How Do I Stop My Roof From Leaking
When repairing a leaky roof, youll want to apply a generous amount of roofing cement to the underside of the shingle to make certain that the edge and corners are secured. Then press firmly to set. Note: Shingles will be more pliable in warm weather than when its cold, so consider that factor when resolving problems.
Why One Could Be The Best Solution
Winkler ONE is a high-performance waterproofing solution for flat roofs that encompasses all the positive features of a liquid applied roof system.
If you use the correct product, waterproofing a flat roof is very simple and it takes just few hours of application, depending the specific area that you are protecting with the liquid membrane.
It is always important to keep in mind that a high percentage of the success of any kind of waterproofing process depends on the surface preparation. Having a good, clean and strong substrate is mandatory. It is then necessary to put a lot of effort on the surface checking, cleaning and preparation.
Winkler One is currently applied all over the world, from Iceland to Australia, Canada and Dubai.
Below you can discover more about this innovative membrane that is replacing the classic bitumen membranes.
How To Waterproof Coat And Seal Concrete Roofs
Our elastomeric waterproofing rubberized coatings for concrete roofs provide unmatched flexibility and protection against the harshest conditions. Our products when combined, form a Seamless Monolithic Roof System. This will extend the life of your concrete roof, save you money and reduce your impact on the environment. Our water based coatings system has three application methods that will give you coverage based on your project needs.
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Flat Roof Decks: A Bit Different
Whats the difference between a regular roof and a flat roof, and why does it require different material? The key is in the word flat. When a roof is flat water is going to spend a lot more time in one place giving it more time to find a way underneath the roof surface and into the structure. So rather than a roofing material that simply lets water run down it, you need a roofing material that offers a completely waterproof barrier. Hence why waterproof decking is popular. As a multi-ply PVC membrane, vinyl surfaces can hold up to the rigors of continued exposure to water, heat, wind, etc.
How To Waterproof A Flat Concrete Roof
Hi,I have an old air raid shelter in my garden and at the moment I cant use it because its incredibly damp. The roof has been felted really badly by the previous owners of the house. Im interested to see if theres any other option than refelting…Ive seen stuff that you can paint directly into concrete that makes the concrete waterproof, if I took the felt off and I applied this directly to the roof is this an option? Or is felting really the only option?Also does anyone have any recommendations about painting some kind of waterproof sealant onto the brick walls and floor?Id only be using it to store garden toolsMany thanks!
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Tip #3 Regular Professional Maintenance
Time and again, we would like to emphasize the need to regularly conduct maintenance. You should schedule this at least twice a year. Apart from the usual inspections and cleaning, there are far more extensive maintenance procedures. Buildings are usually high and large which make them difficult to access especially if you are not trained to do so. Because of these reasons, you should have a commercial roofing partner to monitor and study your concrete roofing structure. You have to report all roofing-related concerns that you may have so that they can address it properly.
There is nothing wrong in involving yourself in roof repair projects. However, it should always be under the supervision of a roofing specialist. Always prioritize your own safety. Besides, professional roofers are always ready to assist you provided that they have the licenses to operate, tools, equipment, and appropriate skills.
Characteristics Of The Membrane To Use
Acrylics and silicones account for over half of all roof liquid membranes available in US. Acrylics are usually the cheaper solution, with a low VOC, easy to apply and to clean up, with a simple re-coating process at a later time. Most acrylic roof systems involve the application of multiple layers of coating with fabric reinforcement, which unfortunately lengthen the project. Their main drawback however, is that acrylic polymers re-emulsify in water, consequently, limiting their operability on roofs with ponding water. This is a big problem, as it is known that vast majority of existing flat roofs do not drain water properly.
Membrane to waterproof a roof
Most silicones on the market provide good resistance to water stagnation and are relatively easy to install. One big draw-back is that silicone coatings cannot be recoated with any other liquid products and the re-coating with the same silicone, generally involves a cumbersome process, which comes with a high price tag in material and labor.Limitations imposed by weather conditions are another important aspect that property managers and building owners should take in consideration. Contractors are often restricted by these limitations, especially during spring and fall in areas like Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest of United States and during summer in the South and Southeast due to excessive heat and/or unpredictable rain.
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Weatherproofing A Flat Roof Using Reinforced Bitumen Membranes
Reinforced Bitumen Membranes are the most commonly used material to waterproof flat roofs on residential properties. The process involves laying down two or three layers of the material across the full surface of the roof. These are then bonded together by hot bitumen.
The bitumen coating is then combined with a polyester carrier to produce a waterproof material on a roll. Once this has been formed it can be laid across the insulation or across the structural deck itself if the design is for a cold flat roof.
The waterproof membrane can be attached to the roof using several different methods:
- Pour and Roll: As the layer of RBM is unrolled across the roof, hot bitumen is poured out in front to seal the two together.
- Torching: A specific type of RBM is heated using a gas torch without the need to use bitumen as adhesive. Precautions must be taken to lower the risk of a fire occurring.
