Title: SelfAdhesive Roof Membranes Best Practices, Common Problems, and Other Sticky Information From the M
1Self-Adhesive Roof Membranes Best
Practices,Common Problems, andOther Sticky
InformationFrom the Manufacturers
Perspective Helene Hardy Pierce Tim
Kersey GAF Materials Corporation Siplast
2Self-Adhesive Roof Membranes
- Characteristics common to all SA membranes
- Self-Adhesive not self-adhering
- Weve yet to see a roll adhere itself to anything
3Self-Adhesive Roof Membranes
- Characteristics common to all SA membranes
- Self-Adhesive not self-adhering
- Weve yet to see a roll adhere itself to anything
- Should be termed PSA (pressure sensitive
adhesive) membranes - Pressure must be applied to ensure complete and
watertight bonds
4Self-Adhesive Roof Membranes
- Characteristics common to all SA membranes
- Self-Adhesive not self-adhering
- Weve yet to see a roll adhere itself to anything
- Should be termed PSA (pressure sensitive
adhesive) membranes - Pressure must be applied to ensure complete and
watertight bonds - Requires some finesse compared with traditional
application methods - These arent your fathers hot mot mopped or
welded systems
5WHY Self-Adhesive Membranes?
- Advantages
- no adhesive to apply no buckets to dispose of
- no open dry time less set-up time
- reduced solvents/fumes no hot asphalt
- consistent/uniform application of adhesive
- techniques arent radically different
- details familiar either the same or very
similar - crew size may be reduced
- speedy application
6WHERE Do Self-Adhesive Membranes Make Sense?
- Where open flames are not allowed
- Where solvent or asphalt fumes may be an issue
- Where you cant set-up for hot asphalt, but want
an asphaltic system
7WHERE Do Self-Adhesive Membranes Make Sense?
- Where a mechanically attached system wont work
you cant penetrate the deck - When you have a weight limitation
8WHEN are Self-Adhesive Membranes NOT a Good Idea?
- Ponding water, anyone?
- Steep slope, no ability to fasten
- Cold (or cool) weather?
- Dirty, messy tear-off cant quarantine or
separate the roofing application
9Some General Considerations
- Be sure to store properly out of direct sunlight
- Do not use if membrane is not tacky to the touch
(SA has a shelf life) - Be sure to have adequate slope and drainage
- Dont interfere with ventilation needs of the
building they can form a vapor barrier
10Additional Considerations
- Substrate must be
- clean
- dry
- free of dust, dirt, oils, etc
- may need priming
- Perform a tape test with masking tape to
confirm substrates condition
11Additional Considerations
- Without liquid bitumen (hot asphalt, torch,
bonding or cold adhesive) to fill surface
irregularities it is critical to pay attention
to laps and t-joints - SA sheets are pressure sensitive and should be
treated as such.
12Additional Considerations
- Be sure to follow mfrs temperature
recommendations cool weather will affect how
well they adhere - At temperatures below 50oF special precautions
should be followed especially if there is no
sun - The ambient temperature, substrate temperature,
and membrane temperature must all be considered. - Artificial heating, e.g., hot air may be employed
to ensure adhesion at low temperature
13What Types of Products Are Available?
- Asphaltic membranes
- Steep-slope ice damming membranes
- Low Slope Systems
- Single ply membranes
- TPO
14Self-Adhesive Low Slope
- Combines the historical performance of modified
bitumen compounds with addition of a
self-adhesive layer for ease of application,
however..
15Self-Adhesive Low Slope
- There are basic differences between steep and low
slope applications. - Steep slope products are typically used as
underlayment, and function as secondary moisture
protection - Low slope products must be waterproof when they
are installed
16Specifically for Asphaltic Membranes
- Base/inter plies
- self-adhesive w/release film or paper
- various surfacing options (sand, film, SA, .)
- some are suitable for mechanical attachment
- reinforced with either fiberglass, polyester, or
a combination of the two - Cap sheets
- self-adhesive w/release film or paper
- typically granule surfaced or other opaque
surfacing - reinforced with either fiberglass, polyester, or
a combination of the two
17Self-Adhesive Roof System
18Self-Adhesive HW Cap Sheets
- SA base plies with heat welded (HW) cap sheets
offer added protection for torch applications. - Combustible materials and hidden areas of
negative air pressure are covered by the SA
material. See CERTA guidelines. - SA base plies with heat welded cap sheets also
extend the application window for SA sheets in
cool conditions.
