US20230175265A1

US20230175265A1 - Roofing membrane with impact detection features

Info

Publication number: US20230175265A1
Application number: US17/542,621
Authority: US
Inventors: Clayton Christian
Original assignee: Johns Manville
Current assignee: Johns Manville
Priority date: 2021-12-06
Filing date: 2021-12-06
Publication date: 2023-06-08

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present technology may encompass roofing membranes. The roofing membranes may include a waterproof membrane having a top major surface. The roofing membranes may include a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane. The first liner may have a first color. The roofing membranes may include a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. A bottom surface of the second liner may be coupled with the top surface of the first liner. The second liner may have a second color that is different than the first color.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roofing applications often utilize single ply membranes to help waterproof a roof structure. Such membranes are often rolled out on top of the roof, typically on top of the insulation layer, and adhered and/or otherwise coupled with the roof structure to prevent the ingress of water into the roof structure. When installing single-ply membranes, it is important to protect the membrane from damage. Damage can be caused by dropping roofing equipment, pressing rigid debris into the membrane, other trade's equipment, etc. Areas of damaged membrane left unaddressed compromise the integrity of the waterproofing membrane, leaving areas below susceptible to moisture entry. Identifying these damaged areas can be time consuming and difficult to locate on a reflective roof surface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present technology may encompass roofing membranes. The roofing membranes may include a waterproof membrane having a top major surface. The roofing membranes may include a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane. The first liner may have a first color. The roofing membranes may include a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. A bottom surface of the second liner may be coupled with the top surface of the first liner. The second liner may have a second color that is different than the first color.
In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane using an adhesive. The bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane using electrostatic force. The bottom surface of the second liner may be bonded with the top surface of the first liner using an adhesive. The first liner and the second liner may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a paper material, a polymeric material, and a polymer-coated paper material. The waterproof membrane may include a single ply membrane. The bottom surface of the second liner may be disposed directly against the top surface of the first liner. The waterproof membrane may include a third color that is different than the first color and the second color.
Some embodiments of the present technology may encompass roofing membranes that include a waterproof membrane having a top major surface that includes a first color. The roofing membranes may include a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane. The first liner may have a second color that is different than the first color. The roofing membranes may include a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. A bottom surface of the second liner may be coupled with the top surface of the first liner. The second liner may have a third color that is different than the first color and the second color. A force coupling the first liner and the second liner may be greater than a force coupling the first liner and the waterproof membrane.
In some embodiments, the first liner and the second liner may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a paper material, a polymeric material, and a polymer-coated paper material. Each of the first liner and the second liner may have a thickness of between about 0.1 mils and 15 mils. The bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane using a first adhesive. The bottom surface of the second liner may be bonded with the top surface of the first liner using a second adhesive that is different than the first adhesive. The first adhesive may include a pressure sensitive adhesive. The second adhesive may include a permanent bonding agent. The second color and the third color may include complementary colors.
Some embodiments of the present technology may encompass methods of installing a roofing membrane. The methods may include positioning a roofing membrane atop an exposed roofing surface. The roofing membrane may include a waterproof membrane having a top major surface having a first color. The roofing membrane may include a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane. The first liner may have a second color that is different than the first color.
The roofing membrane may include a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface. A bottom surface of the second liner may be coupled with the top surface of the first liner. The second liner may have a third color that is different than the first color and the second color. The methods may include securing the roofing membrane to the exposed roofing surface. The methods may include inspecting the roofing membrane to see if one or both of the first color or the second color are visible. Visibility of one or both of the first color or the second color may be indicative of possible impact damage to the waterproof membrane. The methods may include removing the first liner and the second liner from the top major surface of the waterproof membrane.
