Glossary 

BONDING ADHESIVE: Bonding Adhesive used to fasten the field sheet to substrate, walls and curbs. It should be thoroughly stirred before using. Adhesives can be either Solvent Based or Water Based.

 

BRIDGING: Occurs when the membrane is unsupported at a juncture or angle change. Moisture condensing on the bottom of the membrane can cause further de-lamination. Areas, where bridging occurs, should be repaired and re-flashed.

 

CURED COVER STRIP: 15.24cms wide cured EPDM membrane with butyl tape laminated to one side. Used when stripping in metal drip edge, repairing cuts in the field membrane or flashing that requires cured membrane.

 

DECK PLATES AND SCREWS: Used to mechanically attach the insulation board to the roof deck.

 

EPDM MEMBRANE: Cured field sheet membrane applied to roof decks, walls and flashings. Available in a variety of widths and lengths.

 

FISH MOUTH: A wrinkle is formed when an increasing amount of membrane is forced onto an area too small to accommodate the material. When the wrinkle ends at the edge of the material, a conical opening is formed called a Fish Mouth. Wrinkles and Fish Mouths in seams are not acceptable. They must be removed and flashed in.

 

FLASH OFF: Allowing the solvents in the adhesives or primer to evaporate, leaving the material in a tacky, not wet or stringy condition, before mating the two surfaces together. If the proper flash off time is not allowed, blisters will form in the membrane. These will not harm the membrane and over time, will usually disappear.

 

LAP CAULK: Applied at the top of all Termination Bars; at the top of Pipe Boots after the Pipe Boot Clamp has been installed and to adhere shingle tabs to the EPDM membrane. Lap Caulk must be used when Rubber to Rubber Adhesive is used to bond two pieces of membrane.

 

MEMBRANE CLEANER: Used for cleaning metal drip edge after it has been sanded, prior to applying Rubber to Rubber Adhesive; cleaning seam edges prior to applying Lap Caulk; cleaning excessively dirty membrane; splicing membrane or inside and outside corner details.

 

METAL DRIP EDGE: Used to create a finished appearance and prevent water from running down the surface of fascias and walls. Metal Drip Edge is made from painted aluminium and galvanized or painted steel and is available at local builders merchants.

 

PIPE BOOT: Pre-moulded EPDM boot with tape: the best and most cost effective way to flash pipes.

 

PIPE BOOT CLAMP: Stainless steel clamp used to secure the top of the pipe to the Pipe Boot.

 

SEAM TAPE: Butyl tape used to splice two layers of membrane into a watertight seam. Available in a 7.62cms and 17.78cms widths.

 

SEAM TAPE PRIMER: Solvent based primer used to clean and prime the EPDM membrane before applying Seam Tape or any cured or uncured tape backed membrane. It is applied using a Scrub Pad. Do not apply primer directly to tape. Primer is only applied to surfaces being prepared to accept tape products. Seam Tape Primer Plus enhances the strength of membrane bonds using Rubber to Rubber Adhesive.

 

SUBSTRATE: The surface on which the membrane is applied (brick, concrete block, high-density wood fibreboard, plywood, OSB, isocyanurate insulation). Note: The membrane should not be adhered directly to asphalt roofing, shingles or polystyrene insulation.

 

T-JOINT: A T-Joint is formed when two sheets of cured EPDM form a seam that travels under, or over, a third ply. The centre of the “T” is where the middle sheet ends and the top sheet bridges over the middle sheet.

 

TARGET PATCH: A piece of membrane used to flash over a roof jack or pipe. A Target Patch is always larger than the object it is flashing in and is a cured membrane. Note: do not apply membrane directly to gas furnace stacks.

 

TERMINATION BAR: Extruded aluminium bar used to terminate the membrane at parapet walls, chimneys, skylights and AC curbs. It is also used to terminate membrane fascia when no metal drip edge is used. The proper fastener should be installed in every hole and a 6.35mm space maintained between bars.

 

UNCURED FLASHING WITH TAPE: EPDM membrane that is not cured (meaning it was not put in oven and baked in the manner of cured membrane) and is used whenever the field sheet has to be cut to accommodate outside corners, pipes, T-Joint patch and field seams making angle changes. After Uncured Flashing with Tape is applied, it will cure in the position in which it was applied. It should be applied using Seam Tape Primer Plus.

 

WATER CUT-OFF MASTIC: Used to create a waterproof compression gasket whenever the membrane is mechanically fastened using a Termination Bar or Pipe Boot Clamp. Water Cut-Off Mastic is applied between the membrane and the pipe or wall. The mechanical termination is installed over the membrane, compressing the mastic and creating the gasket.