Method for sealing roofing membranes

Abstract

A method for sealing adjacent roofing membranes of a hybrid roofing assembly. The method involves applying a sealing strip to establish a connection between the adjacent roofing membranes and creating a durable water tight seal at a joint between the adjacent roofing membranes, using a water impermeable liquid applied membrane. The method enables connecting in a water-tight fashion two incompatible roofing membranes using a water impermeable liquid applied membrane, thereby enabling the creation of hybrid roofs and reducing both repair and installation expenses.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for sealing adjacent roofing membranes, the method comprising the steps of:
 i. providing a roof assembly comprising a roof substrate, a first roofing membrane having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, and a second roofing membrane having a second upper surface and a second lower surface;   ii. laying the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane onto a surface of the roof substrate in such a manner that an edge of the first roofing membrane is adjacent to an edge of the second roofing membrane, wherein the first roofing membrane is not in direct contact with the second roofing membrane, wherein the first lower surface and the second lower surface are in direct contact with the roof substrate;   iii. applying a first polymer resin primer layer PR1 to at least a portion of the first upper surface and a second polymer resin primer layer PR2 to at least a portion of the second upper surface;   iv. providing a sealing strip having an upper major surface and a lower major surface limited between short and long edges;   V. adhesively bonding the sealing strip via the lower major surface to at least a portion of the first polymer resin primer layer PR1 and at least a portion of the second polymer resin primer layer PR2 so that a connection gets established between the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane;   vi. applying a water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 to the upper major surface of the sealing strip, optionally the first polymer resin primer layer PR1 and the second polymer resin primer layer PR2; and   vii. allowing the water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 to cure in order to form a watertight seal between the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first roofing membrane comprises at least one polymer P1 selected from thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO) or a thermoplastic ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second roofing membrane comprises at least one polymer P2 selected from polyvinylchloride (PVC). 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membranes have a thickness of 0.5-5 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first polymer resin primer layer PR1 is composed of a composition comprising synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second polymer resin primer layer PR2 is composed of a composition comprising:
 at least one liquid epoxy resin LER; and   at least one amine hardener AH.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the sealing strip is a self-adhesive sealing strip. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 is applied to cover at least a portion of the first polymer resin primer layer PR1, at least a portion of the second polymer resin primer layer PR2 and the sealing strip. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 is applied by the application of a reactive composition RC1 in liquid form and letting the applied composition cure. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the reactive composition RC1 is selected from the list consisting of reactive one-part polyurethane compositions, reactive two-part polyurethane compositions and reactive two-part polyurea compositions. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the reactive composition RC1 has a water content of less than 10 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the reactive composition RC1 is reactive one-part polyurethane composition containing:
 an amount of isocyanate-functional polymers in the range of 15 to 80 weight-% in relation to the total composition;   an amount of latent hardener in the range of 0.5 to 25 weight-% in relation to the total composition;   an amount of plasticizers in the range of 0 to 40 weight-% in relation to the total composition; and   an amount of fillers in the range of 0 to 80 weight-% in relation to the total composition.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 comprise a fibre reinforcement mesh. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane are secured on the roofing substrate by adhesive and/or mechanically using screws, barbed plates or termination bars. 
     
     
         30 . A roof system comprising,
 a roof substrate;   a first roofing membrane having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, wherein a first polymer resin primer layer PR1 is applied to at least a portion of the first upper surface;   a second roofing membrane having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, wherein a second polymer resin primer layer PR2 is applied to at least a portion of the second upper surface, wherein the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane are laid on a surface of the roof substrate so that an edge of the first roofing membrane is adjacent to an edge of the second roofing membrane, wherein the first lower surface and the second lower surface are in direct contact with the roof substrate, and wherein the first roofing membrane is not in direct contact with the second roofing membrane;   a sealing strip having an upper major surface and a lower major surface limited between short and long edges, wherein the sealing strip is adhesively bonded via the lower major surface to at least a portion of the first polymer resin primer layer PR1 and at least a portion of the second polymer resin primer layer PR2 so that a connection gets established between the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane; and   a water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1, wherein the water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 is applied to the upper major surface of the sealing strip, optionally the first polymer resin primer layer PR1 and the second polymer resin primer layer PR2, wherein the water impermeable liquid applied membrane M1 is allowed to cure in order to form a watertight seal between the first roofing membrane and the second roofing membrane.