Any building needs waterproofing, which is used for the base, walls, roof and other elements. It is the roof that requires special protection, for which liquid rubber is increasingly used.

Peculiarities

Liquid rubber is a modern material that has excellent waterproofing properties. Such a material is created based on latex and bitumen emulsion. Liquid rubber can be used for roofing as a protection or as a stand-alone coating.

After application, the rubber begins to harden in a short time, turning from a liquid material into a solid, elastic membrane without seams and joints. Such material can be used on various areas and roofs with complex structures. Liquid rubber cannot be compared to other types of waterproofing. This can be easily verified by examining its benefits.

Advantages and disadvantages

Roofing liquid rubber has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Acquaintance with this material will not be complete if you do not study these two sides.

The list of pros consists of the following points:

• uniformity and solidity of the coating, absence of seams and joints;
• achieving maximum adhesion characteristics regardless of the coating material: concrete surface, wood or metal;
• filling small surface defects with liquid material simplifies the preparation stage;

• elasticity allows the liquid rubber coating to grow in size and return to its original parameters. This advantage becomes relevant with temperature drops and changing seasons. Cracks do not form on such a coating, which allows us to call it durable and hardy;
• the use of a mechanized method of application reduces the time of installation work and improves the quality of application. Fast and high-quality installation is especially important when processing convex and complex elements;

• environmental safety and absence of toxic substances in the composition;
• broad scope of application includes residential buildings, industrial and commercial complexes;
• the possibility of using a topcoat and creating a base area that can be used for further operation;
• a large number of shades and textures opens up huge opportunities for aesthetes and designers;
• easy repair that requires a minimum of time and money. Possibility of repair in a small area without affecting the main area.

Added to this impressive list of advantages are the following disadvantages:

• the need to use special equipment for applying liquid rubber to the roof;
• high requirements for the surface preparation process;
• the presence of requirements for environmental conditions, which must be maintained throughout the installation work;
• the complexity of dismantling a coating created from liquid rubber.

Varieties

The market for liquid roofing rubber is actively developing. Already, there are many varieties of this material, which makes roll materials no longer relevant.

The classification can be based on various principles.

• One-component material has a liquid consistency, low viscosity. The color palette is varied, which opens up great opportunities for choice.
• A two-component mastic liquid roof, in addition to the main components, also includes a hardener. The components are mixed immediately before application to the surface.

• The sprayed material is still recognized as the most promising due to its high quality and quick installation. Necessarily requires the use of special equipment.
• Painting rubber is available in a large assortment. It can be liquid and pasty. After hardening, forms a film on the surface. Installation is carried out using a hand tool.

• A self-leveling roof is an economical option and is usually used before installing the coating. The material is simply poured onto the prepared surface and leveled with a special hand tool resembling a mop.
• Hot rubber is more suitable for bituminous surfaces. The seamless surface provides reliable protection for the roof and the building as a whole.

• The cold material in the composition contains a solvent, is more mobile and convenient for installation. You can work with such material yourself. You need to have on hand gasoline or kerosene, which may be required to dilute the rubber.
• Reinforced was developed recently by the military-industrial complex. Initially, this material was used exclusively for the military and defense industries, so its characteristics are at a high level. It can be used equally on flat and sloped roofs.
• Liquid rubber can have a different base, most often bitumen and polyurethane foam are used. The second option is more innovative, durable and durable. Although bitumen is not yet going to fade into the background, since it is a proven, affordable and high-quality option.

How to choose?

At the time of purchase, you must carefully examine the liquid material. In its composition, large elements cannot be present, the waterproofing must be uniform, homogeneous and smooth. Otherwise, when laying, the surface will not be smooth and of high quality. On the packaging label there must be a stamp that corresponds to GOST. You need to pay attention to the expiration date and the integrity of the packaging. If there is even the slightest doubt, you must refuse to purchase.

Different materials can be applied in different ways. Each manufacturer applies recommendations for use to the packaging and the required thickness at which the material will provide adequate protection. You should not deviate from these recommendations.

To determine which rubber is the best, it is worth studying the market offers. It is better to give preference to well-known companies that have managed to earn the respect and recognition of the consumer.

Manufacturers

Many companies are engaged in the production of liquid rubber. Among them there are both domestic and foreign representatives. It is easy to get lost in such an assortment, so you should pay attention to the most popular and worthy manufacturers, whose products will not be a disappointment.

