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Article
on How to waterproof concrete roofs
by Dr. W. C. Ames PhD. |
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Waterproofing concrete with roof coatings
is an important task on concrete structures for roof repair
and preservation. Many roofs throughout the world are constructed
using poured concrete. These structures are usually made
with reinforced steel. They are inexpensive but require
a great deal of maintenance to keep them from leaking since
they shift, move, and dissolve easily. The problem with
concrete is that it IS concrete. Concrete is made up from
several ingredients including calcium carbonate and sand.
Calcium Carbonate is a plentiful substance that comes from
the dead skeletons of sea life. These plentiful substances
dissolve quite easily in very wet environments unless they
are protected.
The Ames® Company specializes in the making
of specialty rubber and plastic coatings that
extend the life of concrete. These products stretch with
the concrete and form a waterproof membrane. Unfortunately,
untreated concrete cracks and dissolves in many geographic
areas where there is a great deal of rain. In the wintertime,
water leaks into the untreated cracks and freezes and expands
substantially damaging your concrete building.
Before beginning any project, read all instruction labels. Always run a test patch first in an inconspicuous
area, to ensure that proper adhesion and drying occurs and
the product works to your satisfaction.
Usually a concrete structure is composed of
four walls of poured concrete and a poured concrete roof.
Walls and parapet walls, both outside and inside, over the
roof need to be water proofed. Both outside walls and inside
walls should always be considered to be a part of your waterproofing
tasks. The building should be thought of as a total building
envelope. If you have stucco on the outside of the building,
use Ames “Super Primer” and then “Paint
& Prime®” to waterproof the stucco or concrete
surface.
PREPARE THE SURFACE
How to fix flat roofs or concrete roofs with “roof
coatings” is really a simple process even for the
“do it yourselfer”. The first thing you should do is to power wash the entire surface area of
the roof, which will remove most of the loose material.
Use caution, so as not to damage any interior areas due
to roof leakage that are inside the building. In certain
situations, a shot-blaster may be needed to roughen the
surface. In addition, it might be a good idea to fill any
large cracks and crevices with mortar.
PRIME THE SURFACE
After preparing the surface you will need to prime the roof
with Ames Pure Acrylic Plastic primer, “Super Primer”.
Super Primer will dry rapidly and will flow into the cracks
and crevices of the concrete rooftop. It will bond to the
concrete with remarkable adhesion. Super Primer has an affinity
for concrete and it actually glues together and strengthens
old concrete surfaces. Read all instruction labels before
beginning. Always run a test patch first in an inconspicuous
area, to ensure that proper adhesion and drying occurs and
the product works to your satisfaction.
SEAM TAPE
Next, seam tape all remaining cracks larger than one-eighth
of an inch. Seam tape with “Ames Peel & Stick”
Seam tape. This tape comes in 2 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch
widths by 50-foot rolls. This rubber tape contours easily
to the surface and will stick with the most remarkable adhesion
to the primed surface. The seam tape will be difficult to
remove from here on out.
TOPCOAT THE SURFACE
Apply at least two gallons per 100 sq. ft. of “Super
Elasto-Barrier” or similar Ame's product. Finally,
apply two to three gallons per 100 sq. ft. of Ames Maximum
Stretch elastomeric acrylic plastic coating. Super Primer,
Seam Tape, Super Elasto Barrier, and “Maximum-Stretch”
are an unbeatable combination for concrete roofs. This five-gallon
per 100 sq. ft. system will cost about $1.40 per square
foot on average.
DRAINAGE
Proper drainage is also an important factor on concrete
roofs. With this application, you will be substantially
strengthening the concrete with the pure acrylic plastic
Super Primer. Followed by the rubber “Super Elasto-Barrier”.
Be sure to apply seam tape where the vertical and horizontal
concrete joints meet at the parapet roof and wall joints.
The parapet wall and cap also need to be water proofed.
This combination of coatings, as well as the outside of
the parapet wall, should be waterproofed with Ames “Paint
& Prime”.
ROOF DECKS
If the surface is a roof deck application and you wish to
walk on your roof, then you can apply Ames “Safe-T-
Deck” non-skid durable plastic paint as your final
coat. This product comes in a variety of colors. Lighter colors
are best for areas in high heat. Dark colors in the northern
hemispheres.
We at Ames wish you the best in your application.
The drawing below describes a basic
product application.
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