Membrane roofing: types, advantages, installation technology

In recent years, membrane roofing has become more and more well-liked as a flexible option for contemporary structures. Membrane roofing, in contrast to more conventional roofing materials like shingles or tiles, is made of rolls or sheets of plastic or synthetic rubber that are sealed together to create a continuous waterproof membrane that covers the roof. This technology is a preferred option for both residential and commercial applications because it provides a number of clear advantages.

Membrane roofing offers excellent waterproofing, which is one of its main advantages. High levels of water and weather resistance are exhibited by the materials, which include thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM). This feature guarantees membrane roofs’ ability to successfully shield buildings from leaks and moisture intrusion, which is essential for preserving the roof’s structural integrity and the interior spaces beneath it.

The versatility and simplicity of installation of membrane roofing are additional advantages. In contrast to inflexible roofing materials that might necessitate precise positioning and fastening, membrane roofs are generally fitted in expansive, uninterrupted panels or rolls. This seamless application increases the longevity and durability of the roof by lowering the possibility of joints and seams where water could seep in.

Furthermore, membrane roofing is renowned for being lightweight, which has benefits for projects involving both new construction and roof replacement. Compared to heavier alternatives, the lightweight materials put less strain on the building’s structure, which could lower construction costs and give architects more creative freedom when creating architectural plans.

All things considered, membrane roofing systems provide a contemporary, dependable, and affordable option for a range of roofing requirements. In today’s roofing industry, their combination of structural benefits, ease of installation, and effectiveness in waterproofing make them a compelling choice for both residential and commercial buildings.

The device of a membrane roof

Membrane-coated roofs differ constructively from other soft roof types; the only difference is that material made of oilopolymer resins or synthetic rubber is applied on top rather than rubber meters or roofing material. For such coatings, there are three possible roof pie configurations.

Traditional soft roof with concrete base

The conventional roof is constructed from hollow or ribbed reinforced concrete slabs on unoccupied roofs. The layers in this instance, arranged from the bottom up, are as follows:

• railway plate;
• lung concrete cutting (with the addition of expanded clay or foam);
• vapor barrier;
• insulation. Harsh varieties are used – expanded clay, extrusion polystyrene foam or stoves from a pressed mineral wool of high density;
• reinforced screed;
• Polymer membrane.

Inversion roof

The conventional layer order is somewhat altered in this inversion, known as the "operated concrete roof," where the membrane is placed beneath the insulation. On such a roof, there may be a lawn, parking, or cafe. Below is the layer order in this instance:

• railway plate;
• lung concrete cutting;
• polymer membrane;
• Moisture -resistant hard insulation: of those available and effective, only extrusion polystyrene foam;
• drainage layer for filtering effluents – usually a layer of crushed stone on a substrate from geotextiles;
• Finish coating: tiles, asphalt concrete on screed or fertile soil with vegetation.

Naughty roof with a rafter system

From the bottom up, this is how the pitched rafter roof is designed:

• internal sheathing (drywall, plywood, lining, etc.);
• vapor barrier;
• rafters with a heater laid between them;
• vapor -permeable waterproofing membrane or wind protection (not to be confused with membrane roofing);
• ventilation gap, which is formed by means of the counter -rafters stuffed on the rafters;
• waterproofing film;
• continuous single -layer or two -layer crate;
• Roof membrane.

The advantages of roofing membranes and their varieties

In every way, roofing polymer membranes outperform roller bitumen-polymeric materials (BPM).

1. Have a service life of 25-50 years against fifteen at the BPM.
2. They are laid in one layer (BPM – in 3-5 layers).
3. Mounted faster.
4. Used on roofs of any steepness. BPM from roofs cooler than 25 o in the heat slide.
5. Durable and resistant to ultraviolet radiation, therefore they do not need to be added from stone crumbs.
6. Frost -resistant (there are no pores), are not afraid of oxidation (even from the ozone), extreme temperatures and temperature differences.
7. Retain plasticity at low temperatures, therefore they can be mounted in winter. For example, SKPP -membranes remain flexibility on a rod with a diameter of 5 mm at temperatures up to -60 o C.
8. Can be delivered in large rolls – 15–20 m wide and up to 60 m long. This allows you to minimize the number of seams.
9. Little weigh. The thickness of the membrane is only 0.8–2 mm, the average coating weight is 1.3 kg/m 2 .
10. When igniting, they create a much lower firing load on the building than BPM.
11. Elastic. For example, rubber membranes stretch without damage by 250%, which excludes the appearance of leaks with roof deformations or the entire building.
12. The panels of some varieties of membranes can be connected by heat cooker, forming actually seamless coating.

The expensive price is the sole disadvantage when compared to BPM. However, because the membrane is more durable than the BPM, over many years of operation, the costs of maintaining the coating are only half as high.

Membranes for roofs from:

• EPDM and SKAPT (rubber rubber-propylene-dyennia);
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride);
• TPO (thermoplastic olefin elastomers).

