Rolled soft roofing is a type of roofing coating on a bitumen-polymer basis, which is often used on horizontal bases with a slight slope. For example, in garages.
In this review, we will not talk about the pros and cons of this type of roofing, but consider only the basic nuances that beginners need to know.
And let's start with the choice of material. This issue must be approached responsibly. If you want to get a high-quality roofing that will protect against rain (snow and rain) for many years, then it is better not to save on the material itself.
What material to choose
Rolled soft roofs can be made on a different basis. The cheapest is considered - based on fiberglass, the mechanical strength of such a material is poor, and the roll is easy to tear during transportation.
It is better to choose rolls based on fiberglass or polyester. Pay attention to the thickness of the bitumen base - the thicker the better.
For the garage, many recommend buying stekloizol. Yes, the material is budgetary, but if you do not have experience installing soft roofs, it is better to buy glass insulation not on the basis of fiberglass, but on the basis of fiberglass (yes, a little more expensive, but more reliable, and it is more convenient to work with it).
Preparing the base of the roof
Before proceeding with the fusion of the roll, it is necessary to properly prepare the base. To do this, you first need to remove the old coating, repair or make a new screed and roll it with a primer.
This method of preparing the base of the roof is the most reliable, but labor-intensive. Therefore, if you are not ready for this, then you can deposit the waterproofing material directly on the old roofing.
Please note that with a slope of more than 15% of the roof, two layers of soft roof will be enough. If the slope is 5-14%, then in this case it is recommended to lay three layers.
The layer can be laid "apart" so that the seams of the upper one are shifted to the side by 50 cm from the seams of the lower layer, or crosswise, when each layer is laid perpendicular to each other.
Mounting Features
Start laying the rolls from top to bottom, moving from the bottom of the roof to the top. Thus, rain or melt water will not fall into the seams.
Rubber or metal rollers can be used for rolling seams, but before that, the surface of the roll must be sprayed with water so as not to damage the protective coating (sprinkling from slate).
When mounting joints, it is advisable to plaster the vertical surface of the wall (or at least cover it with a solution of cracks and indentations), and then cover with a layer of mastic or primer.
In the process of fusing the soft roof, a gas roof burner is used, which is connected to a propane cylinder.
When heating the roll (in particular, glass), do not overheat the bitumen base, otherwise the sprinkling from the slate will “float”.
