Dubai-based Desert Roofing and Flooring group, a leading  waterproofing specialist in the Middle East which has been associated with several of the leading projects in the region, plans to notch up its performance by enhancing the quality of its sservices this year.

The company, by carefully selecting international manufacturers with proven records of performance and quality products, has been largely successful in its pursuit of excellence, says a spokesman for the firm.
“Roofing has always been a very important aspect of any building structure and the installation of a quality product, backed by guarantees  and periodical maintenance check-ups, is essential for the longevity of the structure,” he says.
“Our roofing systems are based on Index waterproofing systems from Italy – one of the largest manufacturers of modified bitumen membranes and the first ISO 9001-certified manufacturer in Europe,” he points out.
Index accords top priority to research and development to produce advanced products to meet  today’s challenging roofing requirements. It produces most of its products using patented materials of the highest standards. Index has already installed several million sq m of roofing components in the Middle East at airports, private marinas and commercial shopping centres, to name a few. Worldwide, it has been used on several prestigious projects such as the Petronas towers in Malaysia, Verona stadium in Italy, Le Havre bridge in France and Hong Kong’s international airport.
Desert Roofing has been supplying and installing Index systems in the Middle East since the late seventies and some of these roofing projects dating back more than 25 years are still watertight and the membranes are intact, he says.
“New products that do not have a track record nor the required technology have been used on a number of projects. These have failed  to perform in the long run in the region’s extreme weather conditions, eventually resulting in expensive damage to the building structures. We have inspected and rectified such roofs where the bituminous membranes have either debonded from the substrate or have peeled off,” says the spokesman. “Index has a vast experience spanning over a 100-year period. Durability is the key factor, which has made Index membranes well known in the market as they can withstand the hot and humid conditions of the Middle East.
“Roofing products should be based on extensive research and development and constant monitoring of the roofs in different conditions. Such a practice has allowed Index to offer unmatched bituminous membranes surpassing inferior new products which have not been produced under quality control procedures nor have the experience to ensure a watertight basement or a roof over a sustained period of time.
“The experience gained with our broadbased clientele – including private architects, consultants and contractors and public authorities – and through the installation of millions of sq m of quality Index membranes, has enabled us to guarantee a waterproof roof that will perform over a period of time,” he says.
Desert Roofing uses Index APP (atactic polypropylene) and SBS (styrene butadiene styrene) systems for concrete built-up roofs. Both products are well suited because of their high elongation and puncture resistance and their ability to take the load of a roof or meet the requirements of a basement and roof garden, the spokesman says.
“We also offer exposed applications for sloping roofs, which do not require tiles over it, through the use of a mineral design membrane. Testudo mineral membranes  come in a variety of colours and in different slate designs to suit the requirements of the client and match the exterior colours. Besides being decorative, these new-generation high performance designs offer a new composite reinforcement to provide the dimensional stability as well,” he says.
All membranes range in thickness from 3 mm to 6 mm and come in reinforcements of up to 250 g/sq m.
Index Proteaduo, a two-in-one patented product, comprises two composite mixes of APP and SBS in one membrane that has high mechanical resistance, elasticity, thermal stability and durability, he says, and is used for roofing as well as complex basements works with a high water table. These products have a high resistance to the humid and hot conditions of the region, where temperatures on the roof can exceed  60 deg C in summer.
Index Testudo, Superior, Helastoplan, Helasta and Proteaduo all come with a guarantee of well over 10 years, he says.
The spokesman continues: “Insulation is a must in the Middle East. Desert Roofing offers its own polyurethane Sahara foam/pearl insulation with partner Bayer of Germany, which is compatible with our waterproofing membranes. We also offer Index thermo base, an insulator in laths, combined with polymer bitumen membrane. This helps limit expansion of the load-bearing structure and prevents condensation on cold walls, while reducing energy costs.
“Another product offered by Desert Roofing is a combo liquid waterproofing system and polyurethane foam, all in one package. Our polyurethane liquid coatings are an industry standard because of their quality and durability, and have been used extensively. They do not contain any tar (a health hazard)  and are 100 per cent pure polyurethanes. These include Mariseal high-performance one-component moisture-curing polyurethane coatings from Maris Polymers, Europe, which cure to a permanently flexible seamless joint-free membrane providing solutions for all types of roofs. Mariseal can be spray applied over any substrate – concrete decks, profiled sheeting and polyurethane foam – and can be left exposed. They are completely ultraviolet (UV)-resistant, offering a watertight structure.
“Our polyurethane coatings are formulated to meet high standards and are impact resistant and fast curing. We can offer different colours as required by the client and our roofing solutions have been used on prestigious projects such as Dubai Marina, Madinat Jumeirah, Al Reef Mall, Towers 2, and the Abu Dhabi resort club.”
Other typical roof installations that are made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) and PVC polymeric membranes come from Sarnafil, Switzerland. These waterproof systems, which are available in thicknesses ranging 1.2 mm to 3 mm, have a high flexibility and elongation, are puncture and age-resistant and are thus able to take up any contour and shape.
“It takes a lot of experience and technology to stop the smallest drop of water,' says the spokesman. “We take pride in the waterproofing projects we have handled and are well geared to take on future ones, using the latest products  and our professional services.”
Desert Roofing has set a standard in the roofing waterproofing industry since it started operations in 1978 and is a name that is trusted for its reliability, adds the spokesman.