Synthetic ethylene-propylene-adyen rubbers EPDM and SKAPT

Even though more sophisticated types have since been developed, rubber roofing membranes were initially used and are still in use today. This is because of the qualities they possess:

• low cost;
• the absence of the need to use special equipment for installation;
• resistance to solvents, oils and bitumen.

The one, and only, real disadvantage of EPDM and SKEPT membranes is that they must be attached with specialized glue. The membrane itself has a proven service life of 40 years, but with proper installation and computation, it can last up to 50 years, but the seams diverge much sooner. They must be periodically decreased; if you neglect to do this, the coating will seep.

Rubber (SKEPT) membranes known as "Cromel" and "Rukryry" are made in Russia. They are twice as affordable as their foreign counterparts, such as those from Carlisle Syntes Systems and Firestone (USA), without sacrificing quality.

Three performances are used to produce Squepts and EPDM membranes:

• soft;
• harsh (reinforced with synthetic net);
• with reflecting coating (for hot climate).

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Although PVC membranes are more costly than rubber, they have one significant advantage: polyhlorvinyl is a thermoplast, meaning that its physico-chemical properties remain unchanged after heating to soften and remove thermal load. This is because individual cloths can be joined by heat welding, or hot air heating, to create a whole coating. Even in the event that the coating is submerged in water continuously, the seams in this type of membrane do not adhere and do not leak.

Rubber and PVC membranes are nearly equal in terms of durability; PVC membranes have a 35-year proven service life.

• unstable to the effects of oils, solvents and bitumen, which requires the adoption of appropriate safety measures during transportation and storage;
• For installation, special equipment is required.

This type of membrane completely replaces the rubber products that are still in demand because it requires the use of a special instrument for PVC welding.

Thermoplastic olefin elastomers (TPO)

The material is connected, much like PVC. It doesn’t release hazardous volatile compounds like polyhlorvinil does, but its flexibility is far less than that of other membranes.

Membrane roofing: installation technology

Rolls on the roof simply unfold during installation. It is not necessary to align the base because the unevenness’s elastic membrane is safe. Additionally, the old roofing only needs to have its sharp edges covered with two layers of geotextiles; it doesn’t need to be removed.

The following procedures are then carried out:

• glue or weld panels;
• fix the membrane on the roof.

Take a closer look at them.

Adhesive connection of paintings

Membranes made of synthetic rubber (SKEPT and EPDM) link the adhesive method. The steps are as follows.

1. The connected panels are laid with an overlap of 150 mm.
2. On the lower panel, several markers are made along the entire edge of the upper, designating the width of the overlap.
3. On the upper panel at a distance of 300 mm from the edge, a series of strokes with glue for temporary fixation of the bent edge is applied.
4. The edge of the upper panel is bent and pressed to the previously applied glue spots.
5. Both canvases in the overlap zone are smeared with glue. When applying the composition to the lower panel, they are focused on the marker marker.
6. A special tape with a glossy-hoofing surface is laid on a lubricated area of ​​the lower panel so that its edge plays for marker marks.
7. The bent edge of the upper panel is rejected and returned to a normal position, laying it on a tape, which prevents the gluing of the paintings, allows them to smooth them and achieve complete fit.
8. Having taken up the edge sticking out from under the upper panel, the tape is gradually pulled out and immediately rolled over the roller with a roller, pressing the panels to each other.

In windy weather, the panels cannot be glued together because debris and seams will get trapped in the connection point.

Video: EPDM gluing technology

Heat -welded joint joints

The process of joining a PVC and TPO membrane involves hot air welding. The following factors affect the seam’s quality:

• heating temperatures;
• the width of the welding apparatus, that is, the width of the seam;
• welding speeds;
• Pressure forces for the welded lands.

The most crucial factor is the heating temperature. Risky, non-healing, and excessively hot. In the first instance, the panel edges are sticking together, but they won’t fuse into a single, monolithic seam, so even with a small load, the connection will break apart. The material will weaken in the second phase, known as the "temperature shock," as polymer molecules disperse into smaller compounds. The challenge lies in the fact that the ideal heating temperature is contingent upon both the ambient air temperature and, to a certain degree, its relative humidity.

For instance, the ideal heating temperature is 560 O C when the air temperature is +25 O C, the nozzle width is 40 mm, and the humidity is between 40 and 60%.

Before installation, a trial welding is done to precisely select all the parameters based on the weather at the time. Try joining two tiny membrane fragments before attempting to break them at the seam. In light of the test findings, the following conclusions are made:

• The gap occurred outside the seam – the welding parameters were selected correctly;
• gap along the seam – the material is overheated;
• The panels in the seam zone peel off from each other – the temperature turned out to be low.

Test welding is carried out each time following:

• long shutdowns of the apparatus during which he manages to cool;
• significant changes in weather conditions.

After determining the ideal settings, start the installation process.