• You should start with a Russian manufacturer, or rather, with a whole group of companies. "Partner-Stroy"... It supplies the market with several products at once: Euromast, Euromast Plus and Euromast Color... These products are chosen for their high quality, reasonable cost and wide range.

• At the production facilities of the company "Ascent" quality liquid one-component rubber is produced "Blockade"... Such material fully complies with international standards that apply to waterproofing materials of this type. Pleased with an acceptable cost, which overshadows the products of many manufacturers. The company offers discounts for bulk orders.

• Another worthy domestic manufacturer is the company "LKM USSR"... It produces a wide range of polymer protective materials, including liquid rubber. These products are widely used in the construction of the industrial and civil sector in Russia. Waterproofing is produced on the basis of developments that were created for the military-industrial complex of the USSR, and for a long time remained classified. Liquid rubber is based on bitumen, which is ideal for waterproofing various types of surfaces.

• Organization "Synthetic Polymer" is part of the company Nippon ace, which is engaged in the production, development, promotion and sale of polymer compounds. These materials are off-season water-displacing compositions that have a wide range of applications. There are no analogues of these products, none of the existing manufacturers has yet produced such material.

Application equipment

For high-quality application of the material, it is necessary to use special equipment. A mobile spray gun is mainly used as such a technique. Its preparation is the first stage from which rubber spraying begins. The atomizer mechanism consists of a dispenser and a mixing device. In most cases, gasoline is used as fuel, not electricity. This feature provides mobility, compactness, autonomy and ease of use. With this set of features, work is possible even in hard-to-reach places.

And also the mechanism includes a long hose, the length of which can reach 150 meters. Due to this, during the installation process, there is no need to constantly move the device around the roof. The environmental friendliness of the material allows you to do without personal protective equipment even when working indoors.

Instructions for use

When treating a roof with liquid rubber, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the application technique.

Otherwise, the end result can be disappointing.

• For work, you need to choose dry weather with an air temperature above +5 degrees.
• The base must be carefully prepared for further work. The essence of this stage is to clean the work surface. There should be no dirt left, not to mention debris. During the cleaning process, powerful water pressure or burning can be used. The last method is applicable for greasy and other difficult stains.

• Priming is the next stage, the essence of which is to create a primary layer on the prepared surface of the waterproofing. The device of the future roofing directly depends on the quality of priming, so you need to approach this stage seriously. The result of this stage will be the elimination of the smallest dust particles, dirt invisible to the eye and ensuring maximum adhesion between the surface and liquid rubber.

• The installation technology is completed by applying liquid rubber by spraying. It is necessary to strive for a uniform layer. This will be easy if you maintain a right angle between the base and the spray. And also you need to adhere to the same distance, which will be maintained between the base and the extreme point of the spray.
• The compound materials of the mortar are mixed directly when spraying. For this, the equipment has a special compartment. The width of each strip should be within 1–1.5 m. Transitions should be cross-shaped.

• On flat roofs, several layers are sprayed, their number can be up to three.
• Fittings must be present. For this purpose, you can use geotextiles or fiberglass.

Consumption per 1 m² with a layer thickness of 2 mm is 3 liters of liquid rubber. The hardening of the material depends on external conditions. At an air temperature of +20 degrees and a humidity of no more than 50%, it takes three days to completely solidify. Liquid droplets may appear on the surface, which is normal. The reason for this phenomenon is the work of the catalyst.

A distinctive feature of such a relatively new material as liquid rubber is the absence of any solvents in the composition. Thus, no harmful volatile organic compounds are released during operation, and the coating is relatively safe and has a high level of waterproofing performance. Along with the common type of rubber, the liquid material has a black coloration and has good elasticity, as well as many advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages

The water base and emulsion based on modified bitumen are supplemented with certain proportions of elastomers, polymers and catalysts in the form of a calcium chloride solution, which gives the liquid rubber unique physical and chemical properties:

• a high degree of adhesion to almost all building materials, including concrete, brick, stone, slate, metal, glass and plastic;

• obtaining a seamless coating with absolutely complete waterproofing of even hard-to-reach areas and complex structures;

• a high level of elasticity and strength of the coating, which is due to the influence of polymer compounds;

• low weight that does not require reinforcement of load-bearing roof structures and foundation foundations;

• excellent chemical resistance and non-corrosive changes;

• the material is non-flammable and non-toxic, and also resistant to sufficiently high and low temperatures;

• roofing with liquid rubber is quick and easy;

• guaranteed service life without loss of quality characteristics is about twenty years.

