There is any number of reasons that you may want or need to remove a waterproof coating or membrane from your rooftop. Perhaps you recently purchased a property on the Gold Coast or in the Brisbane area that came complete with rooftop waterproofing, and this waterproofing was not done correctly, or eroded over time.
Whatever your reason, you should know that the rooftop waterproofing removal is a major undertaking and not one that can be accomplished in a single DIY session over the weekend. The process is long and complex and anybody involved needs to wear the appropriate safety equipment and have the right machinery for the job.
First off, you can increase the lifespan of the rooftop waterproofing by selecting, installing and maintaining it properly. If you’re thinking of removing waterproof membrane coatings it means taking everything off and starting from scratch – which will probably need to be done anyway as most roofs have additional finished materials in place on top of the waterproofed layer.
Two types of efficient waterproof removal are available – mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical removers use abrasive actions for removal and are very noisy without the correct equipment. Chemical waterproofing removal is strong and a mask and protective gear would be needed to avoid inhaling fumes. If the waterproof membrane was applied using an adhesive, a blowtorch may be required to melt the adhesive enough for it to be removed. After this is done, a good scraping or blast from a compressor will remove any leftover residue. Once the complete coating or membrane has been removed, it must be disposed of in accordance with your local area regulations, and not just “chucked in the bin” with your household trash.
The methods described above are quite similar if the job involves timber stripping or removing a timber floor. While the materials are different, the amount of work, complexity of the task and expertise required to strip a timber floor is similar to that of removing waterproofing from a roof.
As you can see, removing waterproofing or stripping a timber floor is not a simple task. If you’re looking to remove waterproofing coating Gold Coast or Brisbane it’s best to leave the job to experts who have the correct equipment and more importantly the necessary know-how.