Here at JMS Roofing, we are Birmingham’s leading commercial and domestic roofing experts. And we provide a number of different types of commercial roof option, including felt roofing, sedum and green roofing, and steel roofing. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about the effective waterproofing options for flat roofs, and what you can expect from these different choices.
What are the most effective waterproofing options for flat roofs?
There are a number of different and effective options for keeping your flat roof fully waterproof. These include:
- Reinforced bitumen membranes- This process involves laying down a few layers of the material, covering the whole roof, and then using hot bitumen to bond these. The bitumen coating is combined with a polyester carrier to create a waterproof material on a roll. Once formed, this can be installed on either a warm or cold roof design. This can be applied in a number of different ways, including pour and roll, torching, cold application and self adhesive.
- Liquid waterproofing- there are a number of different types of liquid waterproofing including those made from glass reinforced plastic, fiberglass liquid membranes and fleece liquid membranes. But these all work in a similar way, using a special coating that covers the entire roof space to ensure it is fully waterproof. This should last anywhere from 20 to 40 years but most manufacturers guarantees are for 25 years.
- Single ply membranes- typically used for large scale commercial buildings, single ply membranes are a popular waterproofing option. This involves laying flat membranes across the whole roof and securing these in place with either mechanical fastenings, fixed adhesive or ballast.
For more information or advice about your new roof installation and the different waterproofing options, get in touch with the professionals today, here at JMS Roofing.