Membrane roofing - do-it-yourself installation! Video: mechanical membrane roofing. Installing a new membrane in the housing

An exceptionally quick and simplest method of creating a roof is to make it based on synthetic rubber, also called polyvinyl chloride. PVC roofing is called membrane, it has a long service life, low weight, a high degree of environmental friendliness, and has a number of other advantages.


Types of membranes

There are three types of membranes that are used as roofing materials:

  1. EPDM– made of special rubber, having good physical properties. Among them: temperature range -50 - +150 degrees Celsius, resistant to ozone, weather conditions, aging.
  2. TPO- has a stable chemical composition, increased resistance to impact chemical substances and microorganisms.
  3. PVC- This is the well-known polyvinyl chloride. Until recently, PVC membranes were the most common of all of the above.

Features, technology, installation process

To start installing a membrane roof with your own hands, you need to decide on the type of connection of the canvases. For this, hot air welding or gluing with special double-sided adhesive tapes can be used.

Ways of joining seams:

  • Gluing- the method is not the most reliable due to the low strength of adhesive joints. It is mainly used for EPDM membranes, although it must be said that this method is simpler. Hot air welding produces a joint that is as strong as the base material, but requires a special tool.
  • Welding it can be automatic (using welding machines) and manual (using a hot air gun). If you do the installation of a membrane roof with your own hands, then buying expensive welding machines does not make sense. A hot air gun or an industrial hair dryer will suffice, which has a small capacity, but its price is an order of magnitude lower.

To properly weld the roofing material, you need to choose the optimal parameters. Their change is affected by ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed. The optimum temperature is 15 - 20 degrees Celsius and normal humidity. The temperature of the hot air must be around 500°C, the pressure is carried out by a pressure roller, which must be purchased separately. If you are doing this for the first time, it is better to first practice on small panels specially designated for this purpose. The result should be a complete seam without peeling and burns.

The easiest way to attach the coating to the base is ballast. It is used when the slope of the slopes is less than 10 °. To prevent the canvas from being blown away by the wind, its ballast layer, the minimum weight of which should be 50 kg / m² of the membrane. River pebbles, rounded gravel and crushed stone are usually used as ballast. The disadvantage of this method of fastening is the large weight of the structure.

If the roof is not designed for heavy weight, then a mechanical fastening method is used. Fastening around the perimeter of the roof is done using special edge rails. The rest of the area is fixed with plastic fungi on metal anchors. Mechanical fastening is more reliable and has less weight.

Also, the membrane coating can be glued to the base. This method is not widely used due to its high cost. It is mainly used on complex roofs.

The advantages of membrane roofing are: long service life (50 years), excellent waterproofing properties, resistance to frequent changes weather conditions. Among the shortcomings can be identified the high cost of materials.

It can be concluded that the use of a membrane roof is expedient. Despite relatively expensive materials, ease of erection and durability, make such a coating quite attractive for use.

One of the latest innovations in the market of modern roofing materials is membrane roofing. Its laying technology allows installation roofing without seams, which gives the roof the best waterproofing characteristics. The market offers various membranes that differ in composition and installation methods.

Among this variety, it is possible to choose an option for any type. Consider what a membrane roof is and get acquainted with the technology of its laying on various surfaces.

In this article

Types of membrane roof

The production of membrane coating is based on polymers and artificial rubbers, which give this type of roofing its elasticity. There are three types of this material.

based on polyvinyl chloride

PVC membranes are based on polyvinyl chloride, which is the basis of many insulating roofing materials. Elasticity of such a coating is given by a volatile plasticizer, and flexibility is provided by a reinforcing polyester mesh. Such characteristics allow the use of PVC membranes on the roofs of complex structures.

The method of laying this membrane eliminates the presence of seams, which significantly increases its resistance to leaks. In addition, these membranes are available in various colors, including light ones, which allows the roof to reflect the sun's rays and not heat up in hot weather. Mounted using heat welding.

This type of membrane roof, with its advantages, has an acceptable cost, which makes it popular material for roofing.

Reinforced artificial rubber EPDM membrane

EPDM membrane based on artificial rubber with reinforcement using a polymer mesh. To improve the strength characteristics, ether additives are added to it. The waterproofing of the EPDM membrane is high due to its high adhesion to bituminous surfaces. Mounted with glue.

The disadvantage of the roof is its high price which pays off long term service for more than half a century.