In some embodiments, the methods may include inspecting the waterproof membrane at a location where one or both of the first color or the second color are visible to determine whether the waterproof membrane is damaged. The methods may include patching at least a portion of the waterproof membrane upon determining that the waterproof membrane is damaged. Removing the first liner and the second liner may include peeling the first liner and the second liner. The first liner and the second liner may be removed simultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of various embodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a roofing membrane secured to a roof structure according to embodiments.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of the roofing membrane of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2 illustrates a roofing membrane according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for installing a roofing membrane according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to roofing membranes having removable colored liners that enable installers to quickly identify areas that may have been damaged, such as due to impact of heavy and/or sharp objects. As used herein, the term roofing membrane means essentially any material that is installed atop a roof, typically as an outer surface or layer. Such roofing membranes are commonly installed for various functional and/or aesthetic purposes. For example, roofing membranes may be installed to provide weather proofing, reduce urban heat island effects via heat reflection, reduce UV damage, reduce roof maintenance and/or degradation, improving weathering characteristics, and the like. Roofing membranes may also provide a sleek and/or desired roof appearance, such as a uniform roof color and/or style. While discussed primarily in the context of adhesives for detecting impact damage to roofing membranes, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not so limited, and that the liners and techniques described herein may be utilized in any other application in which it may be useful to readily identify damage to an underlying surface.
Turning now to FIG. 1 , a roof structure 100 that is covered with a roofing membrane 102 is illustrated. The roof structure 100 may be formed atop all or part of a building and/or other structure and may be generally flat and/or pitched. Roof structure 100 may include any number of materials and/or layers in addition to the roofing membrane 102. These layers/materials are typically positioned under the roofing membrane 102 and may include support members (e.g., wood and/or metal beams), insulation layers (e.g., foam and/or other insulating boards), and/or other boards or members. The roofing membrane may be coupled with one or more of these materials via ballasting, mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, induction welding, heat welding, and the like.
Roofing membrane 102 may be positioned atop roof structure 100, oftentimes above an insulation layer, and may be configured to prevent leaks in the roofing structure 100 and/or to provide aesthetic appeal. Typically, the roofing membrane 102 is in the form of a single ply membrane. The term “single-ply” is used to describe a roof structure 100 having a single application of a roofing membrane 102, but the roofing membrane 102 itself may include multiple layers. For example, the roofing membrane 102 may include polymer layers, reinforcing layers, adhesive layers, coatings, a fleece layer, and the like. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, multiple layers of roofing membrane 102 may be applied to a single roof structure 100.
Oftentimes, the roofing membrane 102 is provided as a roll of flat, flexible membrane that may be rolled out on top of the roof structure 100. For example, a single ply roofing membrane 102 may be supplied in any workable size (such as, but not limited to, rolls of 10 feet wide or more and containing 100 linear feet or more of roofing membrane 102). The roofing membrane 102 may be adhered to the roof structure 100 using an adhesive, such as those described herein. Oftentimes, the roof structure 100 is too large to be covered by a single piece of roofing membrane 102. In such instances, multiple pieces of roofing membrane 102 may be overlapped and joined at the seams using a waterproof joining method. For example, seams of adjacent pieces of roofing membrane 102 may be joined by priming and/or preparing edges of the roofing membranes 102 and then applying a tape to the primed and/or prepared edges, using heat welding and/or using another form of adhesive bonding. In priming or preparing the edges, the installer must wait for the primer material to flash before applying the adhesive. Improper application of the primer and/or adhesive may result in an improper bond, which may create immediate and/or long term roofing problems, such as leakage. Examples of using and installing single ply roofing membranes 102 may be found in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0362894, entitled “Sheet Roofing with Pre-Taped Seams and Tape Therefor” and filed Aug. 25, 2016, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
In accordance with the present invention, the roofing membrane 102 includes a waterproofing layer 104. The waterproofing layer 104 is configured to form the outer layer of the roof once fully installed, and helps prevent leaks in the roofing structure 100 and provides aesthetic appeal to the finished roof. For example, the waterproofing layer often provides a uniform outer surface that provides an aesthetically pleasing finished appearance to the roof. Waterproofing layer 104 may have a white exterior, but may be made in various other colors or shades, such as grey, tan, black, and the like. White waterproofing layers 104 are often used to provide a pleasing appeal to the building and/or to reflect radiation and thereby minimize heat island effects. In other embodiments, a black or other dark waterproofing layer 104 may be provided. Such waterproofing layers 104 absorb more radiant heat than white waterproofing layers 104. Additionally, in the winter, condensation evaporates quicker and snow and ice melt more rapidly on black roofs than white roofs.
