Can I Use Roofing Adhesive for a Wood Project?

Wood Projects

• At-home wood projects can range anywhere from laying a hardwood floor to installing a wood-based roofing system. As project requirements can vary in terms of weight load or climate condition, the type of adhesive used must meet a project’s structural demands as well as adhere to the materials used. Wood materials may consist of laminated surfaces, bare wood or treated wood, each of which reacts differently to adhesive materials. As roofing adhesives carry certain resistances to moisture and temperature changes, outdoor projects -- such as exterior building construction and repair work -- may warrant using a roofing-type adhesive.

Roofing Adhesives

• As roofing projects involve working with construction materials, roofing adhesives provide the strength and durability needed to adhere to the different types of materials that make-up a roof. Whether wood, or shingles or metal, these materials appear in large pieces and oftentimes must adhere to different types of material surfaces, such as cement or even plastic-type materials. Roofing adhesives come in water- and solvent-based applications, each of which may suit one project type better than another. Solvent-based adhesives provide stronger and more durable bonds than water-based adhesives, so solvent-based formulas will hold up better for a roofing project. Water-based adhesives hold up better for indoor projects, such as laying a hardwood floor.

Volatile Organic Compounds

• Both solvent- and water-based roofing adhesives can work well with wood projects, though solvent-based adhesives often contain volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs contain ingredients that cause wood surfaces to emit toxic gases into the air. Some of the toxic ingredients found in VOC’s include benzene, xylene, toluene and acetone. Gas emissions can reach inside a home’s interior as well as into the environment. Some people may experience adverse health effects from VOCs, such as respiratory problems or even kidney or liver problems after breathing in VOCs over long periods of time.

Considerations

• When working with construction materials, adhesives often have to fill large gaps while at the same time maintaining their bonding capacity. With the added effects of moisture, heat and cold, strong adhesives become necessary under certain conditions. And while water-based roofing adhesives may pose fewer health or environmental risks, solvent-based adhesives typically create stronger bonds under harsh conditions. Wood materials, such as structured laminate beams may require stronger adhesive materials because of their tendency to bunch up or creep over time. In effect, a solvent-based adhesive may form a more durable bond that actually strengthens the properties of the wood.