bEST TOOLS FOR SINGLE-PLY ROOFING?
Single-ply hot air welder
Hot air welding machines are one of the main tools a roofer needs to install single ply membrane. The ideal choice is the roofing welding mechine that is designed to rool along the straight seems of the membrane while applying constant pressure and heat.
- digital display on the air welder allows for accurate control of the output temperature
- straight line guide is perfect to help guide you along the straight seams of the membrane.
- You have the option to add additional weights to increase the pressure applied to the seam.
Hot Air hand tool:
Hand held Hot air guns are perfect when you need to install the membrane around corners and very tight confined areas. This is where the hot air gun comes into its own when it comes to welding the single ply membrane, when it comes to installing the hot air welder will struggle to reach tight areas and also vertical welds. A good mix of a hot air welder and also a hot air hand held welder. Key features to note:
- when purchasing the hot air welder ensure you get the accessorises which allow you to join two overlapped materials.
- lightweight designs are essential to reduce muscle fatigue.
Wire Brush:
When using the hot air gun to weld the single-ply membrane, often the membrane will stick to the gun reducing airflow and inturn effecting the weld. What we don’t want to do is switch the hot air gun off while welding, wait for it to cool down, clean the gun and then reheat and start the process again. Instead we can use the wire brush to clean our hot air gun while it is still on, reducing down time and improving the quality of the weld.
Hand held pressure roller:
Used with your hand held air gun, the hand held pressure roller is used to install and apply pressure to the weld between the two membranes. A lot of rollers will vary in width so it is important to choose the correct spec for you and also choose a roller made of silicon by doing so you ensure pressure is applied to the weld consistently regardless of the surface inconsistencies.
Electrical extension cable:
Often overlooked and also one of the tools that we take for granted but it is important to remember your electrical extension as more often than not roofers will be working at height and it is important not to be up and down. A good extension that reaches to your work station ensures you don’t have any stretched wires getting in the way of your install.
Single ply Seam tester:
Once welding is complete, the single ply seam tester will be used to test the strength and integrity of the weld between the single ply membranes.