In some embodiments, waterproofing layer 104 may be formed of various synthetic rubber materials, modified bitumen, or thermoplastic materials. For example, roofing membrane 102 may commonly include thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), chlorinated polyethylene (CPA), and/or modified bitumen, although some embodiments may use other thermoset and/or thermoplastic roofing membranes. In some embodiments, the waterproofing layer 104 may include one or more polymers blended with one or more fillers. For example, in some embodiments the waterproofing layer 104 may include some combination of the following materials: polypropylene, polyethylene, block copolymer polypropylene, rubber, plasticizers, fiberglass, carbon fiber, fire retardants, and the like. In another embodiment, a waterproofing layer 104 may have a more pure polymer blend without or with very few fillers. For example, the waterproofing layer 104 may include mainly polypropylene or polyethylene or some combination of these polymers with little to no fillers, although in some embodiments, these waterproofing layer 104 may include some amount of a filler, such as a fire retardant.
When installing the roofing membrane 102, workers must often lay out or otherwise arrange multiple flat sheets of roofing membrane 102 (such as shown in FIG. 1A) to the roof structure 100. The sheets of roofing membrane 102 are then secured to the roof structure 100, such as ballasting, mechanically fastening. adhesive bonding. induction welding, and/or heat welding the pieces of roofing membrane 102 to the roof structure 100. Then the workers must seal any seams formed between adjacent sheets of roofing membrane 102, such as by overlapping the adjacent edges and joining the edges at the seams using a waterproof joining method, such as using heat welding, using primer and tape, and/or other adhesive joining techniques. Additionally, workers must often install and connect electrical and/or mechanical equipment on the roof prior to the completion of the roof installation. Oftentimes, several of these installation steps require the workers to step on at least a portion of the roofing membrane 102, which may track dust and debris on the roofing membrane 102.
In some embodiments, a number of colored liners 106 may be applied to the outermost surface of the waterproofing layer 104. The colored liners 106 may be applied to the waterproof layer 104 prior to installation of the roofing membrane 102, oftentimes during a manufacturing process. The colored liners 106 may each be a different color (and a different color than the outermost surface of the waterproofing layer 104), which may help workers more readily identify possible damage to the roofing membrane 102, such as damage caused by impacts from heavy and/or sharp objects. Once the installation process has been completed (or some other point near an end of the installation process), the colored liners 106 may be inspected to see if any lower colors (from lower colored liners 106 and/or the waterproofing layer 104) are visible. If lower colors are visible, such areas of the roofing membrane 102 may be inspected for damage and, if necessary, replaced and/or repaired. Once the inspection and any necessary maintenance is complete, the colored liners 106 may be removed, such as by peeling or otherwise removing the colored liners 106 from the waterproof layer 104, thereby exposing a pristine or near-pristine top surface of the waterproof layer 104. This ensures that the final installed roof will be substantially clean and damage free. While discussed primarily in relation to peel-off colored liners 106, it will be appreciated that other removal mechanisms may be utilized, such as by using coatings that will automatically degrade upon prolonged exposure to the elements (e.g., precipitation, sunlight, etc.).
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a roofing membrane 200. Roofing membrane 200 may be similar to roofing membrane 102 described above, and may include a waterproofing layer 202 and a number of removable colored liners 204. The waterproofing layer 202 may be similar to waterproofing layer 104 and may include any feature described in relation to waterproofing layer 104. As illustrated, the waterproofing layer 202 may be formed of multiple layers. As just one example, the waterproofing layer 202 may be formed from multiple layers of TPO and/or PVC (although other materials, such as EPDM, are possible in some embodiments). For example, a bottom layer 206 may be formed from recycled TPO and/or PVC material, while a top layer 208 may be formed from newly manufactured TPO and/or PVC. It will be appreciated that other materials may be used in some embodiments, and that the bottom layer 206 and top layer 208 need not be the same material in some embodiments. Additionally, the waterproofing layer 202 may include additional layers. As just one example, one or more reinforcement layers, such as a scrim 212, may optionally be provided at the interface between the bottom layer 206 and the top layer 208 and/or at other locations about the waterproofing layer 202. In some embodiments, a fleece layer 210 that may be positioned as a base layer of the waterproofing layer 202. An exposed surface of the top layer 208 may have a uniform and aesthetically pleasing surface that is designed to be exposed after installation on a roof.