Conditional disadvantages of liquid rubber are represented by the need to use a special installation in the application process. However, the cost of such a unit is fully justified when performing a large amount of work and is characterized by a quick payback.

Material classification

The method of applying liquid rubber determines the classification of this relatively new and promising waterproofing material:

• filling type of liquid rubber... It is characterized by manual filling with subsequent leveling. The initial stage requires impregnation of the prepared base with a bitumen emulsion with a primer layer thickness of no more than two millimeters.

Immediately after priming, a layer of liquid rubber is poured onto the base, which must be distributed as evenly as possible with special rollers. The standard layer thickness is about three millimeters. After curing for five to seven minutes, a second or final potting coat is applied.

Despite obtaining the most even processed surface, this method is not applicable to pitched roofs.

An option for high-quality waterproofing of flat roofs.

• paint type... For painting rubber, a manual application method is used with the distribution of the composition using standard spatulas, brushes or rollers. The first primer coat is prepared with a combination of one third of water and two thirds of liquid rubber and then evenly applied to the substrate. After a short drying time, the surface becomes suitable for applying the main layer, which is applied with a wide trowel, maintaining a thickness of three millimeters.

The standard drying time is two days. This method is used for processing small pitched surfaces and, if it is impractical to use mechanical equipment.

Priming and its necessity

Priming is the process of applying a thin layer of liquid rubber, represented by component "A", which involves obtaining reliable adhesion of the material to the base and removing dust microparticles.

This process belongs to the category of uncomplicated work, which involves high-quality spraying of two types of liquid. One of the liquids is an activator, and the second is a bitumen-polymer emulsion.

When sprayed, the liquids mix to form a homogeneous composition in the form of liquid rubber. When dried, the treated base acquires a black color, which indicates the correct application and the formation of a high-quality seamless membrane.

Do-it-yourself roof waterproofing

Small surfaces can be covered with liquid rubber on their own, without the involvement of professionals and the use of special equipment. To perform high-quality work, you need to correctly carry out the calculation.

Material calculation

For based on liquid rubber, an indicator of the functional load of the roof is taken into account. When calculating, the following indicators are taken as a basis:

• to cover a square meter of coverage with a thickness of one millimeter, about one and a half liters of liquid rubber is used;

• sealing of seams and anti-corrosion protection of metal roofing surfaces require the application of a layer of liquid rubber with a thickness of at least one and a half millimeters;

• when waterproofing wooden structures, the optimal layer of liquid rubber is one and a half millimeters;

• membrane type of roofing requires a layer of at least two millimeters thick, but the optimal indicator is three millimeters;

• for anti-corrosion protection of concrete or reinforced concrete bases, the thickness of the sprayed material should not be less than three millimeters.

Preparation and equipment

To apply the composition, a special airless apparatus is most often used.... This type of airless equipment for spraying liquid rubber belongs to the category of universal devices powered by gasoline or an electric drive.

The main condition is a high-quality and thoroughly prepared surface, which is pre-cleaned of debris and dust.

Small cracks and minor defects are closed with liquid rubber during application.

Spraying liquid rubber

The spraying method involves the use of special equipment and refers to mechanical coating methods. Liquid rubber is sprayed onto a carefully prepared surface by means of a special installation that is connected to a container with a polymer-bitumen emulsion and a container with a calcium chloride hardener.

Two components getting into the nozzle are mixed and sprayed, which makes it possible to obtain a bitumen-polymer waterproofing membrane with a thickness of two to four millimeters on the base to be treated.

Learn about spray technology by watching the video.

Summing up

For installation, especially if it is necessary to process large areas or structures with a complex configuration, it is advisable to use the application of a bitumen-polymer two-component water-based emulsion.

A definite advantage of the mechanized method of application by the method of cold spraying is the formation of a monolithic seamless membrane without abutments and joints, regardless of the configuration and shape of the surface.

The relevance of using liquid rubber in conditions of vertical surfaces is due to the non-flowability of the material even at high temperature indicators.

Before proceeding with waterproofing or repairing a flat roof with liquid rubber, you must first complete all general construction work on the site. So that after the formation of a seamless bitumen-polymer membrane on the roof surface, no outsiders move along the coating and, moreover, do not carry out loading and unloading and transportation of building materials, equipment, etc. on the roof. This is possible if the liquid rubber membrane is protected from mechanical damage. For example, cover with geotextiles and arrange a screed.