TPO membrane is a novelty of the domestic roofing market. The material is made on the basis different types rubber, in which various stabilizing additives are added to increase strength, elasticity and refractoriness. This thermoplastic material is based on different kinds polyvinyl chloride, not rubber. Mounted by heat seal.

Scope of application

Membrane roofing is usually mounted on. The convenience of this type of roofing materials is the fact that they can be laid on the old roofing without dismantling it, which saves time and money for the improvement of the roof or its repair.

When using membranes for flat roofs you can create an exploitable surface on which you can place various objects, including those with high traffic. This is useful when creating a roof over underground garage or parking, when arranging a cafe on the roof of an office or shopping center.

Membrane roofs are actively involved in the areas of multi-storey and industrial construction, while their use in the sector of private houses is only gaining momentum.

An important advantage of using membrane materials is the absence of additional waterproofing in the roofing pie.

Key points when choosing and working with membrane coatings

There is an opinion that membrane roofing materials are applicable only on flat concrete roofs. Let's refute this opinion: membranes can be mounted on any and are especially convenient to use for the repair of old roof structures.

The calculation of the use of membrane roofing should be based on the following rules:

  • The load on truss system or walls of a building. If they are reliable, then there is the possibility of ballast fastening of the membrane. If there is no confidence in the strength of the house, then it is better to choose a welding or adhesive method of fixing the membranes;
  • When calculating the amount of material required to cover the roof, overlaps of 5 cm must be taken into account, as well as the need to mount the membrane on all types of junctions.

The main advantage of a membrane roof - the absence of seams - can be destroyed overnight by the wrong laying technology. Do not be too lazy to check the tightness of the seams: after they have cooled, run a screwdriver along the seam and make sure there are no holes.

Mounting

The technology of roofing from a membrane depends on the type of coating chosen and the base under the roof. Consider the basic installation methods.

glue method

In this way, the EPDM membrane is mounted. For this, special double-sided adhesive tapes are used, with which the joints of the membrane material sheets are glued. This installation technology is convenient in private construction, as it does not require the use of specialized equipment. Bonding of canvases is done quite quickly and does not require special preparation.

However, this method does not provide a permanent seal. At the joints, the adhesive tape begins to move away over time and let moisture pass under the roof.

Heat welding method

Membrane joints are welded using heated air. PVC, TPO membranes are laid by this method. A welding machine is used that delivers a jet of air at a temperature of 600°. A building hair dryer with the possibility of heating the air to a minimum of 550 ° can be used.

Membrane sheets are laid overlapping each other, the edges are heated by a burner and glued together. After the material has cooled, a single web is formed with firmly sealed seams. The seams after using the burner are completely sealed and have the same elasticity as the rest of the canvas.

Laying rules

The technology for laying PVC membranes contains a number of rules:

  • Before sealing the seams, it is important to clean the membrane surface of any contaminants, including grease and chemicals;
  • Cloths are laid freely, without stretch. The overlap of two adjacent canvases must be at least 5 cm;
  • It is important to carry out the welding machine quickly enough, not lingering in one place for a long time and not lowering the recommended temperatures. With a very thick seam, there is a high probability of tearing the fabric in a place near the seam;
  • When too high temperature welding machine the membrane will burn and not stick together;
  • The optimal width of the seam is at least 2 cm. With a smaller value, it is necessary to install a round membrane patch on top of the seam.

Using building hair dryer it is necessary to follow the nozzle, which warms up the joint of the canvases, through them with a roller. When using a welding machine, this is not required, since the machine independently rolls the surface to be welded.

Ballast method

Unlike welding, the method of fastening the membrane with ballast does not require the use of special equipment, which makes it acceptable in do-it-yourself installation conditions. The ballast method is possible on flat roofs and roofs with a slope of up to 15°.

This technology requires strong load-bearing structures, since fixing the PVC membrane with ballast is associated with a large weight.

Installation is as follows:

  • Rolling of membrane rolls on the base;
  • Fixing the material around the perimeter and at the junctions with adhesive tape;
  • Sleeping over the ballast membrane: not less than 50 kg per 1 sq. m.

For ballast, crushed stone, pebbles, concrete blocks or paving slabs. It is important to consider that if the ballast has sharp corners that can damage the surface of the membrane, then it is necessary to first cover the roofing with non-woven material.

