6 Steps on Waterproofing Your Roof

Waterproofing your roof is essential to protect the structure and foundation of your house, as well as your assets inside. Leaks can cause electrical damage that is expensive and you might have to deal with more than just a few fixes in the end.

Today, you can choose from various materials to apply on your roof for waterproofing. Liquid membranes became very popular in the recent years and there are varieties of products you can use.

However, waterproofing your roof is not something that can be done instantly. It has to be done in steps in order to work and long-lasting.

• Make an assessment

Before deciding on the type of waterproofing system, you have to consult experts and have them make an assessment in order to see what kind of materials are appropriate to use as well as the cost of works. This depends on materials that were previously used to cover your roof, as well as the shape it’s in and quality of previous work.

The most common one was torched-down modified bituminous membranes or EPDM. If this is the case, then your roof will require less work. But if not, you will have to replace it completely and that can be expensive.

• Hire a reliable contractor

As you see, the waterproofing of your roof can turn out to be an expensive job, but nonetheless, it’s necessary and unavoidable. Hiring a reliable and capable contractor can lower your expenses significantly since they will know the newest techniques and materials that will be affordable for you. The quality of their work is an important factor that will keep your roof in perfect shape for a long time, without any additional repairs.

• Clean the roof

Before waterproofing process starts, it’s important to clean the roof thoroughly so the materials would adhere on each other properly. Things like grease, dust, dirt and debris, as well as damaged roof parts, will create a blockage between the roof surface and applied material. This will lead to quick deterioration of the created protective membrane and thus failure of the waterproofing system.

The appropriate way to clean the surface is by using pressure washing. Manufacturers usually give instructions like what type of detergent to use, but you can use a generic variety as well, just make sure it’s biodegradable. Use brushes to apply the detergents and scrub the surface, and afterwards rinse it with a pressurized water to clean even the most stubborn dirt deposits.

• Prime the surface

After cleaning, the following step is to apply primer on the surface in order to improve adhesion. The primer will make sure that certain substances from the old roof material don’t mix with the new membrane. For example, oils from the old roof react to the new fluids and thus mix with the membrane downgrading its protective properties.

In order for the primer to work, the roof has to be completely dry after cleaning. For example, waterproofing Sydney buildings may seem that doesn’t require devices like torches and air blowers to dry because of the sunny days. But, contractors will use them nonetheless since they speed up waterproofing and make sure that the roof is 100% dry.

• Treatment of details

After the primer is set, the next thing is to treat the details one by one. This includes interior and exterior corners as well as any possible cracks and holes on the roof surface, depending on the previous materials. Pipes, vents and drains need to be reinforced by pre-treating them with fabric and, if necessary, a sealant.  

All these tasks use materials that require certain time to set in, so make sure that you respect all the recommendations by the manufacturers. If you don’t, the protective membrane may not take properly and the roof will be inadequately waterproofed.

• Application of the protective membrane

No matter if the liquid membrane needs reinforcing mat or doesn’t, you must apply the coating in two or more layers. This depends on the manufacturer so make sure you follow their technical instructions to the letter. There are several factors that will affect the specified consumption rate, like temperature, a method of application and porosity of the surface.

If possible, you can seek manufacturer opinion during the application although that may cost you extra. However, experienced contractor and respecting the manner of application can help you in this department. Namely, if you apply too much liquid at once will create uncured material underneath the membrane’s surface, while not enough will cause premature deterioration.

Finally

Don’t rush the waterproofing of your roof more than necessary since choosing the right contractor and doing appropriate preparations are essential. Ask for the third party inspection of the roof if you want the second opinion and make sure that everything is done according to manufacturer's’ technical specification. That way your roof will last longer and you won’t have to bear any additional costs which might arise from inadequately done waterproofing job.