Do-it-yourself roof waterproofing

Roof waterproofing is the most important stage construction of the house, as it protects your home from external weather factors, whether it is rain or snow, as well as strong humid winds. High-quality performance of waterproofing the roof of your home will provide reliable protection and keep the home warm and dry. How the work is done, the first heavy rain will show, which will reveal all the imperfections.

To avoid leakage of the roof, after the first bad weather it is necessary to carefully and very carefully waterproof the material with modern materials, which are represented in many types, if you do not want to re-carry out protection from moisture, which will result in significant costs. Before considering types of insulation for a roof, it should be understood that roofs are pitched and flat.

Each type requires the use of a specific waterproofing material and the method of its installation. To quality and successfully carry out independent waterproofing Roofs should understand the basic principles of work, and what types of waterproofing for the roof exist. Doing roof waterproofing with your own hands will save the budget and significantly reduce the cost of professional roofers.

If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to invite specialists who know their job and will do everything according to the rules of construction. In this article, we will try to detail the main points and small nuances in order to prepare you for waterproofing roofing as much as possible. It should be remembered that moisture can come not only in the open form of precipitation, rain or snow, but also in the form of steam. Therefore, a careful consideration of all aspects of the work and types of building materials for waterproofing will avoid unpleasant moments and additional costs in the future.

What materials are used for roof waterproofing?

• Perforated Waterproofing Film - in another way it is called hydrobarrier or antioxidant film. This is an effective protection against moisture, which withstands significant pressure, therefore it is one of the best waterproofing materials for the roof. It can be used not only for the roof, but also for the walls of the basement and foundation. In appearance, it resembles a simple plastic film, which is much stronger and better in its physical properties.
• Polymer film (PVC membranes, superdiffusion membranes, EPDM membranes) - also a good waterproofing material, many varieties of which make it possible to waterproof different types of roofs. These membranes have a good life and have an excellent indicator of environmental safety and fire safety. A feature of this building material is its elasticity, which allows it to be used on all types of roofs, whether it is a pitched or flat roof.
• Coating waterproofing - this includes silicone, bitumen, rubber and polyurethane mastics.The classic type of waterproofing, which was used by our grandfathers to protect the house from moisture. Modern developments and the application of new technologies in the form of synthetic resins and other chemical additives make coating waterproofing one of the most popular and affordable in the modern construction market.
• Sprayable waterproofing - simply liquid rubber or two-component acrylic compounds, which are also effective in waterproofing the roof. This material has excellent elasticity and does not allow water to penetrate through the layer that was applied to the roof surface. The sprayed waterproofing does not deform under the influence of external factors and is a reliable protection of the roof of your home.
• Injection waterproofing materials - this includes silicate, polyurethane, acrylic resins, as well as cements and emulsions. This is an absolute protection against moisture, which with special equipment is easily applied to the roof of the house. The essence of injectable waterproofing is to form a membrane by injection with a hydrophobic gel, which is injected into the external space of the overlap and clogs the pores during solidification.

Now let's take a closer look at some types of waterproofing materials that are most often used to protect roofs from moisture.

Polymeric membranes for roof waterproofing

This type of waterproofing is a new technology in the modern construction market, so we will dwell on it in more detail. There are PDM, PVC and diffuse membranes. The latter can be divided into diffuse with microperforation, superdiffuse and anti-condensate.

• Diffuser type microperforation membranes suitable for any roof, but it is important to leave a small gap between the insulation and the actual waterproofing.
• Using superdiffuse membranes such clearance is not required.
• Anti-condensation membranes best used during the construction of a metal roof, since the material has the ability to absorb condensate, thereby protecting against the accumulation of moisture in the roofing system. Such membranes have high strength and can last about 25 years. In addition, they are fireproof and environmentally friendly.

PVC membranes They are also multi-functional waterproofing material, which is perfect for fixing an old roof and building a new one. Such a film is durable and its replacement will be required no sooner than after 20 years, therefore it is quite attractive for creating effective protection against moisture. Such a film consists of 3 layers, the outer and inner are plain PVC of a certain color, and the inner layer is reinforced polyester. These membranes are sold in rolls and mechanically attached or ballast method. In the second case, the roof slope should not exceed 10%. With the ballast method, the membrane is laid on the roof surface, and gravel is poured on top or crushed stone. Mechanical fastening is screws, nails, staples.

Multifunctional waterproofing is PDM membranewhich are suitable for any roofs having any slope and shape. The material is stacked to each other, and the joints are glued with a construction adhesive tape. If the roof is flat, then a layer of loose building materials is poured on top of the PDM. It is a stable waterproofing with a long service life, which reaches 50 years, she is not afraid of frost, sun and other weather factors. The material is very flexible and can be extended by 250-300%, which will allow waterproofing even the most inaccessible places that are difficult to cover due to their curvature, for example, roll waterproofing.

Roof waterproofing

The main basis for coating waterproofing materials is bitumen, which covers the surface with a layer from 5 millimeters to several centimeters. Bitumen with time loses its elasticity, and when exposed to it mechanically, it can be destroyed. Typically, the life of simple bitumen ranges from 5-7 years. A new generation of bituminous mastics uses polymer additives that increase the service life and create a more effective waterproofing.

• Mastic is usually applied to a direct roof or roof with a minimal slope.
• The composition of mastic materials is bitumen-rubber, polymer or bitumen-polymer.
• According to the method of waterproofing, they are divided into hot and cold.
  In the first case mastic warms up to temperature +160 degrees celsius. It is used immediately, and it is not stored for future use.
  Cold mastic can be used at any convenient time and does not require heating, only if the ambient temperature is less than + 5 degrees, then it should be heated to +70 degrees Celsius.

