What are membrane roofs?
Roofs made of PVC membranes are highly resistant to cold, which allows work to be carried out at any time of the year using the same technology, while maintaining exceptionally high quality under all conditions.
Where are roofing membranes used?
- for creating a waterproof roofing layer,
- protecting the interior of the building,
- technical PVC membrane and modified bitumen coating are significantly cheaper and therefore the most popular in residential construction.
What is a roofing membrane made of?
- made of synthetic rubber,
- from thermoplastics (PVC membrane for the roof),
- from modified bitumen.
What is the area of application for roofing membranes?
- flat roofs
- roofs with a slight slope.
What are the advantages of membrane roofing?
- quick and easy installation;
- high repair potential;
- wide range of materials;
- mechanical strength — the use of elastic polymers makes membrane materials resistant to mechanical damage;
- flexibility — the PVC membrane on the roof is highly flexible, which simplifies installation on complex-shaped structures;
- roofing does not require reinforcement, membrane roofs are very lightweight;
- reliable protection against leaks, provided there is no mechanical damage;
- long service life — with proper installation, it lasts for decades;
- low maintenance costs;
- good heat retention.
Installing a roofing membrane creates a hermetic barrier against moisture, providing waterproofing for flat roofs.
Rubber waterproofing membrane for roofing is more often used in industrial and commercial facilities due to its high cost.
What is TPO?
It is thermoplastic polyolefin.
One of the most common types of membranes used on flat roofs.
TPO coating is relatively thin compared to other membranes — its thickness is usually about 1.1–2 millimeters.
When attaching to the roof, it is either loosely laid or glued.
Reinforced PVC roofing membrane:
- Roof construction using PVC membrane is popular due to its ease of installation and low cost.
- The material is fire-resistant and withstands high temperatures well.
- PVC membrane properties vary between manufacturers; the thickness of the coating is usually around 40–100 millimeters.
- The widespread use of PVC membranes is also due to the ease of maintenance.
What is the technology for installing membrane roofing?
Profiled PVC membrane can be installed in three different ways.
When choosing the time for installing a membrane roof, attention should be paid to the ambient temperature, as the quality of seam welding is crucial for achieving a strong bond.
- Hot air welding is used to seal the seams using equipment that produces a stream of hot air at a temperature of about 500 °C. The main advantage of hot air welding is that it can be done in winter, as it does not require adhesives.
- Adhesive method. In short, the soft PVC membrane is attached to the base using a special adhesive. Although this is a quick and easy installation method, it has one important feature: if condensation forms under the membrane (which sometimes occurs due to poor roof ventilation), the adhesive that holds the membrane in place may weaken. As a result, such a covering will be poorly protected from strong winds. It is recommended to additionally secure the membrane mechanically to the roof frame or base. This type of installation should only be carried out when the ambient temperature is above +5 °C; otherwise, the adhesive freezes and the membrane does not properly bond to the base.
- Ballast fastening. In this method, the membrane is freely laid over the base and is not glued or fixed to it. The membrane is held in place by ballast, usually washed river gravel, concrete pavers, or any other heavy material.