The removable colored liners 204 may be similar to colored liners 106 described above and may be positioned atop and may cover all, or a substantial portion, of an exposed surface of the top layer 208 of the waterproofing layer 202. For example, the colored liners 204 may be coextensive with the waterproofing layer 202. The colored liners 204 may each be a different color (an typically a different color than the waterproofing layer 202). During installation, a user may inspect the colored liners 204 to see if any color from a lower layer (such as any color liner 204 positioned below an outermost colored liner 204 or one of the layers of the waterproofing layer 202) is visible, which may be indicative that the waterproofing layer 202 has been damaged. For example, one or more of the outer layers (e.g., the colored liners 204) may have been punctured or otherwise pierced, which may enable lower layers to be visible to users at areas of the potential damage. When lower layers are observed, users may inspect the waterproofing layer 202 proximate such areas and determine whether any damage has occurred. Where damage to the waterproofing layer 202 has occurred, the user may replace and/or repair the damaged waterproofing layer 202, such as by patching the damaged area.
The roofing membrane 200 may include two or more colored liners, three or more colored liners, four or more colored liners, five or more colored liners, or more. As illustrated, roofing membrane 200 includes a bottommost colored liner 204 a and an outermost colored liner 204 b, with each colored liner 204 including a top surface and a bottom surface. Oftentimes, each colored liner 204 may have a different color, which may provide an indication of a depth of a puncture or other damage. For example, based on the color exposed, a user may quickly determine how close the puncture has come to reaching the waterproofing layer 202 and may help the user determine how likely the puncture is to have damaged the waterproofing layer 202 itself, possibly without the need to carefully inspect the waterproofing layer 202. Each color of the colored liners 204 may be selected to be readily distinguishable from other colored liners 204 and/or the waterproofing layer 202. In some embodiments, colored liners 204 present within roofing membrane 200 may have complementary colors, such as red/green, blue/orange, yellow/purple, etc. In some embodiments, the colors may include other easily distinguishable color combinations, such as colors that are between about 30 degrees and 180 degrees apart on a color wheel. For example, color combinations may include colors that are at least 30 degrees apart on the color wheel, at least 45 degrees apart, at least 60 degrees apart, at least 75 degrees apart, at least 90 degrees apart, at least 105 degrees apart, at least 120 degrees apart, at least 135 degrees apart, at least 150 degrees apart, or at least 165 degrees apart. In some embodiments, color combinations may be selected that are more easily distinguishable for people suffering from different types of colorblindness.
Each colored liner 204 may be formed from a paper material, a polymeric material, and/or a polymer-coated paper material. For example, the colored liners 204 may be formed from kraft paper (e.g., super calendered kraft paper, clay coated kraft paper, machine finished kraft paper, etc.), glassine, machine glazed paper, and/or other paper material. The colored liners 204 may be formed from a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (such as biaxially oriented PET (BO-PET)), a polypropylene film (such as biaxially oriented polypropylene), polyolefins (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), and/or other polymeric material. In some embodiments, the colored liners 204 may be formed from a same or similar material as the top layer 208 (e.g., TPO, EPDM, and/or PVC). The colored liners 204 may be formed from a poly coated kraft paper, poly coated BO-PET film, and/or other polymer-coated paper or polymeric material. Each colored liner 204 may have a thickness of between about 0.1 mil and 15 mils, between about 0.5 mils and 10 mils, between about 1 mil and 5 mils, or between or about 2 mils and 4 mils, In some embodiments, each colored liner 204 may have the same thickness, while in other embodiments one or more of the colored liners 204 may have different thicknesses. As just one example, each subsequent colored liner 204 (starting from the colored liner 204 closest to the waterproofing layer 202) may have a greater thickness than the prior colored liner 204, In other embodiments, each subsequent colored liner may have a lesser thickness than the prior colored liner 204.
The colored liners 204 may be applied directly, without any intervening layers or adhesives, or indirectly to the top layer 208 of the waterproofing layer 202. For example, a bottommost colored liner 204 a may be coupled with the waterproofing layer 202 using electrostatic forces. In other embodiments, an adhesive may be provided at the interface between the bottommost colored liner 204 a and the exposed surface of top layer 208. In some embodiments, the adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive. In embodiments in which the colored liners 204 are removed by peeling the colored liners 204 off of a top surface of the top layer 208, the adhesive may adhere the bottommost colored liner 204 a with the top layer 208 with a peel strength of between about 0.2 and 200 pounds per linear inch (oftentimes 0.2-100 pli, 0.2-50 pli, 0.2-25 pli, 0.2-10 pli, 0.2-5 pli, 0.4-1.5 pli, 0.4-1.0 pli, 0.4-0.8 pli, 0.4-1.2 pli, 0.4-0.6 pli, etc.), as determined using ASTM D1876. This ensures that the colored liners 204 are sufficiently adhered to the top surface of the top layer 208 so as to not readily fall off, but are also sufficiently easy to peel that a worker may remove the colored liners 204 from the top surface of the top layer 208 by hand, without the use of any tools.
