just so you can get the facts right in future )

 

[str]

Hi Mondial
Firestone is ok if you use a good fitter - but will normally last 20 years max (thats what the BBA says see www.BBACerts.co.uk). If you like something that looks better and lasts longer then we could quote you at Fatra, bit more expensive (but normally cheaper than Alwitra), looks good and has excelent environmental performance (see www.fatra.co.uk - e-mail '[email protected] fao Tom)

don't think he ever said that Fatra was more environmentally friendly than Sarnafil, just that it was an environmentally friendly membrane

 

[MarkWHarrisG410]

Xenon, sorry to contradict you but I quote "PS - long guarantees available and its more environmentally friendly".

Mondial, don't believe the sales statements made by companies, use the BBA as they are the independent experts as TC1 suggests. Sarnafil has BBA Certification for 'in excess of 35 years' and 'in excess of 40 years' with thicker than 1.2mm membrane, maintenance etc. No other single ply membrane has more than 'in excess of 30 years'.

Your roof is exposed to everything nature can throw at it, 24/7, 365 days a year. Buying one that is proven to last will save you money in the long term, especially if like many you are not planning to move in a hurry.

If replacing more than 25% of the roof area you need to consider how to meet Building Regulations Part L, and the contractor or you need to inform Building Control of the works. You will need to meet the requirements set for a new building, usually simple to achieve by adding thermal insulation above the deck (with a vapour control layer). This will cost more but look at this as an investment too, it will save your heating bills and improve the Energy Performance Certificate in a HIPS pack when you do sell, adding value to your home or making it easier to sell.

This is not a sales pitch, its legal requirement poorly promoted - check our site (http://www.sarnafilroofassured.co.uk/building-regulations.html) for guidance. Verification of the guidance can be got from the NFRC (http://www.nfrc.co.uk) who produce a homeowner guide similar to our online guidance.

 

[Roofer]

You forgot to mention single ply is crap.

We're Sarna/Alwitra etc approved installers. Commercial, not domestic. Its cost in relation to its performance is a rip off.

I will declare my role as marketing manager for Sarnafil, and the elected Chairman of the Single Ply Roofing Association for 8 of the last 10 years.

Let's hope that MWH doesn't figure out who Xenon is otherwise he may not be a very much approved Sarna installer!

 

[TC1]

I agree that independant approvals are best, but check the small print! That Sarnafil 40 year figure is qualified by ' This could include the use of thicker membranes, specific maintenance requirements, eg maintenance coating or localised replacement or repair'.

Many roofing systems would last 40 years if you could get the client to carry out such maintenance!

Most clients are looking for a 30 year life and this is reflected by the performance of the leading single plies in the UK (not necessarily the members of SPRA) who have a 30 year BBA.

 

[MarkWHarrisG410]

TC1,

Thanks for confirming in more detail the 40 years BBA clauses I already mentioned in my previous post, I am sure everyone appreciates reading them twice!

If you feel that Fatra can match this independant statement from the BBA I know they will welcome your application. It may help you to know that I had to provide a comprehensive technical study of 40 roofs (between 10 and 38 years old) worldwide and provide samples from three 20 year old applications in the UK (which will be artificially aged for a further 20 years) before I got there - 5 years work but worth it in the end.

Good luck

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Thanks for confirming in more detail the 40 years BBA clauses I already mentioned in my previous post, I am sure everyone appreciates reading them twice!

I think you'll find most people's eyes glazed over much higher up the last page!

 

[MarkWHarrisG410]

I think you'll find most people's eyes glazed over much higher up the last page!

You definately have a point