Membrane roofing in Batumi: PVC and TPO on flat roofs
We lay membrane roofing in Batumi in PVC or TPO on an existing base: we match the membrane to what lies beneath it, fix it mechanically, with ballast or adhesive, weld the seams with hot air and check them with a probe along their whole length. We build new roofs and also lay membrane over old bitumen coverings. A membrane roof on an existing base starts from 100 ₾ per m².
from 100 ₾/m²on an existing base: geotextile, membrane, seam welding, fasteners, junctions. The final price is confirmed once agreed.
- Timeline: a 150–300 m² membrane roof on an existing base usually takes 1–2 weeks
- Warranty: Membrane laying and seam welding have a 2-year warranty
Who it’s for
A flat roof on a house, garage or extension that needs to be closed reliably and quickly
An old bitumen covering leaks in several places and stripping it all is expensive
A warehouse, shop or office with a large flat roof
There will be a terrace, gravel or a green roof above the membrane
You want a roof laid without an open flame on a timber or occupied building
What’s included
- inspection of the base and moisture check
- choice of PVC or TPO and the fixing method
- separation geotextile
- laying reinforced membrane
- seam welding with an automatic machine and hand welder
- probe check of seams and test peels
- junctions with parapets, outlets and penetrations
- photos of seams and details in the roof file
Membrane roofing in Batumi: what it is
A membrane roof is a single layer of polymer sheet 1.2–2 mm thick that covers a flat or low-pitched roof entirely. The sheets are welded together with hot air, and the seam ends up stronger than the material itself. Membrane roofing in Batumi has clear advantages: it is laid without an open flame, it is light, it does not mind repeated wetting and drying, and a seam can be checked on site without waiting for the first downpour.
The membrane is the last layer of the build-up. Beneath it you still need falls, insulation and a vapour barrier, which are covered in detail on the flat roof page. Here we cover how to choose and lay the membrane itself.
PVC or TPO
| PVC | TPO | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | High, easily wraps complex details | Stiffer, harder to work on small details |
| Contact with bitumen and polystyrene | Needs a separation layer | More compatible |
| Welding | Wide temperature window | Needs precise welder settings |
| Where we use it | Houses, complex roofs with parapets | Overlays on old bitumen, green roofs |
Both types come reinforced with a mesh or unreinforced. Reinforced membrane goes on the main area, and unreinforced is used at corners and penetrations where the sheet has to be stretched to shape. For roofs exposed to the sun we use a light-coloured membrane: it heats up less and warms the house less.
How we fix the membrane
There are three methods. Mechanical: the membrane is fixed to the base with plate fasteners in the seam overlap, and the next sheet covers the fasteners. Ballasted: the membrane is laid loose and held down with gravel, pavers or a planted layer. Adhered: the sheet is glued to the base over its whole area, which is needed on complex shapes and where fasteners cannot be used. At roof edges and along parapets wind load is higher, so fasteners go closer together there than in the centre. Ballast is used when there will be a terrace or a green roof on top.
Welding and seam testing
Long seams are welded with an automatic machine that holds temperature and speed; details with a hand welder. Before starting we make a test seam and pull it apart by hand: if the material tears rather than the seam, the setting is right. Every finished seam is checked with a steel probe along its whole length, and any unwelded spots are rewelded at once. On parapets and penetrations we use prefabricated corners or cut them from unreinforced membrane.
Membrane over an old roof
Commercial buildings and older houses often have a flat roof with an old bitumen covering that leaks in several places. Stripping it completely is expensive and slow, and sometimes the new membrane can be laid on top. For that we open the blisters, cut out the bulges, dry the base, lay a separation geotextile and fix the membrane mechanically. If the insulation under the old covering is wet, we do not overlay: it is opened up and replaced first. Leak tracing is covered on the roof repair page. For buildings with large flat roofs, warehouses and shops, membrane is the main option; see also the commercial construction page.