Oftentimes, all colored liners 204 may be removed in a single step. To help facilitate such removal, a force coupling the colored liners 204 together may be greater than a force coupling the bottommost colored liner 204 a and the top layer 208 of the waterproofing layer 202. In some embodiments, the colored liners 204 may be coupled together using an adhesive. For example, an adhesive may be applied between the bottommost colored liner 204 a and the outermost colored liner 204 b to bond the top surface of the bottommost colored liner 204 a with a bottom surface of the outermost colored liner 204 b. In some embodiments, the adhesive may be a permanent bonding agent such that the colored liners 204 are inseparable without using a solvent or damaging at least one of the colored liners 204. In other embodiments, temporary bonding agents with lower adhesive forces may be used. The type of adhesive used to couple the colored liners 204 together and/or with the waterproofing layer 202 may be selected based at least in part on the materials used to form the colored liners 204 and/or the waterproofing layer 202. Oftentimes, the adhesives used to bond the colored liners 204 together is different than an adhesive used to bond the bottommost colored liner 204 a with the top surface 208 of the waterproofing layer 202. In some embodiments, the adhesive may include a hot melt adhesive, a butyl adhesive, a solvent adhesive, a water-based adhesive, and/or an acrylic-based adhesive. In some embodiments, rather than using an adhesive to bond the colored liners 204 together, one of the colored liners 204 formed against the other, such as by extrusion techniques, that bond the various colored liners 204 directly with one another without any intervening layers, such as adhesive layers.
In some embodiments, the roofing membrane 200 may have a total thickness of between about 0.030 in. and 0.3 in., and more commonly between about 0.015 in. and 0.115 in. The thickness of the waterproofing layer 202 may be between about 0.0298 in. and 0.2 in., with thicknesses of between about 0.060 in. and 0.1 being most common. In some embodiments, each of the top layer 208 and the bottom layer 206 may have approximately the same thickness. For example, each of the top layer 208 and the bottom layer 206 may have a thickness of between about 0.015 in. and 0.1 in., more commonly between about 0.03 in. and 0.05 in. In other embodiments, the top layer 208 and the bottom layer 206 may have different thicknesses. For example, one of the top layer 208 and the bottom layer 206 may have a thickness of between about 0.005 in. and 0.1 in. while the other layer has a thickness of between about 0.02 in. and 0.2 in. It will be appreciated that in embodiments in which additional layers, such as reinforcement layers, are provided, the thickness of one or both of the top layer 208 and the bottom layer 206 may be adjusted to accommodate the additional layer(s) within the total thickness of the waterproofing layer 202. As thickness of each colored liner 204 may be between about 0.001 in. and 0.015 in, more commonly between about 0.002 in. and 0.010 in., and even more commonly between about 0.003 in. and 0.005 in.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process 300 for installing a roofing membrane. Process 300 may use any of the roofing membranes described herein, including roofing membranes 102 and 200. Process 300 may begin at operation 302 by positioning a roofing membrane atop an exposed roofing surface. As described herein, the roofing membrane may include a waterproof membrane (similar to waterproofing layer 202) having a top major surface having a first color. The roofing membrane may include a first liner (similar to colored liner 204 a) having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the first liner may be removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane, such as by using an adhesive and/or electrostatic force. The first liner may have a second color that is different than the first color. The roofing membrane may include a second liner (similar to colored liner 204 b) having a top surface and a bottom surface. A bottom surface of the second liner may be coupled with the top surface of the first liner. The second liner may have a third color that is different than the first color and the second color.
At operation 304, the roofing membrane may be secured to the exposed roofing surface. In some embodiments, this may involve applying an adhesive between the exposed roofing surface and an underside of the waterproof membrane. In some embodiments, in addition to, or in place of, the adhesive, ballasting. mechanical fastening, induction welding, and/or heat welding may be used to secure the roofing membrane to the exposed roofing surface. Oftentimes, multiple pieces of roofing membrane may be needed to cover all or substantially ail of the exposed roofing surface. in such embodiments, the edges of the pieces of roofing membrane may be joined together and waterproofed. For example, multiple pieces of roofing membrane may be overlapped and joined at the seams using a waterproof joining method. In some embodiments, this may involve joining seams of adjacent pieces of roofing membrane by priming and/or preparing edges of the roofing membranes and then applying a tape to the primed and/or prepared edges. In other embodiments, the edges of the roofing membrane may be joined using heat welding, induction welding, and/or using another form of adhesive bonding.
