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.

The Belzona approach

A walk of the roof finds every place it is letting go, the open seams, the flashings, the penetrations, and the other detail areas. The surface is cleaned so the work bonds, then the failed seams and details are reinforced and sealed so they stop moving water. Over that goes 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 application works around the plant below.

1. Survey and mapThe roof is walked to locate the leaking seams, flashings, penetrations, and detail areas so the repair targets where the water is actually getting in.
2. Clean and prepareThe roof surface and the detail areas are cleaned so the seal coats and the membrane bond to a sound substrate.
3. Seal seams and detailsThe open seams, flashings, and penetrations are reinforced and sealed so the failed areas stop carrying water.
4. Apply liquid membraneA cold liquid 3000 Series membrane is applied to conform 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 serviceThe membrane and the detail work are checked for continuity and the roof goes back watertight while the mill keeps running.