There was once a case when a contractor in July performed flat roof repair, the technical supervision took the job. In August - nix, the customer declares leaks. We went to the roof and found that the covering was torn in many places.

It turned out that a week ago, large stained-glass windows were installed in the attic annex of the adjacent section of the house. Huge windows, weighing under a hundred kilograms each, were lowered by a crane onto the rubber roof, then several people, on their hands and trolleys, dragged these windows 50 meters, then they mounted .... The result is damage to the coating. Then it started to rain.

It is good that all this was revealed in the summer - the damage was repaired, since the coating of two-component liquid rubber can be easily "healed" with one-component liquid rubber. But things don't always work out so well. And the customer may not admit his guilt and damage may be discovered in November, when it will no longer be possible to use liquid rubber.

By the way, one-component liquid rubber is ideal for spotting flat roof repair when it is necessary to seal only the places of abutments, cuts, punctures, holes and other damage or those areas where there were swellings that were opened to dry or install aerators. For these purposes, it is not required to use equipment, but only a bucket of water-based bitumen-polymer mastic and a spatula. But again, work can only be carried out in the warm season.

So, the decision was made to repair a flat roof using a two-component water-based bitumen-latex emulsion, better known as liquid rubber

Where do you start?

You need to start by completing all construction and installation work on the roof and adjacent areas, to mount all mechanisms, equipment, fixtures.

Surface cleaning for flat roof repair

The condition of the roof can be very different. Under capital flat roof repair it is very likely that it will be necessary to dismantle the old roll coating (and many layers), and then the thermal insulation, all soaked in moisture, and then the screed-slope, all cracked and crumbling. That is, you will have to remove the entire old roofing cake - to the reinforced concrete floor slab. And a flat roof in the process of performing these operations may look like the one shown in the photo below.

The base of the roof must be clean. It makes no sense to bring the installation and liquid rubber to the object before the roof is cleaned. All debris, leaves, dirt, dust, etc. should be removed.

How to remove construction waste is more or less clear. Most often, "misunderstandings" arise - how thoroughly should the roof be cleaned of dust and how to do it?

It should be understood here that if dust remains and there is a lot of it and it does not get bonded by the emulsion during priming, it will turn out that the coating will be applied not to the base, but to the separating layer. Accordingly, there will be no high-quality adhesion, respectively ... well, etc.

The "cleanliness" of dust for repairing flat roofs with liquid rubber also depends on the liquid rubber raw material used. The fact is that some brands are very "capricious" or, let's call it "demanding" to the execution of all technological moments, incl. and to the absence of dust. Those. When using two different types of liquid rubber raw materials in flat roof repairs, the result - in this case adhesion - will be different.

Some brands of bitumen-polymer emulsion can be applied even on a very dusty substrate and the adhesion will be such that you will tear off the horseradish. And other material can be applied even to a more or less clean surface and the membrane can be removed even after a few days. Of course, in addition to cleaning the base for adhesion, other factors are also important - but more on that in other articles.

So - how clean should it be?

Dedusting the base when repairing a flat roof with liquid rubber

The most effective way is to blow off the dust with a compressor. At the same time, it would be good to provide screens so as not to blow dust down, but to drive it into one section of a flat roof and collect it there. It is optimal that the compressor is equipped with an oil-moisture separator (excess moisture on the base, which will be covered with liquid rubber, is not needed). Each compressor usually has a built-in moisture separator, but this is not enough. It is better to install a separate oil and moisture separator at the outlet. Such devices are inexpensive and compact. In the photo below you can see the oil-moisture separator of the Italian company Camozzi.

A lot of dust and dirt accumulates at joints, junctions, attachment points on the roof of engineering equipment, pipes, antennas, air ducts, ventilation shafts, protruding metal structures, etc. Moreover, in these places the dirt, which is called "cakes and coalesces" with the base. You won't be able to blow it off with air. Such areas should be cleaned with extreme care using wire brushes or brushes with a dense, hard bristle. You can use special drill bits.

From flat areas of a flat roof, accumulated dirt and dust can be removed by applying pressure washing with water (various Karcher washing installations). But the surface of the roof must be dried after such washing. And it is better not to apply such a flushing to the old roll base of a flat roof (if the old coating is not removed), because part of the water will surely fall under the roll and this will only complicate further work on preparing the base for flat roof repair.