Once the roofing membrane has been secured, sealed, and/or any other installation processes have been completed (such as installing or servicing any electrical and/or mechanical equipment on the roof), the roofing membrane may be inspected at operation 306 to see if one or both of the first color or the second color are visible. For example, visibility of one or both of the first color or the second color may be indicative of possible impact damage to the waterproof membrane as there is likely a puncture, tear, and/or other damage to at least one of the colored liners that may have exposed a portion of the waterproof layer to damage. If a color of a lower layer (such as a lower-positioned lined (e.g., the first liner) and/or the waterproof layer) is visible, the method may include inspecting the waterproof membrane at a location where one or both of the first color or the second color are visible to determine whether the waterproof membrane is damaged.
If it is determined that damage is present at one or more locations, the method may include patching at least a portion of the waterproof membrane upon determining that the waterproof membrane is damaged. For example, a similar waterproof material may be adhered and/or otherwise coupled over the damaged portion. In other embodiments, the damaged area of the waterproof membrane may be removed and replaced with a new piece of the waterproof material.
Upon inspecting the roofing membrane, identifying any damage, and/or performing maintenance on the roofing membrane, the first liner and the second liner (and any other colored liners) may be removed from the top major surface of the waterproof membrane at operation 308. In some embodiments, the colored liners may be removed by peeling the bottommost liner (here, the first liner) from the top surface of the waterproof membrane. This may be done by hand in some embodiments. The first liner and the second liner may be peeled and/or otherwise removed in sequence and/or simultaneously. For example, the liners may be permanently bonded to one another using an adhesive and/or may be permanently bonded through a manufacturing process, such as extrusion. In other embodiments, the colored liners may be removed by prolonged exposure to the elements. For example, the liners may be formed of biodegradable materials that degrade when subject to prolonged exposure to water, UV radiation, etc.
The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Some embodiments were described as processes depicted as flow diagrams or block diagrams. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure. It will be further appreciated that all testing methods described here may be based on the testing standards in use at the time of filing or those developed after filing. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, it should be emphasized that technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention.
Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known structures and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments. This description provides example embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the preceding description of the embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing embodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the above elements may merely be a component of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered. Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
Also, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, “contains”, “containing”, “include”, “including”, and “includes”, when used in this specification and in the following claims, are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps, acts, or groups.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly or conventionally understood. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element. “About” and/or “approximately” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, encompasses variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5%, or +0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate to in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein. “Substantially” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, a physical attribute (such as frequency), and the like, also encompasses variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5%, or +0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate to in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other implementations described herein.
Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the smallest fraction of the unit of the lower limit, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Any narrower range between any stated values or unstated intervening values in a stated range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed. The upper and lower limits of those smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range, and each range where either, neither, or both limits are included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the technology, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included.
As used herein, including in the claims, “and” as used in a list of items prefaced by “at least one of” or “one or more of” indicates that any combination of the listed items may be used. For example, a list of “at least one of A, B, and C” includes any of the combinations A or B or C or AB or AC or BC and/or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, to the extent more than one occurrence or use of the items A, B, or C is possible, multiple uses of A, B, and/or C may form part of the contemplated combinations. For example, a list of “at least one of A, B, and C” may also include AA, AAB, AAA, BB, etc.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A roofing membrane, comprising:

