Roofing

• Can I use a pressure washer to clean a roof?

  No, that is not recommended. To clean your roof, simply brush it off or use a leaf vacuum. Atmospheric deposits can be removed with Aquaplan’s Garden Clean Scrub Free.

• Is a flat roof flat?

  A flat roof always has a slight slope. You must always provide drainage so puddles do not remain on your flat roof. A flat roof has a minimum pitch of ±1.15° or a minimum slope of 2%. Make sure your roof slopes at least 2 cm per metre.

• Should an underlay be installed?

  A bitumen roof is a 2-ply system in which an underlay is always laid first, followed by a top layer. This ensures waterproofing. Make sure the top layer is staggered by half a metre with the underlay. Always install the underlay and top layer in the same direction. If you renovate an old roof, the existing roof covering can serve as an underlay. First repair blisters, cracks and tears and fix the remaining dust with a primer.

• In which direction should I install my roofing membranes?

  Always work from the lowest point of the roof slope towards the higher roof section. Lay the roofing membranes on top of each other in scales with an overlap of about 10 cm. Make sure the top layer is staggered by half a metre with the underlay. Always install the underlay and top layer in the same direction.

• How do I glue roofing membranes?

  Pour the cold glue onto the substrate in a zigzag motion. Use a floor squeegee to spread the glue over the entire width of the roofing membrane. You will need about 1 kg per m2. Unroll the roofing membrane over the glue and press down. Make sure some glue protrudes from under the roll onto the seams. This seals the seams and guarantees a waterproof seal. You can sprinkle slate granules on the seams afterwards to give your roof a beautiful finish.

• Will the glue hold?

  A bitumen roofing membrane is a vapour barrier. It takes some time (± 3 weeks) for the glue to dry and reach its full adhesive strength. But don’t worry; the initial adhesive strength is sufficient to ensure that your roofing membranes don’t fly off. When applying a top layer over old roofing membranes, you must use a roofing primer to fix the dust. Otherwise, the adhesive strength of the glue will not be sufficient.

• Can all roofing membranes be glued?

  No. Whether or not a roofing membrane can be glued depends on how the underside is finished. A roofing membrane can only be glued if the underside is finished with a perforated film or sand. Always check whether the purchased roofing membrane can be glued.

• How do I heat weld my roofing membrane?

  Heat welding is also known as torch welding. Always aim a soft flame at the underside of the roofing membrane, never on the substrate. Heat the roofing membrane evenly across its entire width. Form a bead of liquid bitumen in front of the roll, then unroll and press it down. Ensure that a bead of bitumen is formed at the overlap.

• Can all roofing membranes be heat welded?

  No. Whether or not a roofing membrane can be heat welded depends on how the underside is finished. A roofing membrane can only be heat welded if the underside is finished with a film. Sometimes this film is perforated. The film will melt when exposed to heat and act as an adhesive. Always check whether the purchased roofing membrane can be heat welded.

• Is heat welding better than gluing?

  Once you have mastered the art of heat welding, it is the preferred application method. But if you are not used to heat welding, it is easy to use too much heat and damage the roofing membrane. You also need to be careful and take fire safety into account.