If liquid rubber is to be applied on fresh concrete, then it is better to remove the cement laitance, because soon this layer will become dusty. Ideally, this problem is solved by grinding the concrete. At the same time, the upper fragile layer is cut off and the pores are opened, which will be clogged when priming with a bitumen-polymer emulsion. If you want to do everything perfectly, use concrete grinders. Well, or at least - go for a brush.

Here again, it should be understood that with some brands of liquid rubber, excellent adhesion to concrete can be obtained, even if the cement laitance is removed with brushes (provided that the primer is made before applying the liquid rubber). For other types of bitumen-polymer emulsion, in order to obtain good adhesion, it is necessary to more thoroughly clean off the cement laitance.

Repair of a flat roof with liquid rubber on a wet base

After the surface is cleaned of debris, dirt and dust, you can proceed directly to the repair of a flat roof with liquid rubber. But ... Only if the base is dry.

If it is known that the base is wet - not even from above, but that there is moisture inside, then this is fraught with trouble in the future. Therefore, such a base should be dried. This is less true if liquid rubber is to be applied on a new screed, and more so when flat roof repair carried out on the old roll base without dismantling it. If there are many layers of rolls (it happens that there are 20 and 30 layers), then a lot of moisture has accumulated in such a cake. exactly the same with old roll coatings. And this water should, if possible, either be removed before applying liquid rubber, or measures should be taken so that this water is removed only later, but so that it does not damage the coating.

About how moisture accumulates in the roofing cake, what this leads to and what should be done before applying liquid rubber when repairing a flat roof - read two articles on the site:

• Drying out the base when repairing a flat roof
• Ventilation of the roof space

If all the preparatory stages are completed: construction work, the base is cleaned, dried, prepared and the issue with ventilation is resolved, then the installation and liquid rubber can be delivered to the object.

When starting to apply a bitumen-polymer emulsion, it should be remembered that a waterproofing device is only one of the stages of the technological chain for the repair of a flat roof. Therefore, it is required to perform a set of measures that differ, depending on whether it is an exploited or unexploited roof, in accordance with the technological map of the roof.

Everything that is necessary for proper waterproofing is described in detail at www.B2bB2c.ru. If you need something more than what is stated on this and other pages of the site, then to your attention the service from the Sales Department -

Every roof needs a coating material that serves as the building's front line of defense against weathering. Therefore, the construction industry constantly offers new products on the coating market, and one of them is liquid roofing. Its operational properties and features will be discussed further.

Bitumen, like many years ago, is the basis for many roofing materials, especially for flat roofs, due to its specific chemical and physical properties.

On its basis, new products are constantly being developed, and one of them is liquid rubber. It is a polymer bitumen containing one or more components.

Strictly speaking, "one-component" compositions can be called such only conditionally, since they are ready-made mixtures of various substances, ready for use and do not need mixing and other additional operations.

At the moment, liquid rubber for roofing is one of the most technologically advanced and unpretentious materials in operation.

It is used both independently and as a waterproofing for other types of coatings - and, unlike classic films and membranes, it is applied over the base.

There are practically no, on which it would be impossible to apply a liquid roof due to its high degree of adhesion (penetration and adhesion).

Among them:

• Monolithic and precast concrete
• Cement strainer
• Wood
• Metal
• Roof tiles (also as a lower waterproofing layer)
• Slate
• Old coverings from roll materials

At the same time, a special advantage of the material is that on the roof where the liquid roof is applied, the roof, as such, can be of any shape and with the most complex geometry.

The advantages of this mastic include:

• Creation of a continuous roofing carpet that does not have seams
• Absence of problems of adhesion at the locations of various roof structures
• High elasticity
• Durability (20 years or more)
• Ease of application and speed of setting
• High water resistance even in extreme conditions
• Chemical and biological resistance
• Wide operating temperature range (-60 - +110 ° C)
• Environmental safety (can be used even indoors)
• Low material consumption (1-3 kg / m 2)

The material is also applied in almost any way:

• Brush
• Roller
• Spatula
• Rubber mop
• Spray installation

At the same time, high fire safety is ensured, since this roof is arranged in a cold way, without the use of open fire.

Curing occurs almost immediately after application. You can walk on the coating, and full readiness occurs in a day.

Minimal preparation is required, similar to the device of a conventional screed or surface painting: cleaning from dirt, degreasing, if necessary, a primer

Important information! Degreasing and priming works must not be carried out using substances based on petroleum products.