a waterproof membrane having a top major surface;

a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:

the bottom surface of the first liner is removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane; and

the first liner has a first color;

a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:

a bottom surface of the second liner is coupled with the top surface of the first liner; and

the second liner has a second color that is different than the first color.

2. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the bottom surface of the first liner is removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane using an adhesive.

3. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the bottom surface of the first liner is removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane using electrostatic force.

4. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the bottom surface of the second liner is bonded with the top surface of the first liner using an adhesive.

5. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the first liner and the second liner comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a paper material, a polymeric material, and a polymer-coated paper material.

6. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the waterproof membrane comprises a single ply membrane.

7. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the bottom surface of the second liner is disposed directly against the top surface of the first liner.

8. The roofing membrane of claim 1, wherein:

the waterproof membrane comprises a third color that is different than the first color and the second color.

9. A roofing membrane, comprising:

a waterproof membrane having a top major surface that has a first color;

a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:

the bottom surface is removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane; and

the first liner has a second color that is different than the first color;

a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:

a bottom surface of the second liner is coupled with the top surface of the first liner;

the second liner has a third color that is different than the first color and the second color; and

a force coupling the first liner and the second liner is greater than a force coupling the first liner and the waterproof membrane.

10. The roofing membrane of claim 9, wherein:

11. The roofing membrane of claim 9, wherein:

each of the first liner and the second liner has a thickness of between about 0.1 mils and 15 mils.

12. The roofing membrane of claim 9, wherein:

the bottom surface of the first liner is removably coupled with the top major surface of the waterproof membrane using a first adhesive; and

the bottom surface of the second liner is bonded with the top surface of the first liner using a second adhesive that is different than the first adhesive.

13. The roofing membrane of claim 12, wherein:

the first adhesive comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

14. The roofing membrane of claim 12, wherein:

the second adhesive comprises a permanent bonding agent.

15. The roofing membrane of claim 12, wherein:

the second color and the third color comprise complementary colors.

16. A method of installing a roofing membrane, comprising:

positioning a roofing membrane atop an exposed roofing surface, the roofing membrane comprising:

a waterproof membrane having a top major surface having a first color;

a first liner having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:

the first liner has a second color that is different than the first color;

a second liner having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein:

the second liner has a third color that is different than the first color and the second color;

securing the roofing membrane to the exposed roofing surface;

inspecting the roofing membrane to see if one or both of the first color or the second color are visible, wherein visibility of one or both of the first color or the second color is indicative of possible impact damage to the waterproof membrane; and

removing the first liner and the second liner from the top major surface of the waterproof membrane.

17. The method of installing a roofing membrane of claim 16, further comprising:

inspecting the waterproof membrane at a location where one or both of the first color or the second color are visible to determine whether the waterproof membrane is damaged.

18. The method of installing a roofing membrane of claim 16, further comprising:

patching at least a portion of the waterproof membrane upon determining that the waterproof membrane is damaged.

19. The method of installing a roofing membrane of claim 16, wherein:

removing the first liner and the second liner comprises peeling the first liner and the second liner.

20. The method of installing a roofing membrane of claim 19, wherein:

the first liner and the second liner are removed simultaneously.