EPDM – A single-ply synthetic rubber roofing membrane made of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, mixed with carbon black, oils, curing agents and processing aids. It is calendared into large sheets and vulcanized. Due to its composition, EPDM offers unmatched resistance to ozone, UV radiation, high and low temperature extremes.

TPO – Thermoplastic single-ply roofing membranes are among the fastest growing commercial roofing products and have gained broad industry acceptance for their many performance and installation advantages. As demand increases for heat-reflective and energy efficient roofing systems, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply roofing membranes continue to provide exceptional resistance to ultraviolet, ozone, and chemical exposure.

LEED – The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Green Building Rating System developed the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) provides a suite of standards for the environmentally sustainable design, construction and operation of buildings and neighborhoods.

Modified Bitumen Roof – A roof covering that is typically composed of a factory-fabricated composite sheet consisting of a copolymer-modified bitumen, often reinforced with polyester and/or fiberglass, and installed in one or more plies. The membrane is commonly surfaced with field-applied coatings, factory-applied granules or metal foil. The roofing system may incorporate rigid insulation.

Cedar Shakes/Shingles – A shake is a decorative wooden shingle that is made from split logs. In North America shakes are typically made from Western Red cedar. There are various types of shakes, the main differentiating feature between shakes and wood shingles is that shakes are split while most shingles are sawn on all sides. It’s typically used in residential roofing.

Vegetative Roofs– A vegetative roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. (The use of “green” refers to the growing trend of environmentally friendly) Also known as “living roofs”, green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower urban air temperatures and combat the heat island effect. There are two types of green roofs: intensive roofs, which are thicker and can support a wider variety of plants but are heavier and require more maintenance, and extensive roofs, which are covered in a light layer of vegetation and are lighter than an intensive green roof.

The term green roof may also be used to indicate roofs that use some form of “green” technology, such as a cool roof, a roof with solar thermal collectors or photovoltaic modules. Green roofs are also referred to as eco-roofs, vegetated roofs and living roofs.

Daylighting Systems – Or – Skylight Systems – Roof opening covered with translucent or transparent glass or plastic designed to admit daylight. Skylights have found wide application admitting steady, even light in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, especially those with a northern orientation. Installations range from purely functional daylighting to elaborate aesthetic forms. Flat-roofed buildings may have domed skylights; in others the skylight follows the slope of the roof. Often the skylight, or a portion of it, functions as an operating window to admit air.

Asphalt/Composition Shingles – Singles manufactured from saturated roofing felts (rag, asbestos, or fiber glass) coated with asphalt and having mineral granules on the side exposed to the weather.

Sheet Metal Roofing – The standing seam metal roof is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in roofing technology in the last 25 years. It fulfills the building owner’s need for durable, puncture-resistant protection against the weather while working in concert with the forces of nature. Commercial metal roofing makes it possible to create large, flat roofs for businesses.

Metal roofing has an established track record in new construction, where it has been used in some 50 percent of all low-rise commercial and industrial buildings erected in the last several years. This acceptance has carried over to the re-roofing market, where standing seam metal roofs have been used successfully as a replacement for built up roofing and single ply systems. Leading applications for standing seam metal roofs in the retrofit market are schools, factories, warehouses, distribution centers and military facilities.

Stone ballast removal – Stone ballast such as loose gravel is commonly used to weigh down a membrane roof, protect it from direct sunlight and prevent it from being lifted or damaged by strong winds or rains. Today, removal of stone ballast is commonly achieved with powerful truck-mounted vacuums that are able to quickly suck up and store large quantities of stone or gravel.