Torch-On Waterproofing
Torch-on waterproofing is only as good as the person holding the torch. The membrane itself is a proven, decades-old system that rarely fails in the middle of a roof. It fails at the laps, the upstands and the outlets.
Request a Quote
Tell us what the water is doing. We come out free, find where it is getting in, and quote in writing.
A deposit secures your booking and materials, with the balance due on completion.
Our Process
Torch-on rarely fails as a product, so the work is in the preparation and the details. The substrate is corrected before a square metre of membrane goes down.
- 1Free site inspection.
We check the substrate, the falls, the details, and whether anything existing can be built on or has to come off.
- 2Written quote.
Stripping, preparation and screed correction priced separately from the membrane itself.
- 3Preparation, then application.
Clean, sound, dry substrate first. Membrane fused across the field, details finished with liquid rubber where bitumen cannot conform.
- 4Follow-up and guarantee.
Fred phones after the first proper rain. Written, minimum 2-year guarantee.
Why Choose TurboMax
Torch-on is our specialty, which in a system where the applicator matters as much as the product is the whole point. Fred quotes and manages every job personally and his son Thomas, who has worked beside him since he was fifteen, runs the second team.
We take longer on the details than a rate-driven crew does, and that is deliberate. Terminations sealed properly, outlets dressed rather than trimmed, high-stress junctions reinforced with liquid rubber where bitumen is being asked to do something it is not shaped for.
Then Fred phones after the first proper rain to confirm it held, before you have to phone him. If it has not, we come back at our cost. Written, minimum 2-year guarantee on the workmanship, with extended guarantees available on request, and a 10-year service guarantee where the work is maintained by us on an agreed cycle.
What Our Customers Say
Verbatim reviews from Google, alongside photographs of torch-on waterproofing we have actually done. No stock imagery.
Fred is a man of his word. The work they did on our roof was on time and good quality.
Repaired some leaks, redid the waterproofing and sprayed my entire roof with liquid rubber in 2 days at a reasonable price. They also guarantee their work for 2 years.
Run by a hands-on owner who impressed with his honesty and integrity. After the first rains, he contacted me to enquire about the work.
I received an extremely professional and friendly service. I was provided with expert advice throughout the project, which was completed well within time and under budget.
Excellent, professional, well-priced work. And a completely hassle-free process! 6/5. Thanks Fred!
Thank you TurboMax Waterproofing for your service and after service. I can definitely recommend your professional service.
Areas We Serve
Based in Kuils River, covering Greater Cape Town, the northern suburbs, the Helderberg, the Winelands and the Overberg. Each area has its own page for what fails there and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers, including the ones that talk us out of a bigger job.
What does torch-on waterproofing cost per square metre?
We quote per roof rather than per metre, because a rate on its own hides the parts that decide the price: whether an old system is being stripped, whether falls need correcting, and how much upstand, outlet and penetration work there is. A cheap rate usually means one or more of those has been left out. Our quote splits preparation from membrane so you can see exactly what is included.
Can torch-on be applied over old waterproofing?
Sometimes, and only after inspection. If the existing layer is genuinely sound and well bonded it can serve as a base. If it has failed anywhere, torching over it transfers that failure into the new membrane and you have paid for a roof that will leak in the same place. We check before we recommend, and we will tell you if the honest answer is that it all comes off.
How long does torch-on last?
Longer than most alternatives when the substrate is sound, the falls work and the details are right, and not very long at all when any of those are wrong. We do not quote one lifespan for every roof because the variables genuinely decide it. An annual check keeps small issues small.
Is the open flame safe on my roof?
It requires respect and experience, which is exactly why the applicator matters. We have handled these systems for over two decades and know how to manage heat around timber, waterproofing terminations, and anything else on a roof that should not be near a torch. Where a detail is too close to something flammable to torch safely, it gets done in liquid rubber instead rather than risked.
Can you put torch-on on my tiled roof?
No, and we would talk you out of it. Membranes are engineered for flat, smooth surfaces. A tiled roof leaks at specific details and needs those details repaired. A membrane laid over tiles solves none of them and creates a maintenance problem that did not exist before.
Related Services
Free inspection, a written quote, and no obligation
Fred will tell you what is actually wrong before there is anything to decide.
Get a Free Quote
Free site inspection, honest diagnosis, written quote.
A deposit secures your booking and materials, with the balance due on completion.