The benefits and uses of breathable roofing membrane
Breathable roofing membrane is a material that contains many practical properties, and its popularity has exploded in recent years. Traditionally used for its practical lightweight design and providing buildings with excellent breathability, you can now find it applied across a range of applications – from garden offices to summerhouses and even log cabins or home bars.
With versatility and durability at the forefront of its design, it’s a product in high demand, and we’re going to explain exactly why. At FixDirect.co.uk, we stock the WRAPTOR breathable roofing membrane, as it provides a host of practical benefits for many applications. Let’s look at this product in more detail and explore how you can use it to improve your outdoor structure.
What benefits does breathable membrane provide?
The breathable membrane from WRAPTOR has a multitude of benefits, and it has two primary uses in which it can be effectively installed. The 120GSM and 140GSM
membrane can be fitted between walls in timber frame constructions that
have a cavity and masonry outer leaf, weatherboarding, or tile slate
cladding.
It can also be deployed in warm non-ventilated roofs and cold-ventilated roofs, for use as an effective roof-tile underlay. WRAPTOR membrane is versatile, as it can be used in two different settings but provides equally good benefits. Below are some of the benefits of this product.
Reduced risk of condensation
To prevent interstitial condensation, it is important to use building materials and construction techniques that allow for ventilation and moisture control. The WRAPTOR breather membrane has a resistance to water vapour transmission of less than or equal to 0.6MNs·g–1. This standard means it will adequately limit the risk of interstitial condensation if installed correctly.
However, it is imperative that you consider the design and installation of your structure is appropriate so that it minimises the risk of water vapour encountering cold parts of the construction.
Improved breathability
WRAPTOR breathable roofing membrane has a wind-resistant design ensuring the risk of drafts is minimised which vastly improves the overall insulation of your application and provides comfort during use. The membrane has an efficient vapour resistance of less than 0.25MNs/g ensuring high breathability, allowing moisture to escape easily.
Practical and durable design
With its lightweight, flexible design fitting this product is simple. Durable properties aren’t in short supply, as it contains excellent tensile and tearing strength, providing strong resistance to extreme conditions like snow, strong winds, ice, or heavy rain. Whether you’re an experienced commercial business, or even a competent DIYer, it’s designed with the user in mind to accommodate all your requirements.
Installing breathable roofing membrane
If you’re looking to revamp your outdoor structure and transform it into a home bar or garden office, then ensuring the membrane is wrapped and fitted correctly is a must. However, there are a couple of things to bear in mind prior to the installation process which is critical:
- Are there any holes or gaps in the structure – If your log cabin or outdoor office structure has gaps where leaks can occur, then mould and dampness can spread internally, and the membrane will lose any of its useful attributes to your application.
- Seal any gaps with an effective sealant – Use a moisture and weather-resistant sealant to fill any holes in the outbuilding’s cladding. A standard tube from a building supply store or construction merchant should work.
- During the installation process when attaching the breathable membrane to your garden office, it’s important to wrap the membrane around the entirety of the wooden frame.
- For roofs, you shouldn’t need to attach a breather membrane to the underside of the roof because it should be weather-tight. It is imperative to ensure any nooks or crannies that could allow moisture to seep inside the structure are fixed or sealed before the membrane is fitted.
- As there is no ventilation under the roof and has a high vapour resistance, attach a vapour control membrane to the bottom of the roof to eradicate any potential for dampness. For further tips on installation, why not check out our guide on how to install breathable roofing membrane correctly.
What are the best use cases for this product?
Now we’ve highlighted the many benefits, you’re likely wondering about the varying applications where breathable roofing membrane is best used. As touched upon at the outset of this piece, roofing membrane has been a valuable commodity for modernising outdoor spaces including:
- Garden apartments
- Cabin
- Log cabin
- Summerhouses
- Outdoor offices
- Home bars
Many outdoor structures are being converted into transformative versions of these applications. As more people now work and socialise from home. Since the pandemic, the number of home adaptations has seen a huge increase. Homeowners are now developing their very own home bars and outdoor offices, a truly modern transformation that enhances the living experience.
Perhaps you’ve already thought about creating a new home bar or summer house, but you weren’t quite sure how? Well, now you know all there is to know about breathable roofing membrane, you can start to put those foundations in place. Maybe now it’s time to revamp it into a sleek, modernised outdoor space and create your very own personal ‘shoffice’?
WRAPTOR breathable roofing membrane at FixDirect.co.uk
If you require a strong membrane that allows breathability and helps to aid insulation for your summerhouse or garden office, then WRAPTOR’s breathable roofing membrane is a great choice to make. Its energy-efficient design, practicality, cost-effectiveness, and durability make it the ideal choice for DIY enthusiasts and commercial businesses alike.
Check out our range of breathable roofing membrane options. We have three different WRAPTOR membranes, with varying thicknesses to choose from.
The table below will determine the best solution for your needs. Bear in mind how important the thickness of your membrane is for the suitability of your application. This is a crucial factor in relation to wind uplift pressure.
Wind Uplift Pressure
| Wind Uplift Pressure | |||
| Underlay Type | 250mm Batten Gauge (batten restrained lap) | 345mm Batten Gauge (taped lap) | 250mm Batten Gauge (taped lap) |
| WRAPTOR 100 | Zones 1 to 2 | Zones 1 to 2 | Zones 1 to 5 |
| WRAPTOR 120 | Zones 1 to 3 | Zones 1 to 3 | Zones 1 to 5 |
| WRAPTOR 140 | Zones 1 to 3 | Zones 1 to 4 | Zones 1 to 5 |
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