Retrofitting Gypsum Roof Decks
While Gypsum Roof Decks are considered by the building trades as “a thing of the past,” there are still many in service today and repairs or replacements are occasionally required.
There are two types of gypsum decks still in use; poured-in-place gypsum over bulb tees and preformed gypsum planks with metal edges. Although gypsum deck materials are not readily available, other dry installed measures, such as a steel deck and Loadmaster Duraflex Mineral Board, can be applied to repair trouble areas on both types of gypsum decks.
Loadmaster offers repair materials for small areas of poured-in-place gypsum roof decks, such as 200 or 300 sq, ft. patches. For large areas, we recommend the removal of the gypsum deck and its roof covering and replacing it with a Loadmaster Composite Steel Deck with insulation and a new Single Ply or Modified Bitumen roof covering.
A Gypsum Deck Patch is required to maintain a complete roofable surface. The emptied 32” hole in the gypsum roof deck is the space between bulb tees.
A steel deck section has been trimmed to size and placed over the hole, resting on bulb tee flanges. A ½” layer of Duraflex Mineral Board is placed over the 1-1/2” steel deck and attached to the bulb tees with screws to provide a full 2” thickness, equal that of the poured gypsum. More insulation will be placed over the patch and the roof, followed by a full layer of Duraflex to complete the roof deck surface.
Insulation and Duraflex are installed over the entire roof deck surface with special fasteners to secure components to the existing gypsum deck. When finished, this roof covering will be fully bonded to the Duraflex Mineral Board and will provide code required wind uplift resistance.
For more information or assistance contact your local Loadmaster Sales Representative. Find areas served, phone numbers and email addresses in Block 10.