Products

Architecture and therefore roof design and construction is often based on history and experience. Bituminous waterproofing in Europe and Japan is mainly focused on Torched or self-adhesive felts for low slope roofs. In the United States both low and steep slope roofs are use bituminous materials or torching adhesive rolls for low slope roofs and shingles for steep slope roofs.

The perception and experience of the roof construction industry also requires products with different requirements in these markets. Climate also has a large impact on formulations and traditions. More recently health safety and environmental legislation has favored changing in working practices in particular with regard to torching.

Kraton Polymers supplies a wide variety of products for formulation and helps customers adapt to new or changing requirements.

Roofing Felts

Roofing felts are mass produced rolls of bitumen based compound and carrier which are transported to the construction site for placement through torching and/or self adhesion, or by using 'pour and roll' in which liquid compound is applied onto the roof in which the roll is laid out.

For self-adhesive felts such as pictured, the compound is covered with a release foil.

Shingles

Shingles are pieces of roofing felt which are applied in layers on top of a steep roof. The top of the shingle is usually nailed to the roof. The shingle overlaps with the shingle lower down the roof ensuring a leak free water run-off. 

Shingles generally have a tab adhesive strip at the lower end allowing it to stick to the shingle underneath to limit winduplift. Shingles are widely used in residential housing in North America. Their build up is similar to felts although generally they are somewhat thicker and stiffer than roofing felts.

Self-adhesive

Self-adhesive roofing felts have become a major market, both in North America as well as in Europe. Fire safety, reduced emissions and safer working conditions have contributed to this trend.

The use of specialized Kraton® polymers can enable formulations of solvent free effective self adhesive roofing felts which do also have excellent mechanical properties.

Hot Mopping

Hot mopping involves the use of liquid (polymer modified) bitumen applied directly onto the low slope roof. The compound is heated in a kettle with thermostat and the liquid is applied directly onto the roof, taking all precautions associated with dealing with hot bitumen compounds.

The product is spread-out over the roof using rakes. This technique is still widely used in North America.

Bridge Deck

Waterproofing felts are not only used on buildings but also to waterproof structures such as bridges protecting the construction materials against water and its associated corrosion and deterioration. The bridge-deck structure is protected using specially formulated felts to adapt to the specific conditions of heat resistance required when applying the hot asphalt mix onto the felts.

Many famous bridges have been waterproofed using Kraton polymer modified felts.

Photo courtesy of Siplast picturing the Pont d'Austerliz being waterproofed.