A particularly effective field of application of the material is roof repair with liquid rubber. As a rule, it is performed on an old coating made of roll materials.

It is noteworthy that in this case, both with full coverage of the old roofing carpet, and with the application of repair patches, the removal of the old coating is required only in the places of chipping. Even bubbles, after cutting them, can be filled with mastic.

Advice! In order to save money when installing a roof covering, roll can be used as the main material, and complex areas can be treated with bitumen-polymer mastic - abutments, vertical and inclined surfaces, etc.

Of course, no material is complete without drawbacks; liquid roofs also have them.

These include:

• Relatively high price
• Sensitivity to solvents and other petroleum-based preparations
• Possibility of removing the coating, if necessary, only mechanically

However, the advantages still outweigh: the speed of the device, the ability to apply on vertical surfaces (without subsequent sliding under the influence of heating by the sun's rays) - this material has no equal. Separately, it should be said about high elasticity.

Thanks to it, when the ambient temperature changes, even the sharpest, the roof will work together with the base, which will not allow damage to occur either in the coating itself, or in the places where the carpet adjoins various elements of the roof.

When installing additional protective layers (substrate from below and a hard coating - screed, cement tiles, etc.) on such a material as, for example, Reinforced, a liquid roof can be operated.

Although mastic is usually produced in black, there are also colored options. It can also be tinted with silicone or water-based dyes.

The remarkable properties of liquid rubber (although it is not really rubber, it doesn't have the obligatory rubber) make it a versatile and very practical coating.

And if you additionally cover it with protective paint from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, such a roof will last much more than the 20 years declared in its characteristics.

If you've ever heard of so-called liquid rubber before, you're probably wondering how far technology has come. This material is difficult to replace when it comes to difficult terrain, where it is generally impossible to use roll materials. It is also great for arranging new structures and repairing old ones, as well as protecting important structural elements from corrosion. At the molecular level, this material is capable of adhering to almost any surface!

But waterproofing the roof with liquid rubber only at first glance seems to be a simple and straightforward process. In fact, in order to get really high-quality waterproofing in the end, you will have to strictly follow all the rules! And we will tell you all the details and nuances of the process itself.

Over time, improving construction technologies, more and more serious requirements are imposed on roofing waterproofing materials: high properties and convenience in carrying out the work themselves. This is especially true for the processing of a roof with a complex relief and atypical building material, which today is not at all uncommon.

Depending on what type of liquid rubber you will be using, you will need special equipment, or you can get by with a regular bucket and roller.

For a one-component solution, a brush and normal hand application are sufficient. After all, such rubber is no different in consistency from ordinary mastic. But two-component rubber can be sprayed only with the help of special mechanized equipment.

Waterproofing with two-component liquid rubber

This is an airless spraying unit in which two components are supplied and mixed at once under pressure. Once in the open air, they quickly polymerize. And as a result, they have excellent adhesion without a single seam.

As a result, spraying liquid rubber with the help of special equipment, the whole work turns into a rather simple and pleasant process:

The process of spraying the roof covering itself is quite interesting. What other roof could you apply this way, and so quickly? Moreover, even the most difficult task here is easily handled by only two employees.

Special equipment helps to achieve the exact thickness of the application, no more and no less. This is very important, because liquid rubber is not a cheap material. The principle of such a unit practically does not differ from the operation of a conventional spray gun.

It contains two tanks, one of which contains a polymer-bitumen emulsion, and the other contains a calcium chloride hardener. Both substances are supplied from containers under pressure, the components are mixed in the tip and fed through a small hole - thin enough for the coating to be from 2.2 to 4.0 mm thick. Already in place, the components act on each other and freeze under the open sky.

Moreover, the method of spraying under pressure is significantly different from pneumatic. The loss of material to the environment is noticeably reduced here. In simple terms, fog does not form around the sprayer, and less solvent is introduced into the composition itself.

Thanks to all this, when working with liquid rubber, it is not necessary to wear a protective suit and a mask, and the speed of the coating itself is much higher, because all the material is directed strictly towards the roof, and not into the air. And all the equipment for the work of one brigade can easily fit into a small car like "Gazelle": catalyst, liquid rubber and installation.

Most often, liquid rubber is black, but the material itself is compatible with organic silicon or water based, but not with chemical solvents. But today many types of colored liquid rubber are produced, but you can also paint your roof yourself with a special paint VD-AK-1503 for this venture, which can also be released from a spray bottle. And this has another plus - additional protection of liquid rubber from ultraviolet radiation:

Experienced roofers are able to work with two types of color at once, applying one layer first, and the second on top of it. What is it for? It's not about the design at all!

