Roof Waterproofing Methods

In sealing your roof, a liquid sealant is usually used for the roof waterproofing. Some of the different types of roof waterproofing materials and types of roof waterproofing products will be briefly discussed below. This will help you to broaden your knowledge of roof waterproofing, so you have a better understanding of what work is being done on your roof.

• Rubber/ Plastic-like Coating: A roof that is built with poured concrete requires a waterproof coating, which is rubbery or plastic-like, which seals the concrete and will move and expand with the concrete.
• Synthetic materials. These are ideal for flat roof water proofing if you want to eliminate the use of gravel in the installation of your flat roof. The use of gravel in flat roofs is not a good idea, because the gravel makes leak detection very difficult, and, as you can’t find it, you can’t just repair a patch of the roof, you have to waterproof the entire roof again
• The flat roof has always been a popular choice in places where the climate does not tend toward snow or heavy rainfall. Unlike the pitched or sloped roof, the flat roof is a horizontal covering for a building, which is not positioned at an angle above the building.
• Sloped roofs were specifically developed in order to allow houses to shed heavy rain, or snow, in order to prevent the extra weight and moisture from causing damage to the roof structure. As a result, this kind of roof has been most common in northern hemisphere countries, where such considerations were important for the structural well-being of the home.
• In contrast, as we mentioned above, flat roofs are most suited to countries with dry, or snow-free climates. In South Africa, where rainfall can be an important factor, it is advisable to build a slight incline into a flat roof design, to allow water to run off. However, in most cases, the roofing material will make allowance for such run-off.