​​​The Advantages of Cover Boards

As the popularity of single-ply roofs has increased over the last quarter of the 20th century, the demand for cover boards has been on the decline. Because of this, much of the advancements made in this area went virtually unnoticed.

More recently, many advantages of using cover boards have come to light and have helped increase their use. This is understandable when you look at all of the benefits that they can bring:

  -  They help with insulation.  When they are installed over underlying insulation with staggered joints, thermal loss around the insulation is reduced.

  -  They help with recycling.  Although the cover board itself may be hard to recycle, it will preserve the insulation under it. This allows for the insulation to be reused on new roofs.

  -  They help you get a full return out of your insulation investment. Cover boards help protect insulation from crushing and other damage that could affect the energy efficiency. Due to building codes requiring an R-value of up to 35, insulation can be a substantial investment.

  -  They protect from premature roof failure. Many roofs don’t wear out because of roof failure. Cover boards protect from many of the causes of premature failure from foot traffic, high winds, hail, etc.

  -  Roof systems using cover boards tend to have higher wind and fire ratings. This also can extend the service life of the roof.

Not only are there many advantages to cover boards, but there are also a plethora of options for cover boards and just as many different thicknesses to choose from. You can purchase everything from moisture resistant gypsum to high-density mineral wool products.

All things considered, cover boards can be a very energy efficient, sustainable, and much more resistant to wear and tear. It can be a great way to ensure a return on your roofing investment.