Roof Waterproofing Treatment In Pakistan
For waterproofing a flat roof, there are numerous options available today. Liquid applied membranes have proven to be a workable, affordable, and more environmentally friendly alternative during the last few years. Roofing contractors discover that not all roof “coatings,” as these materials are frequently referred to, are made equal. Liquid applied membranes for roofing can be divided into a few broad groups, each of which offers a wide selection of products. Although Unicorn Chemical distinguishes between liquid applied roof systems and maintenance coatings, elastomeric, polyurethane, silicone, urethane, and PMMA are the most often encountered fluid materials in both categories of roof waterproofing treatment in Pakistan.
The majority of modern roof coatings offer the advantages of reflexive white hue, which deflects many UV rays and lowers the temperature of the roof when exposed to direct sunlight, qualities known as Cool Roof. Additionally, the enormous environmental benefit of avoiding the yearly addition of thousands of ton of scrap roofing materials to landfills is brought about by recovering existing roofs utilizing liquid applied solutions. Let’s shed some light on a few crucial factors that must be taken into account when choosing the best waterproofing options for flat (commercial or residential) roofing.
What to do before the roof waterproofing treatment in Pakistan
Many flat roofs that were covered with single-ply roofing membranes like torched-down modified bituminous membranes (mod bit) or EPDM two or three decades ago are now attractive candidates for being recovered. Completely replacing the old roof system with a new one is frequently unaffordable, but in recent years liquid applied roof systems have appeared on the market as trustworthy, worthwhile alternatives.
The compatibility between the existing roof surface and the liquid product proposed for usage is the first requirement that must be addressed in order to choose the appropriate material. An expensive error could result from failing to consider the kind of material that was previously utilized to coat single-ply roofs. Applying urethane, for instance, over an acrylic elastomeric-coated surface, is not a good idea. The solvent present in the majority of urethane coatings poses a significant danger of the acrylic re-emulsifying. Another illustration is a roof that was once silicone-coated. Any other form of coating cannot be applied to this type of surface since the silicone will prevent adherence. Prior to roof waterproofing treatment in Pakistan a flat roof, the substrate must be properly cleaned.
This technique is crucial since liquid solutions must stick directly to the smooth, bare substrate surface, whether it’s a new deck or an existing roof system. The adhesion will be weakened or obstructed if debris, grease, dust, or any other bond-breakers are stuck between the deck’s surface and the freshly applied fluid material.
As a result, an improperly cleaned substrate will impair the cured membrane’s function and cause an early failure. The most popular technique for cleaning an existing roof and preparing the surface is pressure washing. Most manufacturers specify their own detergent for this purpose, typically one that is biodegradable or a commonly recognized generic substitute.
Roof Waterproofing Treatment Procedures in Pakistan
In order to properly apply liquid applied roof membranes, there are five basic procedures that should all be carried out in the order recommended by the product’s manufacturer. Cleansing, priming, treating details, applying the main coating, and inspecting are these procedures.
- Cleaning the substrate is the first step in a roof waterproofing treatment in Pakistan. Superior adhesion is a must for any liquid applied membrane application to be successful. For this reason, thorough cleaning is just as crucial as accurate application of the liquid substance. For cleaning the substrate surface, pressure washing is typically the most popular technique. The ‘bond breakers’ are eliminated through this technique. In addition, this will reveal aspects that may not be apparent at first sight but need to be addressed.
- The surface is primed after cleaning in order to increase the membrane’s adherence. Additionally, primers help prevent bituminous oils from the old roof from leaking through the liquid membrane. Contractors must make sure the surface is dry before applying most primers. Contractors typically utilize air blowers or torches to speed up the drying process.
- The handling of details is the third step. Contractors must carefully attend to every detail; only when this is done, they can resume applying the liquid membrane in the field. It is customary to pre-treat details like interior and exterior corners, wall-to-floor type corners, metal flashing terminations, and penetrations like pipes, vents, and drains with reinforcing fabric inserted using a flashing grade sealant and/or the liquid membrane. These are the most important areas of the roof that are also the easiest to overlook, thus they need extra attention. Before applying the main coating, the details roof waterproofing treatment in Pakistan materials must have the appropriate amount of curing time.
- The liquid membrane is then applied to the roof as the next procedure. Liquid applied membranes come in two varieties; some need reinforcement mats impregnated during installation, while others do not. Regardless of whether the fabric mat is required or not, the majority of manufacturers demand that the coating be applied in two or more subsequent layers. The technical parameters provided by the manufacturers detail the consumption rate of each coating product. External variables such as application technique, substrate porosity, temperature, and waste can affect the intended consumption rate.
- The manufacturer is obliged by the majority of projects to conduct inspections throughout all stages of application. This may entail checking the primer’s coverage, performing pull-out mock-up tests, visually inspecting the detail roof waterproofing treatment in Pakistan, and yet checking the millage of the coating that has been applied. It’s crucial to respect the wet film thickness when applying. The membrane’s skinned surface will develop uncured material if too much liquid product is applied all at once. The membrane will most likely fail earlier than expected if there is not enough material to meet the desired millage. Fish mouths at the fabric’s edge indicate that the reinforcement mat was not properly covered in the overlapping section. At the time of the inspection, each of these mistakes must be documented and fixed.