Ballast fastening of PVC membranes is convenient for the possibility of arrangement.

Installation of a membrane coating on corrugated board

The option of laying a membrane on roofs made of corrugated board is quite common, thanks to which the roof made of corrugated board is insulated and soundproofed.

Installation in this case follows this algorithm:

  • A vapor barrier with an overlap of sheets is laid on the corrugated board;
  • On top of the vapor barrier, insulation boards are laid in two layers. Coverage is important top layer bottom joints;
  • The insulation is fixed to the base with self-tapping screws;
  • A membrane coating is laid on the insulation, the seams of which are sealed with special equipment;
  • At the junctions, membrane overlays are made.

One of the most difficult topics, which often confuses those who want to build frame house do-it-yourself films and membranes, vapor barrier and thermal insulation frame house.

In a frame house, it is very important to correctly apply various films in their places and on the right side, otherwise the durability of your frame house will be greatly reduced, and it will be very uncomfortable to live in it.

What films are in a frame house?

Vapor barrier film

Vapor barrier in a frame house is needed in order to stop the moisture coming from the house to the street through the insulation, that is, it is only put INSIDE Houses. There is moisture according to the laws of physics, since it is colder outside than inside.

Accordingly, if the outside of the room is warmer or the temperature is the same, then it is not necessary to set it (for example, between the first and second floors of one identical heated building). If we do not stop this moisture, then the insulation will stop working and insulate our house, it will get completely wet. Remember that the frame house must be a thermos to be warm.

For the role of a vapor barrier, the usual polyethylene film 200 microns thick (the thickest of those that are sold). The rest of the newfangled films, which are just a marketing product, are not necessary for vapor barrier in a frame house.

In addition, the usual polyethylene film easy to find and buy.

It must be remembered that the vapor barrier should be maximum sealed. If it is necessary to make holes in it (for sockets, for the passage of ventilation pipes, and others), then these places must be glued with special adhesive tape or sealant (butyl rubber). Perfectionists also glue holes from any fasteners in the wall, I have not done this yet.

Where is vapor barrier film used?:
Inside the walls of a frame house - from the inside
In the floor of a frame house (lower floor) - from the inside
In the ceiling of a frame house ( top floor) - from the inside

Mounting vapor barrier film Finns on video:

Membrane in a frame house

1. Hydrowindproof vapor permeable membrane

This film is completely different in properties from the vapor barrier. She is keeps moisture out outside the house into the insulation and on the wooden parts of the house, while releasing steam from the inside. Despite the fact that we closed the insulation from the inside with a vapor barrier, a little residual steam still passes into the insulation and we need to release this steam. For this, the membrane vapor-permeable.

In addition, these membranes are usually windproof and at the same time protect the insulation from blowing heat.

Where is a hydro-windproof film used in a frame house:

The walls of the frame house - outside (or under the counter-lattice under wooden facade or immediately under the siding according to OSP-3)
In the floor of a frame house (lower floor) - from below under the insulation so that the wind does not blow ()
In the ceiling of a frame house (top floor) - on top of the insulation so that the insulation does not blow out (if it is ecowool or sawdust, etc. loose insulation)


This film differs from the previous one in that it is cheaper, but it can protect the insulation. from condensate(not not from a dozen liters of water), as well as to release excess steam from it.

Where is anti-condensation film used?:
In the cold attic - under the counter-lattice, that is, from the inside of the cold attic.

Apply the films correctly, and your frame house will stand for a long time and delight you! If you have any questions, ask, or you can immediately apply for the selection of a team for you.

Sometimes hiring trusted builders is much easier than figuring out all the intricacies of building a house on your own, so get in touch.

We will sequentially show the process of replacing a faulty accumulator membrane. When our hydraulic accumulator failed, the space between the membrane and the body filled with water. The purpose of the bottom flange is to hold the rubber membrane in the accumulator housing. When we unscrewed the flange, water flowed out of the body.

Dismantling a faulty membrane

First, we carefully unscrew the bolts from the flange, remove the flange and wait for the water to drain.

Slightly freeing the edges of the membrane, remove the remaining water.

In this model of a hydraulic accumulator with a volume of 150 liters, a membrane fastener is also provided in the upper part.

This is a threaded fitting external thread. We carefully unscrew the nut from it and pull out the faulty membrane together with the threaded fitting through the hole in the lower part of the housing.

