WHAT IS A SINGLE PLY MEMBRANE FLAT ROOF?
Simply put they’re a single layer of waterproofing membrane normally made from various combinations of manmade synthetic materials. The first single ply membranes were created over 70 years ago in Germany and have been successfully used across the globe since then, collectively covering many millions of square meters of flat and shaped roofs.
How Do They Compare With More Traditional Flat Roofing Materials???
Here in the UK most of our flat roofs are covered with multi layered mineral felts or asphalt. The main advantage of these coverings is that they are generally very cheap and over the years manufacturers have moved to create a DIY type of product available to the general public and small jobbing builders.
The Challenge With These Types Of Products Is Basically Two Fold:How they react to extremes of heat and cold leading to cracking, splitting and failure normally after 10 to 12 years.
How Do They Compare With More Traditional Flat Roofing Materials???
Here in the UK most of our flat roofs are covered with multi layered mineral felts or asphalt. The main advantage of these coverings is that they are generally very cheap and over the years manufacturers have moved to create a DIY type of product available to the general public and small jobbing builders.
The Challenge With These Types Of Products Is Basically Two Fold:How they react to extremes of heat and cold leading to cracking, splitting and failure normally after 10 to 12 years.
Different Types Of Installation Systems
Mechanically Fastened V’s Fully Bonded: Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. As a general rule of thumb if your substrate deck is timber you would use the mechanically fastened systems and if it’s concrete or say wood wool slabs you would normally use a fully bonded system.
Please be aware though the fully bonded systems should not be installed if the temperature is less than 5 degrees.
Heat Welded Joins or Glued Joins: Without question a proper heat welded join is far superior to the various glued and taped systems out there. This is because no-one has any control over the moisture levels and temperature which affect all adhesives, where as welds created using a heat gun are more consistent and not affected by the weather.
Mechanically Fastened V’s Fully Bonded: Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. As a general rule of thumb if your substrate deck is timber you would use the mechanically fastened systems and if it’s concrete or say wood wool slabs you would normally use a fully bonded system.
Please be aware though the fully bonded systems should not be installed if the temperature is less than 5 degrees.
Heat Welded Joins or Glued Joins: Without question a proper heat welded join is far superior to the various glued and taped systems out there. This is because no-one has any control over the moisture levels and temperature which affect all adhesives, where as welds created using a heat gun are more consistent and not affected by the weather.
