3 Ways to Waterproof a Flat or Leveled Roof
When the rainfall season kicks in, there’s no telling whether your corporate, business, or residential roof will stay put and prevent leakage. No matter if you’ve got a leveled (low-sloped roof) or a flat roof, you’ll definitely need some good waterproofing solutions.
And not just protect the inside of your home from water, waterproofing your roof helps with puncture resistance from debris flying around caused by strong winds, as well. That’s why we’re here to tell you 3 Ways to Waterproof a Flat or Leveled Roof.
Waterproofing with Bitumen
Not just your average bitumen, but Reinforced Bitumen membranes, 1 of 3 Ways to Waterproof a Flat or Leveled Roof. There are many commercial and residential flat roofs and leveled roofs that use Reinforced Bitumen for waterproofing purposes.
The technique entails placing 2 or 3 sheets of bitumen membrane, spread throughout the roof surface using the torch-on method. Remember, the bitumen waterproofing needs heat (gas torch) before it can be applied on a flat or leveled roof.
Most of the time, the bitumen coating is mixed with a polyester carrier to make the bitumen waterproof. When applying, roofing professionals use a Pour & Roll technique.
The technique entails placing 2 or 3 sheets of bitumen membrane, spread throughout the roof surface using the torch-on method. Remember, the bitumen waterproofing needs heat (gas torch) before it can be applied on a flat or leveled roof.
Most of the time, the bitumen coating is mixed with a polyester carrier to make the bitumen waterproof. When applying, roofing professionals use a Pour & Roll technique.
Liquid Waterproofing Method
Another one of the 3 ways to waterproof a flat or leveled rood, this method of waterproofing consists of a particular paint or spray that coats the flat or leveled roof – that’s where the name liquid waterproofing comes from. Flat roofs are the most frequent users of the liquid waterproofing method. Fiberglass, fleece, and polyurethane membranes are the primary examples of liquid waterproofing.
There are 3 ways for professionals to apply liquid waterproofing for flat or leveled roofs – with a brush, a spray, or a roller. Additionally, there are 2 liquid waterproofing membranes, a water-based one, and a solvent-based one. It’s a good waterproofing method for unreachable surfaces and edges of your roof.
There are 3 ways for professionals to apply liquid waterproofing for flat or leveled roofs – with a brush, a spray, or a roller. Additionally, there are 2 liquid waterproofing membranes, a water-based one, and a solvent-based one. It’s a good waterproofing method for unreachable surfaces and edges of your roof.
Single-Ply Waterproofing Membranes
And last but certainly not least, there are the single-ply waterproofing membranes to waterproof a flat or leveled roof.
The 5 major sorts of Single-ply membranes are:
The most typical methods of application for these membranes are adhesion, ballasting, and fastening. Most of the time, an adhesive works the best as an application method, proving to be the most reliable of the 3 ways to waterproof a flat or leveled roof.
As for fastening and ballasting, professionals use screws to fasten the membrane or stone ballasts placed on top of the membrane.
A waterproofing EPDM membrane can last up to 50 years – it is utterly durable. It is also puncture-, heat-, and UV-resistant, and it follows a single-application method rather than a multiple-membrane application.
The 5 major sorts of Single-ply membranes are:
- Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO),
- Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomer (TPE),
- Polyisobutylene (PIB),
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC),
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) – our favourite .
The most typical methods of application for these membranes are adhesion, ballasting, and fastening. Most of the time, an adhesive works the best as an application method, proving to be the most reliable of the 3 ways to waterproof a flat or leveled roof.
As for fastening and ballasting, professionals use screws to fasten the membrane or stone ballasts placed on top of the membrane.
A waterproofing EPDM membrane can last up to 50 years – it is utterly durable. It is also puncture-, heat-, and UV-resistant, and it follows a single-application method rather than a multiple-membrane application.
Single-ply Waterproofing - EPDM Benefits & Gains
The Waterproof Lab EPDM System has all the merits of other waterproofing methods, and even more where those came from! For instance, we especially appreciate that our EPDM is “factory cured”, meaning that the EPDM membrane layer is wholly manufactured in our factory, whereas any liquid waterproofing is dealt with on site. The benefit here is that with our “Factory cured EPDM”, it’s less likely that something will go wrong from the application process.
For the Liquid Waterproofing method to work, the weather needs to be ideal, or almost perfect. This is totally the opposite with our EPDM. The EPDM membrane our contractor will receive is promptly examined, tested, and seamed – on top of that, installed easily and risk-free! Because the EPDM is factory-approved and tested, the roof won’t get any unwanted pin holes and dust specs as with the liquid coating procedure.
A single EPDM membrane is 30m long and 6m wide – meaning less seams than necessary. Compared to torch-on systems that incorporate rolls around 10 meters in length and 1 meter wide, our rolls are longer and wider – sealing 180m2 with practically 0 seams!
Waterproof Lab’s factory-cured EPDM has a whopping elongation rate in excess of 300% with memory to revert itself back to normal. One membrane weighs around 1.35kg, making it extra lightweight with a quick application process without requiring torch-on or any other special tools during the application.
Absolutely fire retardant, durable, environmentally friendly especially suited for green roofs, and backed with an up-to-20-year warranty – Waterproof Lab EPDM has it all. Moreover, our zero-maintenance EPDM means that you won’t need any protective coating or painting in the many years it provides cover for your roof.
Plus, how can you not love a material that won a Nobel prize?
For the Liquid Waterproofing method to work, the weather needs to be ideal, or almost perfect. This is totally the opposite with our EPDM. The EPDM membrane our contractor will receive is promptly examined, tested, and seamed – on top of that, installed easily and risk-free! Because the EPDM is factory-approved and tested, the roof won’t get any unwanted pin holes and dust specs as with the liquid coating procedure.
A single EPDM membrane is 30m long and 6m wide – meaning less seams than necessary. Compared to torch-on systems that incorporate rolls around 10 meters in length and 1 meter wide, our rolls are longer and wider – sealing 180m2 with practically 0 seams!
Waterproof Lab’s factory-cured EPDM has a whopping elongation rate in excess of 300% with memory to revert itself back to normal. One membrane weighs around 1.35kg, making it extra lightweight with a quick application process without requiring torch-on or any other special tools during the application.
Absolutely fire retardant, durable, environmentally friendly especially suited for green roofs, and backed with an up-to-20-year warranty – Waterproof Lab EPDM has it all. Moreover, our zero-maintenance EPDM means that you won’t need any protective coating or painting in the many years it provides cover for your roof.
Plus, how can you not love a material that won a Nobel prize?