Metal Roof Waterproofing & Coatings to Stop Roof Leaks

Water intrusion is the leading cause of construction-related litigation, and can cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to fix.

This is especially the case with leaks in a roofing system – water can cause catastrophic and extremely expensive damage.

ROOF RESTORATION & WATERPROOFING

• Quality roof waterproofing is the best insurance you can buy.

• Roofing Systems that involve attachments, utilities, equipment or penetrations are modifications to the roof structure.

• Repairs to a “busy” roof  with utilities , need to take into consideration permanent water tightness under, around and over all relevant roof structures.

Water leaks that don’t get addressed early can eventually compromise the entire integrity of a building envelope.

METAL ROOF – Using Liquid Waterproofing to Seal Penetrations

• Often roofing work performed by trades, most notably HVAC & Solar Installation contractors, may impact the waterproofing integrity of the roof.

• Installations of solar arrays are an example that may involve dozens of roof penetrations, attachments or up stands.

• Roof penetrations and holes drilled through the roof surface, makes any roof vulnerable to water intrusion.

• It is vital roof modifications are made water tight with a reliable, long-term & structurally robust membrane suitable for the entire life of the roof.

• Failure to do so, especially on low slope metal commercial roofs, may result in future water leaks and subsequent extensive damage.

• Liquid Membranes are the ideal waterproofing product to make water tight & seal around all metal roof utilities & penetrations.

• These membranes are spray-applied, roller or brush applied  so all  roof sections & areas are permanently sealed even in the most difficult places to waterproof.

ROOF WATER LEAKS – it is important to understand how a roof leaks.

• Rainwater does not always flow downhill.

• This is because wind is also a significant factor in creating leaking roofs.

• Wind can blow water up along the surface of a roof, under flashings and down between metal joins, seam & flashings.

• Capillary action can even draw water sideways and uphill.

• And when water finds even the smallest pinhole, this will cause ingress under and along the underside of the roof.

• From a point of entry, water can track a remarkable distance, making the original entry location very difficult to ascertain.

• Over time water leaks can penetrate through the roof structure leading to structural damage and weakened the integrity of the building.

• Larger penetrations & multiple holes i.e corrosion in a metal roof,  will result in this process & subsequent water damage occurring more rapidly.

WATERPROOFING, SEALANTS & COATINGS

• Paints, Coatings & Sealants by themselves provide poor long-term waterproofing reliability & endurance.

• Paints, Coatings & Sealants  need to be re-applied frequently as they deteriorate rapidly compared with waterproofing membranes.

• Sealants are susceptible to breakdown from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, oxidation, and cracking due to expansion and contraction of a building surface.

• Sealants primarily form a protective layer over the roof surface, while waterproofing membranes prevent the ingress of  water flow into roofs, foundations, basements, buildings and structures.

• Membranes are a permanent coating that are UV, pollution, salt and chemical resistant and protective for the life of the roof.

• Waterproofing Membranes, as opposed to sealants, paints & coatings,  provide robust long term solutions for all types of leaking roofs – metal, concrete & timber.

Liquid Applied Membranes (LAMs) provide a permanent robust adherence and solve the many problems encountered with Sheet & Torch-On waterproofing methods.

Liquid Applied Membranes (LAMs) exhibit extreme flexibility – ideal for roof repairs.

WATERPROOFING TO REPAIR LEAKING ROOFS

• The life of a metal roof is extended by stopping all roof leaks.

• Australian roofs are exposed to harsh  climatic elements.

• Roof coatings in Australia need to protect against UV radiation, rain, hail, wind pressure during storms & cyclones, possibly snow or ice, possums, cockatoos, salt air and corrosion.

• Due to climatic variations, all sections of a roof will be subject to daily  thermal expansion & contraction.

• It is critical that a roof waterproofing membrane has long term flexibility & will move as one with the roof surface.

• Ensuring that a roof and all penetrations are completely water tight is an essential design element and critical for successful roof repairs.

LIQUID RUBBER – Best Roof Waterproofing Product

• Liquid Applied Membranes (LAMs) are high performance elastomeric roof coatings that create a permanent leak-proof roof – even with multitude penetrations or roof equipment.

• Liquid Waterproofing products, by their very nature being liquid, will conform to any shape, configuration or  surface.

• Liquid Waterproofing Membranes can be applied vertically, horizontally, overhead and is instant set.

• Liquid Membranes are an ideal product for metal roofs as the membrane will coat trim-deck, clip-lock, roof profiles and make water tight around flashings, utilities & roof services.

• LAMs are a roofing coating that results in a watertight membrane that protects in the heaviest rains and can even withstand “ponding” water.

• White elastomeric waterproof coatings reduce metal roof surface temperatures and lowers interior cooling.

Source – Liquidrubbermelb