It is just so clearly visible how well the new layer was sprayed, and whether it completely covered the previous one, or some places were still missing. In addition, when spraying a top layer of a different color, you can clearly see how well the base material diverges.

But when hiring a team for such work, keep in mind that you need to have a license to cover the roof with liquid rubber, because without personnel training it is impossible to spray such a coating with high quality, and there are pitfalls in the process.

Waterproofing with one-component liquid rubber

Depending on the task, the required section of the roof is covered with liquid rubber with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm. At the same time, the coating has high elasticity and a wide temperature range from -45 ° C to + 120 ° C. And the quality of liquid rubber depends on how smooth it will lie on the roof and how quickly it will harden.

First, you should prepare the surface, seal up all the pits, chips and cracks. Ideal if you can do a good job of cleaning the roof from dirt, for which water from a hose under pressure and detergent, if you have the opportunity, are well suited. And how smooth the surface is will affect the uniformity of rubber application:

Also, the corners of the joint with the wall and the exit of the roofing elements are pre-treated with a primer and even mastic:

Then use a roller to spread the composition over the roof surface. Once the first coat dries within 8-24 hours, apply the second coat.

The main thing is to carefully distribute the material over the entire surface:

Freshly applied rubber hardens instantly to 80%, and continues to harden for another 48 hours, although it is already waterproof. Although after 10 minutes you can safely walk on such a roof.

As a first step, calculate the amount of liquid roof rubber needed. So, for a layer of 1 mm per square meter, you will need from 1.35 to 1.65 kg of liquid. Also, a lot here depends on the material of the base on which the liquid rubber will be applied:

• the insulation layer for wood and metal structures is 1.50 mm;
• the layer for concrete and reinforced concrete roofs should be from 3.2 to 4.0 mm;
• in case it is necessary to cover a membrane roof, then the layer should be 2.0 mm.

Make an accurate calculation, and you will acquire not much and not enough. Moreover, liquid rubber is not a cheap material.

Repair of roofing elements with liquid rubber

Liquid roofing rubber is one of the best materials for waterproofing and repairing. Indeed, in addition to the fact that such a coating creates excellent hydro and sound insulation, liquid rubber itself helps to strengthen the roof structure.

Liquid rubber can be applied directly to old layers of roofing felt roofs, without prior installation. For which the material itself is appreciated, because it can be laid on old roofs. The only thing is that then deflectors are installed on the old surface to remove the accumulated moisture.

For local repair and waterproofing of the roof, one-component liquid rubber is more suitable for you, because it can be applied with a roller or brush. And at the same time, the final quality will be no worse than that of the two-component! First you need to prepare the liquid rubber by stirring it well. Now use special paper or fabric pads to give the repaired surface more rigidity and a kind of reinforcement.

Restoration of an old roof: preparation and application

This is how the process of waterproofing with liquid rubber looks like in practice. One-component rubber should be applied in two or three layers, with preliminary drying of each of them:

All waterproofing work should be carried out at a temperature of + 5 ° C, spraying or applying rubber exclusively on a dry surface.

Local repair of the roof and waterproofing of abutments

If you are worried about the quality of liquid rubber for repair, then use well-known imported materials like Premier Rubber Membrane. This is the composition of the Canadian company Cantex Coatings Ltd, which consists only of non-flammable liquids, without any organic volatile compounds.

You will recognize this product by its dark brown color and dense rubber coating. After complete drying, it will have a particularly high elasticity, about 1500%, absolute water and vapor impermeability and remarkable resistance to mechanical deformation.

At the same time, the repaired place will retain such properties for more than 25 years, according to the manufacturer, and this is with constant contact with water:

For comparison: liquid rubber applied to the repaired area in two layers (this is up to 2 mm), according to the waterproofing properties, four layers of roofing material!

But there are some limitations in working with liquid rubber. For example, it is not allowed:

• Work in the rain, because at high air humidity, liquid rubber will not have time to polymerize. But with residual moisture in the base, you can work, because when it dries, the rubber will also evaporate its water.
• Apply rubber at an air temperature below + 5 ° C, although sometimes this problem is solved by heating with guns.

All other weather factors will not interfere with the process. A fascinating process, isn't it?