1. Pathers are laid with an overlap of 60 mm.
2. The edge of the upper panel is lifted and thermofen is a nozzle for it, turning it 45 degrees.
3. Heated the material, the device is moved on, and the processed areas are rolled with a silicone roller. With proper welding, a small amount of white smoke appears.
4. Having completed the welding of the seam and waiting for cooling, its quality is checked with a flat screwdriver, which is carried out along the seam with slight pressure. If defects are detected (the screwdriver flows freely passes into the space between the panels) welding in this place is carried out again. If the material is overheated, a patch with dimensions is more than 100-150 mm in each direction is welded on a defective site.
5. For reliability, the seam outside is smeared with liquid PVC.

Video: welding with hot air PVC membranes

Juits of adjacence

The following is the design of adjacent vertical structures: ventilation pipes, walls, and parapets.

1. To a vertical structure at a height of at least 30 cm from the main roofing with dowels, a special steel rail is screwed in a plastic shell (laminated). Step dowel – no more than 25 cm.
2. A polyurethane sealant is applied under the rail before final screwing. When designing junctions to external or internal corners, corners are used instead of the rails. Between sequentially laid profiles, a gap for free temperature expansion should be left.
3. The strip is cut off from the membrane, by 15 cm superior to the height of the rail installation above the main coating, that is, at least 45 cm.
4. Weld the edge of the strip to the plastic membrane of the rail.
5. Glue the strip to the vertical structure.
6. Weld the lower edge (with a properly selected strip width, it lies on the roof) to the main roofing material.
7. Check the quality of the seams with a flat screwdriver and coat them with liquid PVC.

Video: The device of the external and internal angles of the roof from the PVC membrane

Features of the execution of T-shaped sutures

It is frequently necessary to assemble a lengthy panel from two or more parts. In this instance, the longitudinal seams are welded after the transverse seams. A T-shaped seam is the end result.

There is a shift in the frame of the transverse seams. It is not permitted for four layers of material to cross at one location. For a seamless transition from one panel to the next, the panel corners are rounded.

The ballast mount of the membrane

The simplest method of crushing the membrane is to cover it with a 50 kg/m 2 layer of gravel or crushed stone. The following circumstances allow for the use of this method:

• The slope of the roof does not exceed 15 o;
• The roof is able to carry the specified load (in addition to snow).

To prevent them from being carried away by the wind, large stones are used. Geotextiles are pre-laid over the membrane if their edges and corners are sharp.

You can apply a coating made of concrete blocks or paving slabs in place of stones.

"With its various types, including TPO, PVC, and EPDM, each suited to a different need, membrane roofing offers a contemporary solution for protecting buildings. Its main benefits are weather and UV ray resistance, flexibility, and durability, which makes it perfect for both commercial and residential buildings. To ensure a seamless, waterproof finish, installing it correctly requires applying adhesive, cleaning, and heat sealing techniques. By examining these kinds, their advantages, and detailed installation techniques, this article equips readers with the knowledge they need to select and care for membrane roofs."

Mechanical method of fastening

When ballast cannot be applied, special fasteners are used to secure the membrane.

1. Bolts, anchors or self -tapping screws (depending on the type of base) with large plastic hats. Such hats are not able to pave the material.
2. With slopes over 10 O – indicated metizes in combination with disk holders.
3. On the protruding elements of the roof – with special regional rails with a seal.

Only reinforced membranes can be attached mechanically.

At 200 mm intervals, the fasteners are positioned along the seams. An extra set of fasteners is put in the yndovs when the slope is greater than 2 o.

The adhesive mount of the membrane

Since the adhesive road method is the least dependable, it is only utilized in the final phase after all other options have been exhausted.

Although solid gluing the membrane is an option, selective application of the glue is more common:

• around the perimeter;
• along the seams;
• on ribs;
• in the valleys;
• In places of adjacence to vertical structures and pipes.

For contemporary building projects, membrane roofing offers a flexible solution that combines long-lasting protection with a pleasing appearance. Synthetic materials with flexibility and weather resistance, such as EPDM, TPO, or PVC, are used in this kind of roofing system. Their exceptional resistance to extreme temperatures, UV rays, and moisture makes them highly prized in a variety of climates.

The ease of installation of membrane roofing is one of its main benefits. Membranes are lightweight and easily installed, in contrast to conventional roofing materials. This lowers labor expenses and lessens the chance of interfering with the building’s regular operations. Furthermore, membranes can be used on a range of roof sizes and shapes, giving designers and builders more creative freedom.

An additional noteworthy advantage of membrane roofs is their long lifespan. These roofs have a maximum 30-year lifespan when fitted and maintained correctly. Their longevity lowers maintenance costs over the roof’s lifespan by guaranteeing long-term protection and minimizing the need for frequent repairs or replacements.

Technological developments have brought about better installation and sealing techniques for membrane roofing systems, further improving them. Seamless, waterproof seals are made using contemporary methods like heat welding and adhesive bonding, which stop leaks and improve the overall performance of the roof. Membrane roofing is a preferred option for both residential and commercial buildings because of its dependability.

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