The world is changing before our eyes, and often at a pace we can’t even recognize like roofing. At one time, nearly anything that kept the weather out was good – mud, thatch, and tiles form the foundation of the roofing industry. Today, some of that old technology is new technology all over again in the form of liquid roofing. Liquid Roofing is the process of waterproofing a roof by the application of a specialist liquid roof coating. It is suited to all types of roof, including flat, pitched, and domed.
The concept of liquid roofing dates back to the early 1800s when natural bitumen was combined with jute, straw, rag felt and other man made materials to provide a waterproofing solution for roofs. This eventually became a commercial activity with the use of liquefied rubber. The introduction of acrylics, acrylic emulsions, styrene butadienes and unsaturated polyesters led to improved quality and durability of the coatings.
Today, liquid roofing involves the application of a monolithic, fully bonded, liquid based coating to a roof that cures to form a rubber-like elastomeric waterproof membrane, capable of stretching and returning to its original shape without damage. The coatings can be applied over most traditional roofing materials, including felt, asphalt, bitumen, and concrete and is usually reinforced with secondary materials such as glass-reinforced plastic to provide additional tensile strength.
Liquid roofing provides a number of benefits for business and homeowners equally:
- Cost-effectiveness – delivering up to 25 years of performance depending on the coating system employed, and it is estimated that liquid roofing is 70 percent less expensive than overall roof replacement in refurbishment situations.
- High performance – liquid roofing products have been independently tested and their performance verified.
- Safety – materials used in the liquid roofing process are applied cold, thus negating any fire risk.
- Encapsulation – preserving whatever is underneath and protecting it from weathering. For asbestos roofs, using a liquid coating system seals the asbestos, therefore making disturbance of the material more difficult.
- Easy Application – rapid curing, excellent adhesion to all kinds of surfaces and chemical resistant, resistance to extreme temperatures, and the membrane is completely waterproof with no heat or special equipment required.
Edmonton Roofing
For over 60 years, Edmonton’s A. Clark Roofing & Siding LP has built a rock-solid reputation based on our skill, honesty, and, most importantly, quality roofing workmanship and knowledge – including single-ply membrane roofing systems for residential and commercial flat roofs. To learn more about how liquid roofing for your home or business, contact A. Clark Roofing & Siding LP at 780-465-7571 today.