Your roof is that part of your house that people unconsciously notice, and what most people do not know is that your roof says a lot about how much you take care of your home. Mostly, people focus on the indoors and forget the importance of roof maintenance. Flat roofing requires mindful maintenance and regular servicing to keep it attractive and outstanding for your household, visitors, and onlookers.
One of the essential methods of keeping your roof in shape is waterproofing it. Waterproofing significantly reduces the amount of exposure your roof gets from outside elements. These elements can cause the decking to decay. Eventually, this rotting and decaying affect the longevity of your flat roof.
Waterproofing sloppy roofs are usually easier than flat roofs. This difficulty is due to the shallow slope that does not allow water, leaves, and debris to slide off. When considering waterproofing, it is vital to consider some factors such as:
a) Environment
It would be best if you considered environmental factors such as industrial emissions.
b) Type of the structure
Some methods work favourably for expansive residential buildings while others for commercial structures, therefore choose the method that is best for your house.
c) Cost
Different products and materials for waterproofing have varying prices. Go for the method that is within your budget.
Methods of waterproofing
There are three main methods to waterproof your flat roof, namely; liquid waterproofing, single-ply membrane, and using reinforced bitumen membranes.
Liquid waterproofing
It involves the use of a particular type of coating. These coatings include liquid fleece membranes, fibreglass liquid, or glass-reinforced plastic. This type of waterproofing can be used on all roof types such as slate roofing or aluminium roofing but commonly used on flat roofs. Coating lasts 20 -40 years, depending on the installation process, the maintenance after its installation, and the quality of the product used.
Reinforced Bitumen Membranes
It is a process of laying two or three layers of membranes on your flat. After the laying, hot bitumen is put to bond the layers. For a waterproof material, combine the layers with a polyester carrier. It is then placed across the insulation if the design is for a warm flat roof, and if it’s for a cold flat roof, across the structural deck. Some of the methods used to attach the membranes to the flat roof are torching, cold application, and self-adhesive.
Single Ply membrane
The single-ply membrane method is suitable for large structures. The sheets measurements range 1 -2mm wide, 1-2mm thick, and 20m long—these membranes are coupled with warm flat roofs for the best performance. Therefore the material is laid on the insulation. There is also an extra layer of the material under the insulation and on the structural deck. Fastening, adhesion, and ballasting are the methods used to attach single-ply membranes.
Conclusion
The water and debris that collects on flat roof shallow slope rots away your roof and can also cause pooling, which, if left long, eventually destroys the roof. You can choose waterproofing methods depending on your preference and a technique that applies to your building.
Waterproofing is essential because it ensures your flat roof has a longer life span and prevents damage to your house’s interior parts. Ultimately, it assures you comfortable and stress-free living since you do not have to worry about constant roof repair and maintenance.