- Cold Application: A cold adhesive is spread out across the surface of the roof before the RBM is slowly unrolled, making sure the laps are also sealed using the same bonding material.
- Self-Adhesive: A strong, high-tack adhesive with release paper is applied to the bottom of the RBM and rolled out onto the roof. Once the membrane is in place, the release paper can be removed and the later bonded into position. This method must be supported by a steady rolling action. Use a broom to smooth out kinks or areas that haven’t fully stuck into place.
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I’ve done a few brick roofs that have performed well. Schluter Ditra shows a detail for it in their manual but the system we have used is cheaper and thinner. There is a picture of it here if you scroll down a little
Cover your roof with Mule Hyde EPDM from ABC supply or equal to stop water penetration, cover this with Ameridrain dimpled plastic drainage mats lay 1/4″ Hardi tile backer over that loose and then lay a second layer on top with thinset adhesive glueing the two layers together. This is held in place by gravity and the uprights for the handrails. Thinset tile, or brick pavers to the backer board. bind the edges of the brick with treated boards held off the edges of the roof with spacers to allow for sub-drainage.
Total thickness is a little over one inch plus the tile or pavers. All components except the EPDM from ABC are stock at the Lowes in our area. Detailing the edge where the water falls off is tricky, you need to get it to fall clear of the bottom of the projection so it won’t run down the wall but this is an issue with any flat roof structure.
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How Do I Waterproof My Roof
Steps to waterproof a roof
22.01.2018
How To Waterproof A Flat Roof
Making sure that your flat roof is fully waterproof is crucial, particularly as the wet and colder months approach. Flat roofs can be susceptible to a number of issues such as pooling water and nightmare leaks caused by adverse weather. Thanks to the leaps made in roofing technology in the last few decades, homeowners have a number of ways to waterproof a flat roof available to them. These include patch repair kits, waterproof sealants, and rubber membranes. The right solution for you will depend on your exact needs, which well talk more about below.
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The Problem: You Need To Waterproof A Complicated Flat Roof That Has Lots Of Details And Abutments
The solution:Liquid rubber
Flowing and flexible, liquid rubber membranes are the painless way to completely waterproof a flat roof that has lots of complex features. Totally eco friendly and with a long life expectancy, Roofing Superstore has plenty of options to choose from. Theres all-purpose brush-on Cromar whose Rubber Roof is specifically designed for hand application, making it perfect for DIY-ers. Or go for top-of-the-range EcoProof which is well-known for its exceptional adhesion properties, meaning it will fully bond to whatever roof covering you already have. Finally, there are Soudal products which are great for emergency rubber repairs.
How does liquid rubber work?
Far more flexible than traditional bitumen, when the liquid rubber is applied it cures to form an elastic coating thats able to stretch and return to its original shape without cracking or splitting. Its almost like getting a whole new roof but at a fraction of the cost. In fact, its estimated that liquid roofing is 70% less expensive than a brand new roof.
Liquid rubber is suitable for:
Liquid rubber can be used over any flat roof covering, even concrete, cement and asphalt.
How to apply liquid rubber:
How Much Does Flat Roof Weatherproofing Cost
For the most up to date prices on flat roof waterproofing products, follow the links below.
Costs for professional services will vary depending on the dimensions of your roof, as well as the materials required. We would estimate the cost to be anywhere between £1000-£2500 depending on the above criteria.
FIX-R Liquid Waterproofing
Professional companies will also include labour and disposal costs into their quote. Comparing at least three quotes will enable you to find the best option.
- For GRP, the FIX-R Liquid Waterproofing System provides robust weatherproofing protection.
- Alternatively, a single ply membrane, such as FIX-R EPDM Membrane, can work out more affordable.
If you’re considering waterproofing your own roof, it’s important to find a product that can offer high levels of performance.
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Why Not Other Options For Waterproof Decking
Sure, there are other options when it comes to covering a flat roof, but none of them tend to work well if you want a truly waterproof seal, or want to use your roof as a deck space. Here are a few other options and why they typically wont work:
- Asphaltic Tar: Yikes! Talk about hot and smelly not the best solution if you want to enjoy a nice day on your roof deck. The materials used are also heavy and can clog up your gutters and drains.
- Torch on/ Modified Bitumen: Again, probably not the best option for the same reasons above. If you did want to convert your roof to this surface you would need to add a finishing product on top, for an additional cost, rather than just covering with PVC vinyl decking in one go.
- Built Up Roof : This option looks ok but probably isnt very comfortable to walk on and can be pretty heavy.
- Spray On Coating : This is a pretty expensive option used primarily in commercial applications. Although it offers great waterproofing since its seamless, its not meant to be walked on and doesnt look that attractive .
If you already have one of these types of roofs, you *could* potentially cover the existing roof with PVC vinyl decking , but youre much better off taking the roof down and starting over with a high-quality vinyl decking material.
