Choosing the right adhesive is an important part of installing or repairing a roofing membrane. Whether the project involves an RV roof, commercial roofing system, residential application, or industrial surface, the adhesive must create a strong bond while allowing the roofing membrane to accommodate normal expansion and contraction. SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive from Nationwide Coatings is a clear, water-based, 100% acrylic adhesive and bonding primer sealer designed to provide strong, flexible adhesion to a wide variety of membranes and substrates.
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is formulated as a universal membrane adhesive for commonly used roofing materials including TPO, EPDM, and PVC. It is also designed for use on metal and numerous other surfaces, making it a versatile choice for contractors, manufacturers, RV owners, and others working with roofing membranes. SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is a high-resin-content, water-based acrylic formula designed to provide a tenacious bond in fully adhered, single-ply roofing applications.
What Is SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive?
SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive is a clear, transparent 100% acrylic bonding adhesive and primer sealer. The water-based latex formula contains a high concentration of resin without fillers or pigments. Its medium viscosity is designed to provide strong adhesion while allowing the product to be applied by brush, roller, or spray.
One of the most important characteristics of SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is its versatility. It is designed to adhere to TPO, EPDM, PVC, metal, and a broad range of other substrates. This makes it particularly useful when a roofing project involves different membrane or substrate materials and a single adhesive solution is preferred.
The product is also formulated to provide both permanent and repositionable bonding. This can be especially useful during membrane installation because the roof membrane can be positioned and adjusted before the adhesive sets. Once cured, SUPERMAX™ Adhesive remains flexible, helping the attached roofing membrane accommodate expansion and contraction.
Why Use a Universal Membrane Adhesive?
Roofing membranes are exposed to constantly changing environmental conditions. Temperature fluctuations can cause roofing materials to expand and contract, while wind, rain, sunlight, and movement can place additional stress on the roofing system. An adhesive used to bond a membrane needs to provide a strong connection without becoming excessively rigid.
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is designed to remain flexible after curing. This flexibility allows the attached membrane to move with normal expansion and contraction rather than relying on a completely rigid bond. The combination of strong adhesion and flexibility makes SUPERMAX™ Adhesive a practical option for fully adhered membrane roofing applications.
Another important feature is the product's penetrating ability. On porous substrates, SUPERMAX™ Adhesive can penetrate into the surface to establish a permanent bond. On non-porous substrates, its high resin content provides strong surface adhesion before forming a tight bond with the membrane. This two-part bonding capability allows the adhesive to work across a wide range of roofing and construction surfaces.
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive for TPO, EPDM, and PVC Roofing Membranes
TPO, EPDM, and PVC are widely used membrane materials in roofing applications, and each material can present different bonding requirements. SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive is designed to work with all three, making it a versatile TPO adhesive, EPDM adhesive, and PVC membrane adhesive.
For contractors and roofing professionals, using a universal adhesive can simplify material selection when working across different roofing systems. Instead of requiring a different adhesive for every membrane type, SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is formulated to provide a broad range of membrane bonding capabilities.
Nationwide Coatings specifically identifies SUPERMAX™ Adhesive as a universal membrane roof adhesive and bonding primer sealer for TPO, EPDM, and PVC.
An RV Membrane Adhesive Designed for Flexibility
RV roofs experience unique conditions compared with many stationary roofing systems. During travel, an RV is subjected to vibration and movement, while the camper roof is also exposed to temperature changes, rain, wind, and sunlight. These conditions make proper membrane adhesion especially important.
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is designed for RV roofing applications and can be used with common bus, camper, trailer and RV membrane materials including TPO, EPDM, and PVC. Its flexible cured characteristics allow the bonded membrane to accommodate expansion and contraction, making it a useful option when installing or repairing an RV membrane roof.
For RV owners and professionals, proper surface preparation is still essential. An adhesive cannot compensate for a surface contaminated with dirt, grease, loose coatings, mildew, algae, or other materials. Preparing the roof correctly before applying the adhesive is one of the most important steps in achieving a reliable bond.