After removing the membrane, nothing remains in the body, so at this stage it is recommended to clean it well inner surface corps.

The membrane is shaped like a pear. Please note that the new membrane must fully match the original. Don't buy cheap options with a different specification, it will end up being more expensive. Take an old membrane to the store as a sample or copy its specification from the plate on the accumulator case.

Helpful Hint: It is advisable to wash the new membrane in a non-aggressive cleaning solution before use. We insert a threaded fitting into the membrane for attaching it from above and slowly twist it into the opening of the membrane.

Installing a new membrane in the housing

We insert a new membrane into the accumulator housing through the lower hole in the housing.

We push the membrane to its protrusions at the bottom.

Now our task is to straighten the membrane inside the housing and get the threaded fitting into the hole in its upper part. For a larger model, you can use special devices or tie a rope to the fitting in advance and pull it through the hole.

We tighten the nut on the threaded fitting.

Inside the fitting there is a recess for a hexagon. Tighten the nut slightly with a wrench. If it is not planned to install control automatics, a pressure gauge or an air release valve on the accumulator, then the upper hole in the flange can be plugged with a metal cap suitable diameter. As a seal, you can use fum tape or linen.

We wind 5-6 turns of the fum tape and install the cap.

First we twist it by hand, then tighten it with an adjustable wrench.

Install the lower clamping flange on the housing. This flange fixes the diaphragm on the body by pressing its edges. Install and tighten the bolts on the flange according to the same rules by which the wheels of the car are twisted. Depending on the number of bolts, a criss-cross or star pattern can be used. We must try to install and tighten the bolts from opposite sides - this way we will achieve uniform pressing of the flange and the membrane. When all the bolts are installed, tighten them one by one with a socket wrench.

Connecting the accumulator to the water supply system

We connect the accumulator with the help of a gasket and a union nut to the water supply system. There is enough manual effort here.

Before starting the accumulator, it is necessary to create additional air pressure. To do this, unscrew plastic cover from the nipple and connect the pump.

On the manometer, we monitor the increase in pressure in the tank. Normally, the accumulator label shows the amount of pre-air pressure. In our case, it is 1.5 bar.

If no value is given, set the pressure to 1.5 - 2 bar. After that, you can open the tap and supply water to the accumulator.

All rights to the video belong to: DoHow

Among modern types of roofing, membrane roofing can be attributed to one of the most durable. When the installation of a membrane roof is carried out in accordance with technological requirements, then a high-quality roofing can serve its owners from 40 to 50 years. She has excellent operational characteristics, successfully resists changes in air temperature and therefore can be applied in any region of the country.

It is not difficult to build such a roof, since the peculiarity of the material allows you to install the coating in only one layer. The use of modern polymer materials provides maximum waterproofing of the roof and makes it possible to save on materials for additional waterproofing. Due to the elasticity and flexibility inherent in polymers, they can be successfully used for roofs of any shape and slope.

Today, the construction of the roof of a house with a membrane roof allows you to get a roofing that is almost completely monolithic and has excellent waterproofing properties. Such a roof is deservedly considered the most modern and meets the requirements of recent times.

Materials used for membrane roofing

A roof of this type is equipped with the use of special materials, which are commonly called membrane, and which, in large assortment presented on the national market. They are distinguished by reliability, durability and a variety of color shades.

Do-it-yourself roofing can be done using different types of roofing membranes. All of them have their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. If until recently, when it came to membrane roofing, it was understood that it was made of PVC membranes, today EPDM and TPO membranes are used for this purpose. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

  • PVC membranes are plasticized polyvinyl chloride reinforced with polyester mesh. To increase the elasticity of membranes, a large percentage of volatile plasticizers is added to PVC. PVC membrane sheets in progress installation work welded together with hot air special equipment. The advantage of this robust design is that the joints of the canvases in terms of strength can compete with integral sections. The PVC membrane has a high resistance to UV rays and fire. They come in a variety of colors, but, unfortunately, they tend to fade. The disadvantages that you need to be aware of when you decide how to make a roof correctly is the poor resistance of the membrane to the effects of solvents, bitumen and various oils. The membrane sheet releases external environment volatile compounds, which is also a negative factor.
  • TPO membranes are a derivative of thermoplastic olefins. They are available both unreinforced and fiberglass reinforced or polyester. Like PVC membranes, they are welded together using special hot air equipment. The resulting seam is characterized by high strength and reliability. The installation of membrane roofing using TPO membranes is more laborious, since they have less elasticity compared to PVC and EPDM membranes.

