Paper Mill Roof Leak Membrane

The challenge

A paper mill roof was leaking at its seams and details, letting water run down onto process equipment and electrical gear below. The seams had opened up and the flashings, penetrations, and other detail areas had weathered to the point that the roof no longer shed water where it mattered. Inside a working mill that water lands on equipment that has to keep running, so the leaks threaten production and corrode the assets underneath. The mill needed the roof watertight again without the cost and downtime of a full tear-off.

Our approach

We start by walking the roof and finding every place it is letting go, the open seams, the flashings, the penetrations, and the other detail areas. We clean the surface so the work bonds, then reinforce and seal the failed seams and details so they stop moving water. Over that we apply a cold liquid membrane with a 3000 Series system that conforms to the existing roof and its details, building one continuous waterproof layer without a tear-off. Because it goes down cold, there is no hot work over an operating mill, and the crew can work around the plant below.

1. Survey and mapWe walk the roof to locate the leaking seams, flashings, penetrations, and detail areas so the repair targets where the water is actually getting in.
2. Clean and prepareWe clean the roof surface and the detail areas so the seal coats and the membrane bond to a sound substrate.
3. Seal seams and detailsWe reinforce and seal the open seams, flashings, and penetrations so the failed areas stop carrying water.
4. Apply liquid membraneWe apply a cold liquid 3000 Series membrane that conforms over the existing roof and its details as one continuous waterproof layer, with no tear-off and no hot work.
5. Inspect and return to serviceWe check the membrane and the detail work for continuity and hand the roof back watertight while the mill keeps running.