Water repellent and flexible, the mechanical properties of bitumen membranes make them ideal for waterproofing a multitude of applications. Traditionally used to weatherproof low slope roofs, bitumen membranes are also increasingly used to support green roofs or roof gardens, in commercial or residential developments.
As well as demonstrating excellent natural adhesion to various substrates, bitumen membranes will not absorb water and can withstand significant structural movements. Furthermore, bitumen membranes retain their properties over long periods and so significantly contribute to a structure's durability and longevity. Modern polymeric and elastomeric bitumen membranes have been used for well over 30 years and it can be assumed that their service life can be taken as 25 - 30 years.
Manufacturers of bitumen membranes are committed to providing environmentally safe and economically competitive products and work hard to deliver over 70% of the European low slope roofing market. It is estimated that bitumen membranes annually cover over 200 million square metres of roof. This is installed by a workforce of over 40,000 trained roofers.
