Method of waterproofing building roofs and building panels
A sealing method developed for a roofing system alternative to conventional asphalt shingles or metal roof coverings and for sealing walls and floors for tiled surfaces such as shower stalls and the like. The concepts described herein are readily applicable to waterproofing most kinds of walls, ceilings, roofs and floors, and any fixtures or other components that must pass through the wall, ceiling, roof or floor.
1. An alternative roofing system, comprising:
a plurality of decking panels installed over a framed structure, the panels joined at edge-to-edge seams;
a first coat of a liquid silicone elastomeric (SE) roof coating applied along edge-to-edge seams of the decking panels and between adjoining portions of the decking panels and, if present, along boundaries with structures passing through the decking panels;
a non-metallic flashing strip formed of anti-fracture fabric (AFF) applied exclusively to the first coat of SE roof coating covering the edge-to-edge seams of the decking panels and adjoining portions of the decking panels and structures passing through the decking panels, thereby forming a continuous cover over the seams and adjoining portions;
a second coat of the SE roof coating applied over the decking panels and the adjoining portions including the first coat of the SE roof coating and the non-metallic flashing strips, to form a coated, waterproofed surface on the roof; and
a mixture of washed silica sand and a third coat of the SE roof coating applied over the second coat of the SE roof coating, wherein the washed silica sand is mixed into the third coat of the SE roof coating at a rate of approximately two pounds per hundred square feet; wherein
the second and third SE roof coatings are combined with the non-metallic flashing strips bonded to the decking panels to form the alternative roofing system.
2. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the liquid SE roof coatings and the anti-fracture fabric (AFF) are installed without nails, screws or other fasteners that penetrate the combined roof coatings, the non-metallic flashing strip, and the decking panels.
3. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the edge-to-edge seams include junctions of decking panels meeting in a plane and at an angle forming a trough or a hip joint.
4. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the non-metallic flashing strip of AFF is applied over the edge-to-edge seams while the first coat of the SE roof coating is still liquid;
the first coat of SE roof coating is allowed to dry before the second coat of SE roof coating is applied; and
the second coat of SE roof coating is allowed to dry before the mixture of the silica sand and the third coat of SE roof coating is applied.
5. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein
each first, second and third coat of the SE roof coating is applied to the decking panels at a rate of approximately one gallon per 100 square feet of area.
6. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein:
each first, second and third coat of the SE roof coating is applied to the decking panels to a thickness of approximately 1/16 inch.
7. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the non-metallic flashing strip of AFF covering the edge-to-edge seams, the structures passing through the decking panels, and the adjoining portions of the decking panels that meet at an angle, is applied as a strip approximately six inches wide after the first coat of SE roof coating is applied.
8. The alternative roofing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the structures passing through the decking panels include one or more of the group consisting of HVAC ventilation devices and outlets, heater vents, chimneys, windows, skylights, and dormers.