How much membrane roofing costs
A PVC or TPO membrane roof on an existing base costs from 100 ₾ per m²: geotextile, membrane, seam welding, fasteners and junctions. If you supply the material, membrane installation starts from 44 ₾ per m². A turnkey flat roof with insulation and falls starts from 245 ₾ per m², and a flat roof repair with a new membrane over the old covering from 105 ₾ per m². The final price is set after inspecting the base, once the estimate is agreed.
Stages and timelines
-
Inspection
1 day
We check the base, the falls and the moisture of the insulation or old covering.
-
Preparation
1–3 days
Cleaning, cutting out bulges, drying, separation layer.
-
Laying and fixing
1–3 days
Sheets rolled out, mechanical fixing or ballast.
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Welding
2–5 days
Seams by machine, details by hand, every seam probed.
-
Details and handover
2–3 days
Parapets, outlets, penetrations, water test, roof file.
Local specifics in Batumi
Membrane can only be welded on a dry base and a dry sheet. In Batumi morning dew and autumn drizzle linger until midday, so we start welding when the surface has dried, not by the clock. If a downpour comes halfway through, open edges of the insulation are covered with sheeting, and wet insulation is replaced, not covered over.
Wind off the sea lifts an unfixed sheet like a sail. A rolled-out membrane is fixed or ballasted the same day, and loose sheets are never left overnight. On tall buildings near the shore the number of fasteners at the edges is calculated from the wind load, not from the manufacturer's average pattern.
Materials and brands
PVC and TPO membranes 1.2–2 mm thick reinforced with polyester mesh, unreinforced membrane for details. Mapei membranes are available at retail in Georgia; other brands we order from roofing suppliers. Plate fasteners with screws and anchors to suit the base, geotextile from 200 g/m², prefabricated corners and penetrations, outlets with a weldable flange. Termination bars and copings in coated steel or aluminium.
What makes up the cost
Timeline: a 150–300 m² membrane roof on an existing base usually takes 1–2 weeks
- fixing method: mechanical, ballast or adhesive
What raises the cost
- many parapets, penetrations and roof exits
- overlay on an old covering with preparation
- tall building by the sea with extra edge fixings
- thick membrane under a terrace or planting
What lowers the cost
- large rectangular roof without rooftop structures
- new dry base
We prepare the exact estimate from measurements and photos. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Get an estimateGuarantees
Membrane laying and seam welding have a 2-year warranty. The membrane carries the manufacturer's warranty; we follow its installation rules and photograph the seams. The seam test record is part of the roof file.
Questions and answers
How much does membrane roofing cost per m² in Batumi?
On an existing base from 100 ₾ per m²: geotextile, PVC or TPO membrane, welding, fasteners and junctions. If you need the whole flat roof build-up with falls and insulation, from 245 ₾ per m². Installing a client's membrane only starts from 44 ₾ per m². The final price is set after inspecting the base, once the estimate is agreed.
Which is better, a PVC or a TPO membrane?
PVC is more flexible and easier to weld, and works better on complex details, but next to bitumen and polystyrene it needs a separation layer. TPO is stiffer and needs precise welding settings, but it is more compatible with old bitumen bases. For new house roofs we more often use PVC.
Can a membrane be laid over an old bitumen roof?
Yes, if the base is dry and holds fasteners. We open the blisters, cut out bulges, lay a separation geotextile and fix the membrane mechanically. If the insulation under the old covering is soaked, we replace it first: a wet layer under a new membrane will rot and cause condensation.
How long does a membrane roof last?
A reinforced membrane of normal thickness lasts for decades if it has not been cut and the seams are welded properly. Lifespan is cut by damage when equipment is installed, brackets screwed through the membrane and standing puddles. Seams and junctions are worth inspecting once a year, especially after any work on the roof.
Can you walk on a membrane roof?
For maintenance yes, carefully and in soft shoes. If people will often go up to air conditioners or solar panels, we lay walkways of special membrane or pavers. For a terrace the membrane is covered with pavers on pedestals or another protective layer.
Further reading
Send us photos and dimensions of the flat roof: we will price the membrane in 24 hours
We reply within an hour during business hours. Message us or leave a request: we’ll call you back, go over the details and suggest the next step.
Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat 11:00–16:00