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c/everett-wa•the_elliotthe_elliot•1mo ago

PSA: That old roofer on Broadway told me to stop using a torch on flat roofs...

I was up on a job near the Everett marina last Thursday, doing a TPO membrane repair. An old roofer who was walking his dog stopped and said I was making a mistake using a torch for the seam welds. He said it weakens the material over time and I'd be back in two years. I brushed him off at first, figured he was just old school. But then I did some research that night and found out he was totally right for this type of roof. The heat creates micro-cracks that lead to leaks. I switched to a hot air welder the next day and it worked way smoother. Has anyone else had an old timer give you advice that actually saved you a headache?
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3 Comments
angela_harris
Had a buddy who ran a small flat roof job a few years back. He used a torch like always and the whole thing started bubbling within a year. An old timer told him to switch to cold adhesive and it held solid for the next five seasons.
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grays13
grays131mo ago
Damn, that old timer was right? I used to swear by torches but now I'm rethinking everything.
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kimr74
kimr741mo ago
Yeah cold adhesive is way more forgiving, torches are risky business.
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