This is a very good waterproofing material, despite its fragility, as it adheres well to any substrate, whether concrete, metal, wood or other roof surface. When polymer mastics harden, they form a reliable rubber waterproofing, which will last about 20 years. In another way, such a waterproofing is called a bulk roof, since the process resembles creation of bulk floors.

Roof waterproofing

This type of roof waterproofing consists in applying paints, enamels or emulsions based on bitumen and polymer additives. Paint waterproofing by roller or automatic using a spray gun. Evenly create several layers one after another with an interval for solidification of the previous layer. Such layers are usually 2-4 and this gives greater strength of the waterproofing, and its greater durability. The thickness of the general layer of protection against moisture can reach 6 centimeters. To harden the surface after finishing the application, the layers are sprinkled with fine-grained sand in order to harden the surface. Although the short term of operation, which is 5 years, is not very attractive, but such waterproofing is affordable and does not require a large budget.

Roof waterproofing

The oklyekechny method of waterproofing the roof is one of the oldest and most tried. The most common material for creating a protective layer that has been used for a very long time is roofing material. This material has the most affordable cost and quite easy to install, which does not require special skills and knowledge. Even a beginner can cope with this if he carefully examines information on how to carry out these works.

This method of waterproofing involves the use of not only traditional roll materials, but also other analogues of roofing material, which have the best physical properties - it is glassine, roofing, glass fiber, hydroisol, brizol, isol. There are also new materials that were developed recently and have already proven themselves for their practicality and excellent waterproofing properties - vinyl plastic, polyethylene, isoplast, bridge plastic, polyvinyl chloride, isoelast, ecoflex.

When laying gluing waterproofing on the roof of the house with rolled materials, for example, roofing felt, it is necessary to prepare the roof surface where protection against moisture will be carried out. The surface should be maximally smooth and evenIrregularities of up to 2 millimeters are allowed. After all the preparatory work on leveling has been done, the surface is primed with a layer of bitumen emulsion and then the rolled material that you plan to use is laid.

Sheets of roofing material or other material are overlapped on each other by 15-20 centimeters. After the roll waterproofing sticker is applied, the surface should be sprinkled with stone chips. It should be understood that such waterproofing sensitive to mechanical damage and this factor should be taken into account. Carry out waterproofing by the roll method at a temperature of + 10-15 degrees Celsius. The low cost of waterproofing the roof with this method, which is about $ 10 per square meter, attracts most people who decide to waterproof, having a small budget.

Penetrating roof waterproofing

This type of waterproofing is often applied to a surface with a porous structure. These are concrete, brick, foam blocks and other limestone blocks. Penetrating waterproofing requires prepare the surface well, that is, clear of contamination. Such impregnation penetrates into all cracks and pores of the surface, filling and waterproofing them, hardening inside. Such impregnation not only perfectly preserves the treated surface from moisture penetration, but also strengthens the structure of the entire structure.

IN such materials are used as a waterproofing masslike liquid polymers, synthetic resins or liquid glass. To apply such compositions, spray guns are used, which are most convenient for penetrating waterproofing. The surface must be fat free and it is well cleaned so that the impregnation easily penetrates the structure of the surface being treated and forms crystals there, which will create a protective structure that prevents the penetration of moisture.

Some tips for choosing a material and method of waterproofing

Styrofoam Roof

During the waterproofing of the roof, which will also be insulated with polystyrene foam, which is itself excellent protective material moisture penetration. If the joints between the panels of expanded polystyrene are well processed, the protection against moisture will become even better. A waterproofing film is also used, which is a simple polyethylene, but more dense. Other similar materials of higher quality and more expensive can be used using the latest raw materials that make waterproofing even more effective.

Flat roof waterproofing

• When carrying out protection against external weather conditions of a flat roof, you can use membrane waterproofing in conjunction with insulation. This is called an inverse roof, when several types of waterproofing are used together with other materials.
• Another way to waterproof a flat roof is this is bulk waterproofing, which involves the use of mastics. At the same time, mastic can be used, like on new roofs, and to restore old waterproofing coatings.
• Another great option to protect a flat roof is liquid rubber, which perfectly fulfills its task on the roof surface.
• If the budget for roof waterproofing is very small, then roll materials, which are a great choice, will be a good choice, but the most affordable is of course the roofing material or its more modern analogues, such as rubemast or euroroofing material.

Attic waterproofing

If you want to implement attic in the attic of a housethen it is possible use superdiffusion membrane in conjunction with vapor barrier and insulation. This is certainly not the cheapest way of waterproofing, but one of the most effective. With it, you can be sure that the protection against moisture will be of the highest class. Membrane waterproofing is suitable for roofs with a complex configuration, as it has good elasticity and flexibility, which allows you to create any configuration for bending.

Waterproofing of slate roofs and under a metal tile

It should be mentioned roofing material such as slateWhich is not afraid of moisture and is a good waterproofing. Previously, roofing material was laid under the slate, but now hydrobarrier is used or waterproofing perforated film.The same waterproofing method is used under metal tile.

The film is attached to the rafters with a pitched roof or logs overlap. To fix the material, nails or staples made of stainless steel are used, with which an additional crate of special wooden battens is mounted.

For roofs where used metal coating, such as metal, it is best to use a type of waterproofing such as anti-condensation film, which will absorb condensate accumulated in the rocky areas of the roof, thereby preventing moisture from entering.