Help me identify this fibrous roof sheathing

September 17, 2007 4:54 PM

Help me identify this building material...

What is this?
The picture was taken in a commercial building from the inside of the ceiling. This material is not only what you see from the interior but it is also the sheathing that the torch down roofing was installed on. It seems to be about 3" - 4" thick. It was also visible on the underside of the soffits. I have a client that is looking to get this repaired or replaced but I can't figure out what this material is. She has had a few contractors out that described it to her as a "composite" and they won't touch it.

posted by Bjkokenos to home & garden (5 comments total)

It looks like fiberglass reinforced plastic ceiling panel, but I could be wrong.

Either way, it might be difficult to find exactly the same pattern/embossing.
posted by porpoise at 5:06 PM on September 17, 2007

The reason no one will touch it because of the off chance it contains asbestos. If it's disturbed it becomes a problem for whomever disturbed it in addition to the property.

If the torch down roof is attached to it you'll want to contact a roofing inspector who will likely be able to give you some info.

Worse comes to worse a hazards inspection will tell you and run tests on it.
posted by iamabot at 5:12 PM on September 17, 2007

it looks like it might be tectum, which is usually installed as an acoustical panel. There's a very specific kind of panel that looks like solidified white spaghetti that I identify as tectum. Evidently the company makes a lot of products.
posted by Shohn at 5:55 PM on September 17, 2007

Hit the phonebook under "analytical laboratories" and find one who'll let you send in a sample for asbestos testing. But really, it sounds like you need a good commercial building inspector.

I know ASHI has the highest standards of practice for residential inspectors, and many of them are also experienced with light commercial and industrial buildings, but I'm not aware of a similar association for commercial inspectors.
posted by Myself at 6:29 PM on September 17, 2007

I'd get the roof redone and put in a drop ceiling. Anything else is going to be expensive and probably not worth it.
posted by electroboy at 6:40 AM on September 18, 2007