What Surfaces Can SUPERMAX™ Adhesive Adhere To?
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is designed for use on a wide range of sloped and flat surfaces. In addition to TPO, EPDM, PVC, and metal, applications along with paper, fabric, cardboard, plastics, rubber, felt, cork, weathered wood, shakes, plywood, clapboard, galvanized metal, aluminum, tin, copper, asphalt, urethane, polyester, styrofoam, stucco, concrete, clay, masonry, slate, built-up roofing, modified bitumen membranes, RV’s, buses, campers, trailers, mobile home roofs, rolled roofing, mineral-surfaced roofing, and other substrates.
This broad substrate compatibility makes SUPERMAX™ Adhesive more than a single-purpose membrane adhesive. It can function as a versatile bonding product for residential, commercial, and industrial applications where compatible surfaces require a strong adhesive connection.
Because substrates can vary considerably, adhesion should always be evaluated when working with an unfamiliar or previously coated surface. The manufacturer's preparation and application instructions should be followed to achieve the best possible results.
Proper Surface Preparation for Membrane Adhesion
Surface preparation is critical when applying any roofing membrane adhesive. Before applying Adhesive, exterior surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned to remove previous coatings, dirt, grease, and other foreign materials. The supplied product information specifically recommends pressure washing with a water and chlorine solution using at least 1,500 PSI to help remove contaminants including mold, mildew, and algae.
After cleaning, the surface should be thoroughly rinsed. Loose paint and powdery materials should be removed, and holes, cracks, seams, and other imperfections should be repaired before applying the adhesive.
It is important to understand that while SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is designed to resist mildew growth, it does not kill existing mildew on the surface. Existing biological growth and contamination should therefore be properly addressed during surface preparation.
Metal substrates require additional preparation. Grease, oil, and other contaminants should be removed before priming. Rusted or uncoated metal should be primed with an appropriate metal primer, while galvanized or coated metal should be properly degreased. Nationwide Coatings recommends testing adhesion on galvanized or coated metal in a small area and evaluating the bond after 48 hours. If adhesion is inadequate, the surface may need to be lightly scuffed without penetrating the protective coating or galvanizing.
How to Apply SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive
SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive should be thoroughly stirred before use and applied as supplied. The product should not be thinned. It can be applied using a brush, roller, or spray equipment, depending on the requirements of the project.
It should be spread uniformly at approximately 10 to 12 mils wet film thickness. The actual spread rate can vary depending on the substrate and application conditions. After applying the adhesive, the roofing membrane should be immediately placed into the adhesive. The membrane can be repositioned as quickly as possible before the adhesive begins to set.
For airless spray application, Nationwide Coatings recommends a piston-type airless sprayer capable of at least 1 gallon per minute with a recommended tip size of approximately .021.
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive should not be applied when temperatures are below 45°F or when humidity is very high. The adhesive should also be protected from rain or heavy dew until it has had sufficient time to dry. Typical dry-to-touch time is approximately one to two hours, although actual drying time can vary depending on temperature, humidity, and location.
Coverage, Drying, and Cure Time
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive spread rate of approximately 100 to 150 square feet per gallon, depending on the substrate and application conditions. The product has a clear, transparent finish and is non-pigmented.
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive lists a dry-to-touch time of approximately one to two hours and a recoat time of approximately two hours. Full cure is approximately five to seven days. Because drying and curing are affected by environmental conditions, actual performance can vary based on temperature, humidity, substrate, and location.
The product is available in 1-gallon, 5-gallon, and 55-gallon sizes, providing options for smaller repair projects as well as larger commercial, industrial, and production applications.
A Water-Based, Zero-VOC Acrylic Adhesive
SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is a water-based acrylic adhesive with a listed VOC level of 0 g/L. Its water-based formulation also allows spills and tools to be cleaned with warm, soapy water while the adhesive is still wet.
