As the saying goes, home is where the heart is, and the best way to protect it as we approach the winter months is to ensure your roof is waterproof. If you’re concerned about any small cracks and leaks following recent weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A small hole can turn into a major headache for you long-term if left untreated.
Luckily, Cohe has a proven method for guaranteeing your home is safe from any wild weather.
Using simple products like our Cohe Quick Clean and Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant, you can safeguard your biggest asset from leaks in five easy steps.
Use our waterproof products on your roof before the winter weather sets in. Check out our five simple steps below!
Inspect your roof before you start
It’s important you inspect the soundness of the existing substrate. Confirm the roof drainage is functional and satisfactory before you begin the process of waterproofing your roof. If you find there is a pre-existing coating present, it could help to do a test run to determine the compatibility by testing a small area with waterproof sealant. Ensure there is no moisture trapped in the substrate before coating. Once you are satisfied the surface is satisfactory and ready to go, it’s on to step two!
Ensure you have a clean, dry surface with Cohe Quick Clean
Our Cohe Quick Clean is a fast-acting mould, mildew, algae and lichen remover, which is ideal for eliminating tricky contaminants from the surface of your roof. Spray the product and leave for at least three hours before using a trusty hose to remove all contaminants. Then allow the surface to fully dry again, as it must be free of moisture before you continue. Finally, tape off any areas of the roof that you don’t want any sealant applied to. Apply Cohe Quick Clean first thing in the morning or last thing at night to minimise evaporation. And it goes without saying, but make sure there is no rain expected for at least 6-12 hours.
Bridge joints, seams, vents and skylights with Liquid Rubber Seam Tape
Next, you need to peel off the plastic backing of your Liquid Rubber Seam Tape – a handy product used to seal gaps, tears and joins in your roof. You will see it has exposed the adhesive surface underneath. Apply this adhesive side down to all joints and cracks, 90° angles and protrusions. Go smoothly as you apply to ensure no air bubbles form. Once you’ve done this across all necessary areas of the roof, you are ready to immediately continue.
Apply Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant using a brush or roller
Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant is the best-loved sealer for all craftsmen and DIYers, thanks to its incredible adhesion to all types of substrates. Using this product, and a brush or roller from our handy Liquid Rubber Application Kit, apply a base layer of our waterproof product – paying particular attention to all joints or cracks. Wait 12 hours to let the first coat smooth over, and apply a top coat of the product, ensuring all air bubbles are removed, and the fabric of the seam tape is smooth.
You will want a minimum final thickness across your roof of ‘one litre per one square meter’ (it rhymes). This should be achieved with two heavy coats, and a 20-litre pail will coat 40 square meters. Once this is complete, leave to cure for 4-6 hours before walking on the surface of the roof. The best temperatures are between 10-25°C, and when not in contact with direct intense sunlight.
Apply Liquid Rubber Smooth Coating or Cohe C200 High-End Roof Coating
You’ve then got a good 72 hours to wait after applying the waterproof sealant, so put your feet up and relax for a while. Once the holiday is over, use one of our trusty coating products – Liquid Rubber Smooth Coating or Cohe C200 High End Roof Coating – to seal the deal. Apply the coating product heavily and wait for another 12 hours before applying a final coat. We recommend applying each coat in an alternate direction to the previous coat to ensure an even thickness. A 10-litre bucket will coat roofs up to 30 square meters. Use a minimum final thickness of one litre per three square meters. This will ensure the tough elastomeric roof coating can achieve its highest standard. Our Cohe C200 coating also has state-of-the-art UV absorbers that assist in surface protection from the effects of harsh New Zealand sunlight.
As always, we recommend you set out a tarp nearby to safely keep your pails and tools on. Also, make sure you have a pail of soap and water, rags and mineral spirits on hand. It pays to be prepared if an accident occurs, which you can clean up immediately and soak up with the rags.
And that’s it!
Why should I use Cohe waterproof products?
Cohe products are effective and environmentally friendly. We pride ourselves on providing quality, reliable products and full planning support for the job, should you need us.
If DIY isn’t for you, or you have a larger project, we would be happy to talk to you about providing a Certified Applicator to get the job done cost-effectively and give you peace of mind this winter, please get in touch with us today.
With the weather becoming more inclement, don’t waste time thinking about the little cracks and abrasions in your roof. As you can see, it’s an easy process, and we are here to help you every step of the way!
Cohe are suppliers of innovative construction products that allow for a quick, efficient, environmentally friendly and cost effective repair, for both DIY and commercial applications. Stay tuned for tips and news from our world.
