ROOF WATERPROOFING: THE PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT WATERPROOFING MATERIALS

Abstract

This study provides a comparative assessment on the performance of acrylic, bituminous, cementitious, and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) materials as waterproofing membranes on different types of roofs in Singapore’s hot and humid tropical climate. Research materials include case studies from Singapore that illustrate the common causes of waterproofing failure in roofs, and technical data of the different types of waterproofing membranes. Through the analysis of these case studies, the goal of this dissertation is to identify the type of waterproofing membrane that bests suit each roof type, namely pitched roofs, green roofs, flat roofs, inverted roofs and metal roofs. In Singapore, the most common material used for the construction of roofs in reinforced concrete. Concrete is inherently porous and weak in tension, which makes it more susceptible to leakage and cracks forming in Singapore’s hot and humid climate. Thus the selection of the most appropriate waterproofing material is required. By defining a set of criteria to evaluate the types of materials and roofs, this paper would aim to devise a method to assist in the selection of the most appropriate material. The results of this study indicate that the success of a roof’s waterproofing membrane depends largely on the architect’s ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each waterproofing material and adopt the most adequate material for the given roof type.