Waterproofing materials

Having a waterproof roof is one of the most important things you should consider when buying a house. Or, at least, when you’re going to re-roof your house. Waterproofing your roof could cause such a big difference in your life. Having the right type of waterproofing on your roof will avoid so many problems. Being that waterproofing, as it is, has many different purposes. From your boat, your vehicle, your home and even your clothes, waterproofing things is a complete savior.

But not all the waterproofing materials are right for everything. There are many types of waterproofing materials. So, let’s have a look at some of the best materials for waterproofing in general and which are the best types for your roof. It is important to understand the different types of waterproofing materials for your individualistic needs.

There are many different types of waterproofing materials, but let’s talk about some of them. The best ones are Polyurethane, Cementitious Coating, EPDM Rubber, Rubberized Asphalt, Thermoplastic, Bituminous Membrane, and PVC Waterproofing Membrane.We’ll have a wider look on some of them.

Polyurethane

Not all of the waterproofing materials are equal. Some people think that polyurethane is one of the best waterproofing options.Polyurethane has an amazing amount of benefits, and most of these benefits could not be offered by any other option. But you should try to learn as much as you can about this material before investing in it.

The biggest perk of polyurethane is that it provides a waterproofing membrane that will help to fill all of the capillary cracks there may be on your roof. Besides, it can help to decrease the water absorbency the concrete has. Besides, it will help to harden the concrete’s surface. Polyurethane, however, deeply penetrates the surface to do this.

This could be risky, since the material is actually toxic when it touches your skin or it’s inhaled. It is extremely important that, if you’re installing polyurethane, you let the professionals handle it, since any unsupervised activity with this material could cause serious damages to your overall health.

Polyurethane liquid membrane is commonly used for many purposes. For instance, it can be used to waterproof pedestrian decks, water tanks, ponds, balconies, roofs, bridges, parking decks, and so many more things.

Polyurethane liquid membrane is one of the best options to resist water and it will not cause any joints or leak risk areas. The material is also permeable to water vapor. Polyurethane is perfect to provide complete adhesion to the surfaces. Besides, this material is excellent because it resists detergents, chemicals and oils. It provides a 25 year long protection to your home, which could be a great relief for any homeowner. The only thing you should consider is that polyurethane can be more expensive than other materials, but you could see this as a long-term investment for your home.

Cementitious Coating

Cementitious coating is a powder that is made out of sand, organic and inorganic chemicals, and silica-based substances. When the active ingredients are combined with lime, this creates a hydration reaction, creating a waterproof seal. Many experts prefer working with this type of coating because it is so easy to use.

Most people would recommend that you mix the coating with a given amount of tap water before applying. Some even say that the best thing is to use an acrylic additive to create a solid and long-lasting coating.

Of course, every manufacturer will give you different instructions to mix the product, but it will always be the best choice to call your trusted roofer so he can take care of your roof. No material is exempt of any flaws, but they also have some perks to look at. One of the greatest things about this material is that its application is extremely easy. One of the biggest flaws, however, is that it is not as flexible as you may want. Of course, this makes sense: cement is not actually a flexible material on its own.

Cementitious waterproofing products can be used for many different purposes. From foundations and walls, to sidewalks, and walkways. This is a waterproofing material you can use to treat water-retaining structures, concrete tunnels, tanks, and water treatment facilities.

EPDM Rubber

EPDM Rubber is one of the most effective materials for roof waterproofing. This is a synthetic rubber material that can be used for an abundance of situations. It is a class M rugged that is made using ethylene and propylene. While it is commonly associated with silicone, both of these materials are extremely different.

EPDM rubber is mainly used to provide a waterproof coating to roofs. And it is actually an excellent choice for this purpose. Some industries also use it on vehicles, windows, woods and trunks. Some people also use it on vehicle heaters, oil coolers, water pumps, thermostats, and other places. Since the EPDM Rubber is an excellent waterproof material, it can be used on many things, however, it has been proven that it can create some noise on some vehicles. But this shouldn’t be a problem on your roof. This is an efficient, flexible and cheap material, which also happens to be recyclable.

Rubberized Asphalt

This is the preferred material for waterproofing the roof of large buildings such as malls and other commercial buildings. When you need to deal with bigger vegetation around your roof, this material may be the best option. This material is one of the best for rough environments, which is why it’s commonly used to cover campers and RVs.

It can hold pretty much everything that mother nature has to offer, and it is extremely flexible, which has allowed the material to be used to waterproof bridges, plazas, parking spaces, and commercial roofs. When used on concrete, the material can help cut down on cracking, noise, and hydroplaning. It will also improve the durability of the underlying material. Besides, and considering that it is commonly used to cover big surfaces, it is not as expensive as you might expect.

These are only some of the most common waterproofing materials you could find. It would always be the best decision to call your expert roofer so that he can verify the state of your roof and which waterproofing material could suit your home the best. But knowing a little bit more of the different materials could surely help you understand your contractor’s decision, and, of course, you’ll know how to take care of your roof, depending on its needs.