Does your home have a low-sloped roof? Have you struggled with leaks, pooling water, or expensive roof repairs?
Whether it’s roof leaks or finding a roofing material that won’t break the bank during a roof replacement, a low-sloped roof can seem like a hassle to keep in good condition. Especially because South Carolina code requires that low-sloped roofs have special roof coverings over them.
Homeowners with a low-sloped roof often face unique challenges, as low-sloped roofs are susceptible to pooling water and leaking. Which can be expensive to repair.
So, if your low-slope roof is at risk, how can you protect your home while keeping costs manageable?
If you have a low-sloped roof on your house, you’ll likely have a higher priced roof replacement than a more traditionally sloped roof. But there are options for you. After four decades of helping homeowners avoid costly roofing failures, we’ve found that one material consistently outperforms the rest: GAF Liberty SBS Self-Adhered roofing. Not only does it cost less than flat roof materials like TPO or EPDM, it also effectively moves water from rainfall or snow off your roof quickly, helping avoid leaks or water pooling that can damage the integrity of your home.
So, today we’ll tell you everything you need to know about GAF Liberty SBS Self-Adhering roofing. This way you can decide if this product is right for your low-sloped roof!
Let’s start with talking about what GAF Liberty SBS Self-Adhering roofing is.
What is GAF Liberty SBS Self-Adhered Roofing?
The Liberty SBS roofing material is a GAF product designed to cover low pitch areas of a roof. This two-ply flat roofing solution is a self-adhering material designed to help roofs under a 2:12 pitch shed water during rainfall. SBS stands for styrene-butadiene-styrene, which is a thermoplastic elastomer that has a similar elasticity to rubber. This roofing material is reinforced with a fiberglass mat coated in polymer-modified asphalt.
You’ll commonly see Liberty SBS self-adhering material on areas of your roof that overhang, on garages, in dead valleys, and over porches. Unlike traditional flat roofing, which can require heat-welding or tar applications, GAF offers a peel and stick roofing solution in their Liberty SBS Self-Adhering roofing product.
While traditional shingles offer a dimensional look, this roofing material appears flat. Offering a clean finished look without the hassle, price, and potential maintenance requirements of traditional flat roofing materials.
What Makes GAF Liberty SBS Self-Adhering Roofing Different From Shingles?
Sometimes homeowners ask “Why won’t you just install asphalt shingles?”
To prevent leaks and other pesky roofing issues in the near future, low-sloped roofs need to be treated differently than standard roofs. A low-sloped roof is any roof with a slope of less than 2 inches of rise for every 12 inches of horizontal distance. The slope is a measure of how steep a roof is, calculated by comparing how much it rises vertically to how far it extends horizontally.
This roof pitch is not ideal for water-shedding. Traditional asphalt shingles are not waterproof, but rather designed to help shed water down and off of your roof. Low-sloped roofs or areas on your roof slow down that process. When you apply regular shingles to a low-sloped roof the grooves in the shingles will slow down the process even further, leaving the possibility for leaks.
On the contrary, GAF Liberty SBS self-adhering roof material is smooth and designed to help low-sloped areas shed water much more efficiently than traditional shingles. And while you can opt for traditional flat roofing material on a low-sloped roof, it tends to cost much more than GAF Liberty.
There are a number of features that differentiate GAF’s Liberty SBS Self-Adhering roof from traditional flat roofs like TPO or EPDM.
These include:
- Self-Adhering Installation: GAF Liberty SBS self-adhering material has a peel & stick application, making the installation process quicker and without the use of heat.
- Two-Ply Protection: The system is designed in two parts, the base layer and a reinforced top sheet, offering better durability and resistance to tearing. This quality is particularly useful for homeowners who may have overhanging trees on their property.
- Enhanced Resistance: The material is often compared to ice-and-water shield but is designed to be even more durable against water pooling and physical damage. Not only that, but ice-and-water shield is not designed to be exposed to UV light for long periods of time.
The system is particularly suitable for homeowners dealing with common problems on low-slope areas of their roof, where water tends to pool rather than shed off easily.
The Benefits of GAF Liberty SBS for Homeowners with Low-Sloped Roofs
To keep your home free of roof leaks, it’s best practice to treat low-sloped areas with extra care. And while this includes a higher upfront cost than traditional asphalt shingles, choosing a material like GAF Liberty SBS can save you money in repairs over the life of your roof. Beyond that there are Here are some benefits homeowners can expect from installing GAF Liberty SBS self-adhering roof materials on low-sloped areas:
- Lower Labor Costs: In comparison to TPO and EPDM flat roofing materials, GAF’s Liberty SBS Self-Adhering material requires less equipment, which not only saves time but also keeps the price point lower.
- Durability: Similar to the average roof, Liberty SBS roofs last between 15-20 years. And while that is comparable to other flat roof systems like TPO and EPDM, Liberty SBS is less prone to tearing and easier to maintain.
- Cost Efficiency: Although Liberty SBS is more expensive than traditional shingles, it is often cheaper than TPO or EPDM flat roof materials because of reduced labor and maintenance costs.
- Warranties: Because Liberty SBS is a GAF product, it can be bundled into GAF’s roofing warranty packages when it’s installed with other GAF materials. These warranties cover both workmanship and material defects.
In the Myrtle Beach area, we typically find that homes needing GAF Liberty SBS don’t require it for the entire roof. Instead, it’s most commonly used for specific areas like carports or patios. In these cases, the average cost ranges from $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the size of the area being covered. However, this price can vary based on several factors, including the size of the project, the number of stories on your home, and the delivery method for roofing materials.
When Should You Have GAF Liberty SBS Installed on Your Roof?
The most ideal time to install GAF Liberty SBS is during a full roof replacement. This allows for a more seamless installation process since the material integrates with other GAF roofing components, like starter strips and drip edge. However, there are scenarios where you should have GAF Liberty SBS installed on your roof right away.
These scenarios include:
- Active leaking, or staining on your ceiling: if you have an active leak or other issues, it’s important to have this material installed right away to prevent further damage, whether or not you’re having your entire roof replaced.
- If low-sloped areas on your roof are currently covered by traditional asphalt shingles: if you currently have low-sloped areas on your roof that are covered by traditional asphalt shingles, it’s important to have GAF Liberty SBS installed as soon as possible to ensure your roof is up to code.
Knowing when you replace your roof can save you money in the long run on costly repairs or worse – interior damage. If you’ve found that you need to have your low-sloped roof replaced right away, you be wondering “is GAF Liberty SBS right for my home?”
Is GAF Liberty SBS Self-Adhering Roofing Right for Your Home?
Many homeowners find themselves at a loss when their roof starts failing. Not only that, but homeowners can struggle with the fact that the low-sloped structure of their roof requires them to invest in a more costly new roof than they may have thought. Often hoping a roofer will just install shingles and call it a day.
The truth is that to have a strong low-sloped roof that will last many years, there’s no cheap solution. But GAF offers a more reasonably priced option in the Liberty SBS self-adhering roof material. If you’re not sure you’re ready to pay this higher cost, there are ways available to pay less for your roof. Not only that, but financing options may help you cover the cost and get a new roof that will last.
When it comes to low-sloped roofing, it’s important to find a contractor you can trust [link 9 best of] to avoid roofers that may provide a lower cost option like traditional asphalt shingles. This will help you avoid costly repairs in the future and secure your peace of mind.
When it comes to low-sloped roofing, it’s important to find a contractor you can trust [link 9 best of] to avoid roofers that may provide a lower cost option like traditional asphalt shingles. This will help you avoid costly repairs in the future and secure your peace of mind.
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