Roof Maintenance- Materials and Methods

One of the main concerns in ensuring maintenance in a property is the roof. Since it bears all the rain, snow and sun, it wears down much quicker than other areas in your premises. Roof leakage and seepage are very common problems in old and new properties alike. This comprehensive guide covers how best you can take care of your roof with screeding and cement maintenance. 

Concrete vs Screed Which is Better?

Before any construction work can be undertaken, understanding the materials that go into maintenance is important. Concrete screed and cement screed are two main types of construction materials. There is also a major difference between concrete and screed in itself- where concrete is made using water, cement, admixtures and aggregates, while screed is a thinner mixture of cement and other aggregates (including sand, gravel and stone). Concrete is usually used as the main structural support for floors, walls, ceilings and beams, while screed is a thinner levelling top layer in subfloors and ceilings for support, with a different, finer composition. 

Different Purposes- Levelling and Supporting 

Screeding itself-where or cementing roofs, both involve largely the same process- but the composition of the solution used is very different. Cement and concrete solutions when compared to screed usually are only different based on the aggregate used. Cement and concrete are formulated using gravel and stone to make a coarser mixture which serves the function of durability, longevity, and resistance to wear and tear in roofs. 

Floor screed and concrete are both made from a mixture of cement, water and aggregate. The main difference between these them is the type of aggregate that is used. Screeding uses sand and cement mixture of a grain size of around 4 mm for a less-coarse, tightly attached texture which keeps moisture and seepage out of roof structures. Cement and concrete roof mixtures use much larger grain sizes of around 20 mm, which bolster structural support and maintain longevity. For whichever mixture you decide to opt for, ensure that it is BSI certified and sourced from a reliable supplier. 

To determine what thickness of the composition suits your maintenance needs, you must first assess the kind and extent of damage on your roof. For larger gaps and leakages, concrete of 100mm thickness should keep the elements at bay and mend any perforations in your roof. If your roof has lighter and less evident damage, and you want to maintain its aesthetic appeal, a screed of between 50-75mm is ideal. 

How to Screed a Roof- a DIY Guide 

If you don’t want to fork out the big bucks every time your roof is in need of a fix, get your DIY gloves on and follow this guide to screed your roof like a pro.

Preparing the Surface

1. Make sure the surface of your roof is prepped-it should be dry, clean and free of oil and dust as much as possible, so the solution can stick to the surface. 
2. If the surface of the roof is smooth, use sandpaper or a chisel and hammer to rough it up, so the screed can be uniformly attached to it.
3. Remove all chipped paint, dust and sand with a brush or broom prior to applying the solution. 
4. Remove all previous screeding solutions and topcoats thoroughly 
5. Make sure your surface preparation is carried out right before you apply the screed to prevent the accumulation of dust and debris. 

Preparing and Applying the Solution 

1. The base application of concrete should be wet for several hours before you lay the screed. 
2. Combine a properly-sourced, high-quality bonding agent with cement and water to create a slush which holds down the screed. The slush should comprise equal parts of loose cement and very fine sand, and when done, should look like paint with granules in it. 
3. Make sure the slush is made maximum 30 minutes before it is to be laid to prevent coagulation. Apply thoroughly with hard brushes for the slush to get inside crevices and cover the whole surface, leaving only a thin layer on tip. 
4. Make sure you plan out where to apply the screed first, in portions, since the slush must be wet when the screed is laid. The slush should not dry out before you apply the screed because it will loosen and scatter, compromising the durability of your roof. 

Conclusion 

If you don’t want to do the job yourself, there are several companies which offer screeding for your roof and have holistic maintenance packages. However, if you are a DIY-er, you should make sure you consult one of the many chemical manufacturing companies in UAE to procure the best quality materials and instructions on how to correctly screed your roof. Professionals can inform you on what composition works best for the type of roof you have, and for the purpose (weatherproofing, strengthening, removing seepage) for which you need screeding on your roof.