How Long Does Liquid Waterproofing Last
Independent certification of these products estimates the lifespan of liquid waterproofing to be anywhere between 20-40 years. In most cases, you can safely estimate it lasting at least 25 years.
This is dependent on the quality of the product purchased, the installation procedures followed and the maintenance of the roof surface in the following years.
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How To Fix Roof Water Leaks
Getting to the root cause of roof water leaks and then finding a solution to the problem is no easy task.
- Solving roof water leaks can involve not only waterproofing methods but also include solving associated structural issues.
- Being both a registered builder and a waterproofing specialist throws a different light on the complex problems of water ingress.
- Lack of understanding about roof structural construction can lead to rectification decisions that may not actually resolve water leaks.
- I have witnessed the diagnosis of roof water leaks as a waterproofing membrane issue, when in fact, it turned out to be a plumbing problem or structural design element.
- In these cases, unfortunately installing a new membrane does not solve the problem – many times you are back at the start all over again however with a financial outlay that was wasted.
For more information refer to published article
First, there needs to be what I call water forensics, roof assessment or investigation.
- Water can track a considerable distance from the original point of entry.
- This needs to be determined prior to works starting.
- Using a concrete roof as an example – water may track underneath the existing failed sheet membrane and find its way out to rooms below.
- Inevitably the entire rooftop may require a newly installed robust membrane – not just the area of water leaks.
Concrete leaching due to water leaks from roof above.
How To Spot Damage To Your Flat Roofs Surface
Once youve given your guttering system a once-over, and youre satisfied you know where any leaks are coming from, its time to take a look at the surface of your flat roof. You should first look for any obvious holes or cracks, which while uncommon, can cause serious damage to your roof space and property as a whole.
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Products In This Project
Blue Max® Liquid Rubber Waterproofer is a water-based, strong and highly adhesive elastomeric coating & sealant with 1200% elongation that moves with the surface to resist cracking & peeling. Blue Max® is ideal for waterproofing above & below grade foundations, basements, roofs, floors & more.
Maximum-Stretch® is a white, elastomeric, acrylic, rubberized roof coating & sealant with 650% elongation to resist cracking & peeling. With 88% light reflectivity, the bright white finish reduces surface temperatures resulting in lowered cooling costs.
Ames® Peel & Stick Seam Tape is a contouring, high strength, self-adhesive, seam tape for the reinforcement and prevention of water infiltration over seams, cracks, roof vents, flashings and more. Must be top-coated for UV exposures.
How Does Concrete Sealer Work
When waterproofing concrete, a topical sealer is applied to the surface of the concrete. The sealer is impermeable and forms a waterproof membrane around the concrete, preventing moisture from entering the concrete. Topical sealers can be made from acrylic, epoxy and polyurethane based materials. Many are decorative in colour and style.
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Waterproofing A Flat Roof
The success of any flat roof waterproofing project is always dependent on the correct application. Coating a flat roof, does not always means that the roof will become waterproofed. Many coatings have only the function to protect the existing roof membrane from the degrading action of UV rays exposure, prolonging its life. For example, acrylic coatings re-emulsify in water, resulting in complete failure of the product in places of the roof where water stagnates. Building owners and/or property managers should only consider using such coatings for maintenance purposes only, where the roof has good positive slope and water does not pond around drains.Even when choosing the proper designated liquid applied waterproofing membrane, there are many important aspects to consider for a successful waterproofing project.
- Is the substrate dry?
- Is the temperature of both substrate and ambient within the accepted range of application?
- Is the required consumption met?
- Is the drying time of each layer of liquid product respected?
- How is the application properly managed with eventual incoming rain?
The Problem: You Need To Repair A Small Patch Of Damage And Have No Diy Skills
The solution:Flat roof repair kits
If youre not particularly handy, youll need something really easy to use. Luckily, Roofing Superstore has not one but two products available. First, there are Patch-N-Go repair kits from market leaders Karnak. These are very effective and dont require any DIY knowledge whatsoever. Or, for a paint-on solution, try Koverteks acrylic that can be brushed on to the damaged area, either as a temporary solution for a large crack or as a long-term solution for small ones.
How do flat roof repair kits work?
The easiest flat roof repair that money can buy, the stick-on patches work very much like a plaster you just peel away the backing and apply the patch to the damaged area of your roof. The Kovertek acrylic paint just needs to be brushed on in one coat.
Flat roof repair kits are suitable for:
There are two different stick-on patches available, one for EPDM and rubber roofs, and one for felt. The Kovertek acrylic can be applied to all types of flat roof.
How to apply flat roof repair kits:
Make sure the surface is clean and dry, and that youve removed any oil and grease. If using the patches, take it out of the pack and peel off the film backing. Then press down onto the roof, applying extra pressure with a roller to help it stick. If using the acrylic paint, just brush it on. It dries in two to three hours but will be waterproof immediately.
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