1. Detect leaks before they happen
When discussing roof waterproofing it’s important to be proactive. Go up on the roof, thoroughly clean accumulated dirt and look for signs of cracks and defects. Find any? Hurry to fix them before the next rain, using bituminous sheets or durable white acrylic sealant resistant to UV radiation.
2. Watch for signs of dampness
Sometimes you don’t need to go up to the roof to know there’s a problem. Dampness on the ceiling? Signs of rust on the wall? Plaster peeling? Mold festivities? If you don’t find the source it won’t disappear.
3. Look for puddles and level slopes
Even a small recurring puddle after each rain can cause seepage and cumulative damage. Don’t be lazy and do a wet check – simulate rain conditions with a hose. Is water accumulating? Start leveling – using polymer-modified cement mortar.
4. Clean drainage
It seems trivial but it’s important to properly maintain drainage, to ensure rainwater flows off the roof when it rains. And by the way, while waterproofing – temporarily cover roof drain openings and pipes so they don’t get clogged during work.
5. Clear debris
Take care to remove anything that shouldn’t be on the roof, because any foreign object is potential for puddles and anything that casts a shadow hides a moisture focal point that doesn’t dry out.
6. Cast concrete bases for roof fixtures
What about things that must be on the roof? Make sure pipes, water heaters and any other element stand on a raised concrete base. The minimum standard will be a 10 cm high base, 20X20 cm for each leg of roof fixtures.
7. Level the surface
For bituminous sheets to work perfectly, the surface they are laid on must be smooth – otherwise bubbles will form. Therefore it’s important to clean the surface and also, if working on a tarred roof, remove any part of the old tar layer, apply bituminous primer and after drying weld new bituminous sheets for perfect roof waterproofing.
8. Insist on a standard mark
The market is flooded with insulation and roof waterproofing solutions but it’s important not to be tempted by cheap, inferior products. Bituminous sheets with an Israeli standard mark (1430/3) will survive temperatures below zero, the high heat of the Middle Eastern summer and the UV radiation that comes with it. And of course in the end, it also saves money because a quality product will ensure preventing leaks for up to ten years and insulation on the roof will save on heating and cooling costs beneath it.
9. Protect the environment
The market is flooded with insulation and roof waterproofing solutions but it’s important not to be tempted by cheap, inferior products. Bituminous sheets with an Israeli standard mark (1430/3) will survive temperatures below zero, the high heat of the Middle Eastern summer and the UV radiation that comes with it. And of course in the end, it also saves money because a quality product will ensure preventing leaks for up to ten years and insulation on the roof will save on heating and cooling costs beneath it.
10. Know there’s someone to rely on
Ask any contractor and they’ll tell you working with waterproofing products requires expertise and you must get a warranty from a reputable manufacturer. In Israel there’s only one entity meeting this definition, for almost 90 years already: Pazkar. Pazkar’s waterproofing products boast an Israeli standard mark, green label and international standards like ISO9001:2015. So go waterproof – and may we have a dry winter!