When installing a membrane roof using the above materials, apply various technologies. Let's focus on those that are used most often.

Ballast way of fixing membranes


The fixing of roofing membranes by the ballast method, which is considered the simplest, is used when the roof slope is less than 15 degrees. It is produced as follows:

  • The membranes are laid on the surface of the roof. Then the installation of the membrane roof is carried out in such a way that they are leveled and fixed along the perimeter with glue or by welding. The membranes are fixed in places where they are adjacent to the vertical elements of the roof.
  • A layer of ballast is laid on top of the membrane thus prepared. Its best types are considered to be river pebbles of medium fraction (from 20 to 40 mm), rounded crushed stone and gravel.
  • Ballast weight must be at least 50 kg per square meter.
  • In the case when unrounded gravel or broken stone is used as ballast, the membrane sheet will need to be protected from possible damage. It is possible to lay on top of it non-woven densely with a density of over 500 g / m2 or mats.

If you are starting to build a roof, this kind of instruction will provide you with effective practical help.

Mechanical fixing of membranes

In the case when the roof structure is not able to withstand the loads associated with the ballast fastening of roofing membranes, another method of fastening them is used. We are talking about the mechanical installation of a membrane roof.

Membrane mechanical fastening is used when design features roofs do not allow high-quality gluing of waterproofing membrane material.

As a basis for mechanical fastening corrugated board, reinforced concrete, wood, etc. can be used. The membranes can be fixed along the perimeter of the protruding roof elements using special edge rails, on the underside of which a sealing layer is applied.


Roofing the roof with your own hands provides that membrane materials will be mounted on the roof with telescopic fasteners. It is a plastic umbrella with a wide hat and metal anchors, which can be replaced with large disk holders. The latter are used in the case when the roof slope has an angle of more than 10 degrees.

Installation of mechanical fasteners is carried out in areas where the membrane sheet is applied. Fasteners are located with a step not exceeding 200 mm. When the slope of the roof slope is greater than 2-4 degrees, an additional fastener line is made where the valley is located.

If the construction of the roof of the house is carried out with mechanical fixing of the roofing membrane at the base of the roof, then measures must be taken to protect the membrane from damage. To do this, geotextile material or non-woven fabric is laid under it.

Fastening roofing membranes by gluing

Roofing membranes are fixed by gluing in very rare cases. The reason is the rather expensive cost of such work. At the same time, there is no guarantee that the strength of fixing the membrane roofing to the roof base will be sufficiently high.

However, there are situations when the use of other methods, for some reason, is inappropriate or, better to say, impracticable. Then you can resort to adhesive bonding. The installation of the membrane roof is then carried out using adhesive mixtures. In terms of tensile strength, their connection must exceed the mating strength of the contacting layers of the roof.

Roofing membranes can be glued not over their entire area, but in the most critical places. This is done, as a rule, along the perimeter of the roof and in places where the panels overlap. Problem areas include ribs, valleys and places where membranes adjoin the protruding elements of the roof - chimneys, ventilation ducts and other protruding structures on the roof. Thus, you will reduce the cost of adhesive compositions.

Heat-welded method of joining roof membranes


When deciding how to make a roof correctly, many developers prefer the heat-welded method of connecting membrane roof sheets. It allows you to make the roof reliable and, at the same time, give it modern look. The work is carried out using a special welding machine. It "gives out" a jet of air, which has a temperature of 400 to 600 degrees. To ensure the strength and reliability of the connection of roofing membranes, it is recommended to make the width of the welded layer 20-100 mm.

Membrane coating sheets, which are joined by welding, create an airtight surface High Quality. It should not be forgotten that the welded joint does not have a destructive effect ultraviolet rays, which cannot be said about adhesive seams.

A significant disadvantage of such joints is that due to the complexity of the welding process, it will be difficult to do it yourself.

If you are seriously concerned about such an issue as building a roof, the instructions for using one or another method of constructing a membrane roof will be your reliable guide.

The technologies of its device described above can be successfully used in the construction of large structures, private cottages and adjoining buildings. With their careful study, you can gain theoretical knowledge about the properties possessed by membrane roofing materials. Given their characteristics, scope and features of application, you will have the opportunity to have a beautiful, reliable and durable membrane roof in the future!

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