W, Hughes APPLICATION

Bituminous felt has many disadvantages in both application and performance. It is typically applied using naked flame and heating equipment, such as boilers, whi

ch pose a significant fire risk and increase insurance premiums.

Decothane is a cold fluid applied by brush, roller or airless spray. Formulated to overcome the problems associated with traditional roofing materials, it is safer, cleaner and quicker to use. There is no need for pots of molten bitumen, naked flame or any other heat source, and because it is applied directly over the existing substrate, disruption is minimal.

Decothane generally involves a three-stage process, starting with priming if the substrate is metal or requires enhanced adhesion. Protrusions and other detailed areas are primed first. If the rest of the roof requires priming, the primer is poured onto the substrate and spread with a roller.

By comparison, bituminous roofing felt is laid using hot techniques. Gas canisters and roof flame torches are needed on the roof, and molten bitumen is pre-heated in a boiler to bond the strips of felt, but the high application temperature poses a health and safety risk. The bitumen is poured onto the roof and spread using a roller, but it is messy with a heavy odour and can emit potentially dangerous fumes. Many major companies have banned the use of hot-applied felt altogether.Watch our Streaming Video Demo

With Decothane, parapets, upstands and detailed areas are coated first. It easily follows the contours of even the most complex roof detail. Reemat glass fibre matting is then applied. Easily torn by hand and laid into the coated area, Reemat provides additional strength and durability. The main section of the roof is coated with Decothane, before Reemat matting is applied and embedded into the coating. Decothane systems are available with life spans of at least 10, 15, 20 or even 25 years before first maintenance and are approved by the British Board of Agrément. They can be applied in poor weather conditions, curing at low temperatures even under ponded water.

When bituminous felt is applied, roof flame torches are used. Clearly, naked flame on a roof presents a risk to operatives applying the felt and those working within and around the underlying building. There have been many instances of fire breaking out on roofs where hot-applied felt is being laid. On the other hand, Decothane is free from risk, due to its cold fluid application. When felt is laid, the joints between the sheets, or around detail work, are its weakest point, leading to water penetration.

When a final top-coat of Decothane is applied, it provides a seamless, watertight membrane free from leak-inducing joints or seams. Various colours are available, including solar reflective white, which reduces solar heat gain.

Decothane is highly durable, vapour permeable, elastomeric and UV stable. It will not embrittle with age or crack when subject to thermal and structural movement. It provides years of cost-effective weatherproof protection, setting the industry standard for reliability.

W, Hughes REFURBISH

When structural modifications are made, such as installing a new vent or roof light, felt needs to be cut out and replaced. Hot bitumen is used to bond the new felt, which again brings with it the risk from boilers, gas canisters and flame torches. Naked flame on a roof is extremely dangerous. Strips of felt are applied, which in turn create more joints and increase the possibility of leaking, as it is invariably at the joints between the sheets that water penetration ultimately tends to occur.

Decothane is easily cut out to accommodate structural alterations. If the upstand is metallic, it requires priming using a metal primer, whilst non-metallic substrates need not be primed. Complete seamless protection is rapidly reinstated by applying a first coat of Decothane by brush and embedding Reemat glass fibre matting into the coating for extra strength and durability. The system is completed by applying a final coat. Decothane forms a monolithic barrier which is totally waterproof and guaranteed free from degradation throughout its long design life. Having been used to protect many buildings worldwide over many years, it can be relied upon with absolute confidence. Watch our Streaming Video Demo

W, Hughes REPLENISH

Roofing felt fails by embrittling and cracking, as a result of UV degradation, differential thermal movementor

delamination caused by blisters of entrapped substrate moisture. Joints also fail, particularly at upstands. Each of these defects allows water to penetrate into the roof substrate.

Decothane has a proven longer life span than felt. It offers total weatherproof protection for at least 25 years, remaining totally protective against the elements without exhibiting any signs of embrittling or cracking. When maintenance is eventually required, the surface simply needs to be washed down before a single coat of Decothane is applied to restore the original performance and life span.

Decothane is applied by brush to parapets, upstands and other detailed work, before being applied to the complete roof surface, spread with the aid of a roller or airless spray. The finished Decothane system is totally seamless, elastomeric, fully bonded and able to withstand thermal and structural movement without cracking or flaking. Resistant to abrasion and impact damage, it has a very tough, hard-wearing surface. It is able to tolerate foot traffic and attack by airborne pollutants and other aggressive chemicals, and will not degrade with prolonged exposure to ultra-violet light.

When felted roofs require refurbishment, vegetation growth is visible at the failed joints. Unlike Decothane, felt needs to be totally stripped out and replaced. This process is time consuming, messy and requires disposal of the failed felt. In order to bond the new felt to the roof, hot bitumen is poured and spread across the substrate, before the felt is laid with the aid of a roof flame torch. The heating equipment used to heat up the bitumen and flame torch pose a significant health and safety risk. Specifiers, contractors and end users simply needn't take that risk, as Decothane is the safer, more effective roofing solution.