Roof Waterproofing of New Roofs and Terraces

Posted by amrina alshaikh on June 29th, 2019

A roof is a covering on any structure that protects it from weather conditions. A roof can also be transformed into a terrace that it is flat with an entryway. Terraces are flat, supported space above the top floor that can be used for plenty of activities. A roof is subjected to high exposure and is directly affected by sun, wind and rain.

The roof of a building must be constructed in such a way that it effectively drains water by adequate rainwater pipes that are arranged, connected and fixed to ensure removal of rainwater from the building and avoidance of possibility of dampness in the walls, roof or foundation of the building.

Roof waterproofing in India is mostly done using traditional methods. Systems like China mosaic, Brickbat Coba, Lime terracing or Mud Fuska are still used for roof waterproofing in different parts of the country. With these systems, roof waterproofing with a certain degree of insulation against heat is possible.

A few problems these systems may have are:

1. More on insulation rather than a leak-proof system
2. With time, breaking and re-doing the same system is risky
3. Heavy loading on the slab
4. Cracks on the surface, especially with Brickbat Coba
5. Required expertise in the application for lime terracing/mud fuska is not as good as before

Types of Roofs

Different types of roofs used can be divided into three categories:

Flat roofs: Flat roofs are used in places where rainfall is less, and the climate is moderate.

Slope/Pitched roofs: Pitched roofs are for places wherever rainfall is more.

Shells and folded plates: Shells and folded plate roofs are the roof type used to cover large column-free areas built for auditoriums, factories etc.

Let us have a look at the advantages of all the three roof types in detail:

Advantages of flat roofs are:

• A flat roof can be used as a terrace for any activity
• If required, the roof can be converted into a floor by adding another storey
• Can suit any shape building
• Overhead water tanks can be easily located
• Can be made fireproof easily

Advantages of slope roofs are:

• Water drains quickly
• Gives wind and gravity little opportunity to push or pull the structure
• Can be covered with fabricated roofing materials, applied in small overlappings

Advantages of shell roofs are:

• Looks good from an aesthetic point of view
• Large column-free areas can be easily covered
• Less material consumption
• Formwork can be easily removed

Also, you can look for roof waterproofing onlineor contact your local waterproofer.