Recognising that 2013 is going to be another tough year for the construction sector, Trade Fabrication Systems (TFS) is utilising the company’s heritage and existing relationships with timber board manufacturers to develop new OSB coatings that solve a variety of issues for the roofing sector.
The UK’s increasingly unpredictable weather can cause real problems for the roofing sector. With the majority of flat roofing structures in the UK made from timber joists and decking, contractors are often at the mercy of weather windows when replacing a roof.
Temporary roofing covers are often used to try to avoid damage to the fabric of the building while it is exposed to the elements. They are necessary to protect both the inside of the building and the roof decking but they are neither reliable nor 100% weatherproof.
Identifying this as a real issue for the roof sector, TFS predicts that demand for building products that guarantee a structure is weather-tight as quickly as possible will remain high.
In response TFS has redeveloped a precoated roofing board that was first introduced by TFS founder Jean Richardson’s father, Stan Richardson, in the late 1970s. The board is extremely popular with roofing contractors and Stan sold in excess of 500,000 boards per year in the time leading up to the mid-1980s. The core board product at the time was chipboard (typically standard grade), which was not forgiving in terms of incorrect installation and, following bad press due to roof failures, demand fell and manufacture ceased.
The original product consisted of liquid bitumen and sand, factory applied to chipboard, which TFS has brought up to date with a more technically advanced version consisting of a specifically formulated exterior resin coating.
Available today via Norbord, RoofDek features a fully waterproof film applied to the coating, resulting in a much more robust solution. RoofDek is clean to use and can be installed easily using appropriate galvanised fixings, in all weathers. Best practice dictates that self-adhesive joint tape is used to provide complete weather resistance.
Helping to speed up build programmes and reduce labour costs, RoofDek provides the contractor with a roof decking platform which, when correctly installed, is 100% weatherproof and watertight.
It can provide temporary protection to the internal fabric of the structure while awaiting the final membrane or felt installation, removing the need for temporary roofing cover.
To apply the final roofing finish, RoofDek’s release film can be left in situ and simply blowtorched with the felt applied direct to the surface. Alternatively RoofDek’s release film can be removed and self-adhesive roof felt applied to the wax surface.
By updating a previously popular roofing product, TFS can help contractors to deliver projects cost-effectively, on schedule and without being reliant on the UK weather.
