Rejuvenating a flat roof

[geordief]

Mine was leaking and I painted the area with bitumen primer.That seems to have helped but I wonder whether I can use some horticulture fleece in conjunction with the primer (maybe a coat or two)

A roll of fibreglass matting would be better but I have the fleece to hand and I think it might work with the primer and be easy to apply.

 

[ree]

OP,
Why not post pics of the leaking flat roof surface, and the ceiling below?

 

[Alastairreid]

Fleece is not suitable for binding tar and will break down rather quickly.

 

[noseall]

Mine was leaking and I painted the area with bitumen primer.That seems to have helped but I wonder whether I can use some horticulture fleece in conjunction with the primer (maybe a coat or two)

A roll of fibreglass matting would be better but I have the fleece to hand and I think it might work with the primer and be easy to apply.

There a few, if any, lasting paint-on solutions to roofing issues. You are best leaving well alone rather than create an extra headache for the flat roofer.

 

[geordief]

Fleece is not suitable for binding tar and will break down rather quickly.

Fibreglass matting suitable then?

 

[Alastairreid]

Fibreglass matting suitable then?

No! The asphalt will break that down as well.

 

[Diver Fred]

I used 'Acropol' some years ago on a suspect flat roof - it survived at least 7 years without issue until overlaid with EDPM last year. Unfortunately you have used a Bitumen product which does cause problems with being overlaid with Acropol or similar. I think your quickest/cheapest solution is roofing felt laid in 2 layers bedded on hot bitumen pitch.

 

[noseall]

hot bitumen pitch.

Hot bitch pitch - like it.

 

[geordief]

Fleece is not suitable for binding tar and will break down rather quickly.

The thread is old now but I just found this by doing a search on "reemay" ,which is the American term for the fleece I was talking about.

Specification Chemicals | REEMAY Roof Fabric

Specification Chemicals manufactures REEMAY Roof Fabric. Learn more about this product and its applications here.

spec-chem.com

It seems to specifically claim the horticultural fleece is a suitable material for roofing and lists the petrol related products that it can be used with without degradation.

It won't let me copy/paste but days it can "replace fibrrglass matting or otganic roofing felt"

I did use it for a small patch (about 18 inches square) ,doubled up and using a bitumen based primer to soak into it and to stick to the torchon felt .

It seems effective but it is just a few months old and so I can't say how permanent it is (it feels good)