The product's water-based chemistry, clear appearance, flexible cured film, and broad substrate compatibility make it a convenient option for a variety of membrane bonding applications. The high resin content is another important part of its formulation, helping the adhesive develop strong adhesion to both porous and non-porous surfaces.
Permanent and Repositionable Membrane Bonding
One of the advantages of SUPERMAX™ Adhesive is its ability to provide both permanent and repositionable bonding. During membrane installation, being able to reposition the membrane before the adhesive sets can make it easier to achieve proper alignment and placement.
After curing, the adhesive forms a tight bond while remaining flexible. This is particularly important in roofing applications where the membrane may experience movement caused by temperature changes and normal building or vehicle movement.
The goal is to create a secure connection between the membrane and substrate while maintaining enough flexibility to accommodate the movement of the roofing system.
SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Applications
While it is an excellent option for RV membrane applications, its uses extend well beyond RV roofs. The product is designed for residential, commercial, and industrial applications and can be used across numerous roofing and construction substrates.
For commercial roofing contractors, the product's short dry time can be useful in applications where production speed is important. For residential users, its broad substrate compatibility can provide a versatile option for membrane bonding and repair projects. Industrial users can also benefit from the product's ability to adhere to a wide variety of surfaces.
The ability to apply the product by brush, roller, or spray provides additional flexibility for different project sizes and application requirements.
How to Get the Best Results From a Roof Membrane Adhesive
The performance of any membrane adhesive depends on more than the adhesive itself. Proper substrate preparation, appropriate application thickness, suitable weather conditions, and correct membrane placement all play important roles in achieving a successful installation.
Before applying SUPERMAX™ Adhesive, make sure the substrate is clean, dry, sound, and free of contaminants that could interfere with adhesion. Repair cracks, holes, seams, and other surface imperfections before beginning the membrane installation. When working with a substrate such as galvanized or coated metal, perform a test application when necessary to confirm adhesion.
Following the manufacturer's application instructions can help ensure that the adhesive is applied at the appropriate thickness and that the membrane is placed while the adhesive is ready to form the intended bond.
Why Choose SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive?
It combines several characteristics that make it a versatile solution for roofing membrane applications. Its 100% acrylic, water-based formulation provides strong adhesion while remaining flexible after curing. Its universal formulation is designed for TPO, EPDM, PVC, metal, and numerous other surfaces.
The adhesive's high resin content, penetrating characteristics, permanent and repositionable bonding capabilities, clear appearance, short drying time, and zero listed VOCs make it suitable for a wide variety of applications.
For RV owners, roofing contractors, manufacturers, and commercial or industrial users looking for a universal membrane adhesive, SUPERMAX™ Adhesive provides a flexible bonding solution designed for demanding membrane applications.
The Bottom Line
A successful membrane roofing installation starts with proper surface preparation and the right bonding system. SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive is formulated to provide strong, flexible adhesion across a broad range of roofing membranes and substrates. From RV membrane roofs to TPO, EPDM, PVC, metal, modified bitumen, and other roofing applications, its universal formulation is designed to simplify membrane bonding while providing a durable connection.
With a water-based 100% acrylic formulation, high resin content, flexible cured film, permanent and repositionable bonding, approximately 100 to 150 square feet per gallon of coverage, and availability in 1-, 5-, and 55-gallon sizes, SUPERMAX™ Adhesive offers a versatile solution for membrane installation and bonding projects.
If you are looking for a roof membrane adhesive, RV membrane adhesive, TPO adhesive, EPDM adhesive, PVC membrane adhesive, or universal roofing adhesive, SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive is designed to provide the broad compatibility and flexible bonding characteristics needed for a wide range of roofing applications.
Learn more about SUPERMAX™ Universal Membrane Adhesive from Nationwide Coatings and review the product's complete application information before beginning your project.