19Self-Adhesive Cool Temperature
50oF
50oF
Sticky ?
Not sticky ?
Self-Adhesive membranes can be the Jekyll and
Heyde of roof membranes. Check specific product
qualities.
20Self-Adhesive Cool Temperature
50oF
Use tacky primers in iffy conditions to
enhance bond.
21Self-Adhesive TPO Membranes
- Using traditional smooth back membranes as the
backbone45, 60, 80 mil - Its the same sheet that provides the
waterproofing and weathering layer
22Self-Adhesive TPO Membranes? What Stays the Same?
- Everything plus adhesive
- Reflectivity its still Energy Star, meets
Title 24 - Puncture resistance
- Tear resistance
- Cold flex
- Breaking strength/elongation at break
- Dimensional stability
23TOP 10 LIST
- Helene and Tims Top 10 List
- (well almost 10)
- What NOT To Do!
24Avoid
- Improper Insulation Attachment
- Fasteners not set properly, backing out
- Dirt and Debris on Substrate
- Affects ability to adhere
- Moisture on Substrate (even morning dew or that
light mist on a foggy morning) - Affects ability to adhere
- Low Temperatures During Installation (just
because there wasnt ice on the rolls) - Requires warming rolls, tacky primers, or heating
if necessary - Misalignment of Sheet
- Can short the lap width especially with
membranes that dont have a granule selvedge
25Avoid
- Not Properly Rolling In the Membrane/Using Wrong
Roller (or none ewww) - Can affect adhesion to the substrate
- Mis-Identifying T-Joint Locations
- Use of a 45 degree cut greatly reduces problem
- Improper Wall Flashing Heights
- Both too low and too high follow mfrs
recommendations - Absence of Primer
- Critical to adhesion, especially on walls and
membrane
26Where Should Care Be Taken?
- What are acceptable substrates?
- How should the lap area be cleaned?
- What about priming of the laps?
- Weather conditions gt45 or 50F typically.
27Where Should Care Be Taken?
- Placement of the membrane
- if heat weldable grademake sure the lap is
placed correctly - Self-adhering laps may be larger can reduce area
covered by 5 - Is cut edge sealant recommended? What about
sealant along the underside side laps? - How should endlaps be made?
28Self-Adhesive Overlap Treatment Is Critical
Unless filled, there will be a systemic void at
overlaps.
29Where Should Care Be Taken?
- Remember, repositioning of the membrane is
difficult at best impossible at worst check
sheet position before removing release film - Sheet to sheet adhesion cut out replace (you
want this stuff to be sticky) - Keep paper, debris, release film, dirt, etc. from
getting into the system - Follow mfrs recommendations regarding rolling of
membrane/laps
30And You Were Wondering Wheres the Data?
31Peel StrengthDifferent Sheets / Same
SubstrateConditioned and Tested at 73F
32Peel StrengthSame SA Sheet / Different Primers
Conditioned and Tested at 73F
33For TPO, Same Story, Different Day
- About cleaning on self-adhering laps
34In Summary Consider System Advantages
- No (or min. amount) adhesive to apply
- Always correct, consistent/uniform application of
adhesive - No buckets to dispose of
- Less staging area
- No open dry time or set-up time
- No need to wait for solvent to flash off
35In Summary Consider System Advantages
- Reduced solvents/fumes no hot asphalt
- Less use of solvent based adhesives
- Techniques arent radically different
- Details familiar
- Either the same or very similar
- Speedy application
- Crew size may be reduced
36In Summary Dont Forget System Limitations
- Increased Material Cost
- Adhesive cost is built in from the factory
- Positive Drainage Required
- For completely self-adhered systems
- Ambient Temperatures
- Cold weather is bad, 45-50 degrees and rising
- Reduced Coverage ?
- Products with larger lap area reduce coverage
37Thank You For Your Time And Consideration!