Most waterproofing does not fail across the middle of a roof. It fails at the cracks, the joints and the movement points — the places where a building expands in the summer heat and contracts on a cold Highveld night. An ordinary liquid coating painted straight onto a slab has nothing to hold it together when the concrete moves underneath it, so it opens at exactly those points and the water gets in. The ArmTec HyperFlex Waterproofing System is built specifically to solve that problem. It is a fully reinforced, liquid-applied membrane — not a single tin of paint, but a complete waterproofing system of primer, detail reinforcement, a high-elongation membrane and a continuous layer of ArmTec fibreglass mesh embedded across the whole surface.

EcoSeal installs the ArmTec HyperFlex system as an approved applicator for SealPro Coatings — a South African waterproofing manufacturer based in Moreleta Park, Pretoria. That means we do not improvise a specification on your roof. We install SealPro’s complete, manufacturer-specified system in the correct sequence, with the correct product at every step, on every job — from a single leaking balcony in Centurion to a full commercial roof slab in Midrand. Nobody else offers this exact system under this name, and EcoSeal is the team that applies it.

What the ArmTec HyperFlex System Actually Is

The heart of the system is a simple but powerful idea: a full sheet of ArmTec fibreglass mesh is embedded, edge to edge, into a high-elongation HyperFlex membrane while that membrane is still wet. When it cures, the mesh and the membrane become one continuous, reinforced skin over the entire surface — not a coating with a weak spot at every joint, but a single flexible layer that carries the reinforcement right across the roof.

This is what separates a system from a coating. A plain single-product liquid membrane has good elongation on its own, but nothing to distribute the strain when a crack opens beneath it. As the crack widens, all the movement concentrates in the thin film directly over that crack — and it tears. The embedded ArmTec mesh spreads that movement across a much larger area, so the membrane bridges the crack and the building’s movement instead of splitting over it. HyperFlex is chosen for the embed coat precisely because it has a higher elongation than a standard topcoat, so it can accommodate the extra bridging the mesh system demands.

Add to that the detail reinforcement — StretchSeal membrane worked into every corner, joint, outlet and parapet with a Flex detail coat — and you have both problems covered at once: the flat field of the roof is reinforced by the mesh, and the failure-prone detail points are reinforced individually. That combination is the whole reason the system holds where ordinary waterproofing lets go.

How the System Is Built Up, Step by Step

Every ArmTec HyperFlex installation follows the same manufacturer-specified sequence. Each step exists for a reason, and skipping any one of them undermines the layers above it. Here is how EcoSeal builds it up on a concrete roof slab, and why each stage matters.

1. The correct primer — the bond that everything sits on

Waterproofing is only as good as its grip on the surface underneath. On porous concrete, screed or a new slab, we prime with Penetrar — a deep-penetrating primer that soaks in, binds and strengthens the substrate and seals its porosity so the membrane bonds properly rather than sitting on dust. Over a torch-on, bitumen, sealed or tiled surface, Penetrar cannot penetrate, so we switch to UltraBond WP, a universal bonding primer. Over torch-on this is not optional: UltraBond WP prevents off-gassing and delamination that would otherwise blister the new membrane off the old one. Wrong primer means a failed bond, and a failed bond means a failed system — so the primer choice is dictated by the surface, every time.

2. Flex + StretchSeal detailing — sealing the points that fail first

Before any field membrane goes down, we treat the detail points: every crack, movement joint, internal and external corner, drainage outlet, penetration and parapet turn-up. We lay a wet bed of Flex, embed a StretchSeal membrane strip into it, then overcoat — a three-coat process that seals and bridges each of these points individually. This matters because the detail is where waterproofing is won or lost. The middle of a slab rarely leaks; the junction between the slab and the parapet, or the lip of a drainage outlet, almost always does. StretchSeal at every one of these points is mandatory, not a nice-to-have.

3. HyperFlex coat 1 — the wet bed for the mesh

With the details sealed, we apply the first full coat of HyperFlex membrane across the whole surface while the detail work is still fresh. This coat is the wet bed that the mesh is rolled into — so it has to go on generously and evenly, and the mesh has to follow before it skins over.

4. ArmTec mesh — the full-surface reinforcement

This is the defining step. We roll ArmTec fibreglass mesh into the wet first coat across the entire surface — edge to edge, not just at the cracks — overlapping every join by a minimum of 50mm so there are no weak butt-joints. The mesh is embedded while the HyperFlex is still wet so it becomes part of the membrane rather than a layer sitting on top of it. This continuous embedded reinforcement is what gives the finished system its crack-bridging strength over the whole roof.

5. HyperFlex coat 2 — encapsulating the mesh

A second coat of HyperFlex goes over the embedded mesh to fully encapsulate it. Now the mesh is completely sandwiched inside the membrane — wetted out top and bottom, with no exposed fibres and no dry spots. The reinforced membrane is complete.

6. HydroSeal HF — two-coat waterproof finish

Once the reinforced membrane has cured, we finish with two coats of HydroSeal HF, SealPro’s high-build elastomeric topcoat. This is the layer you can see — a bright, UV-stable, fully waterproof white finish that protects the reinforced membrane beneath it. Two coats is the minimum, always: a single coat leaves pinholes and inconsistent thickness, which is not a waterproof membrane. Two coats gives an even, continuous, durable skin over the whole system.

Where the ArmTec HyperFlex System Is Used

The same reinforced principle adapts to several different surfaces. What changes between them is mainly the primer and the surface preparation — the reinforced HyperFlex-and-mesh core stays the same.

Flat concrete roof slabs

Flat and low-pitch concrete slabs are where this system earns its keep. Water does not run off a flat roof the way it does off a pitched tile roof — it ponds, sits on the joints and finds the weakest point. Concrete slabs also crack and move seasonally, which is fatal for an unreinforced coating. On a slab we prime with Penetrar, detail every crack, joint and outlet with StretchSeal, install corner flashings at the parapet junctions, then build the reinforced HyperFlex-and-mesh membrane and finish with two coats of HydroSeal HF. The mesh bridges the movement joints that open every summer, so the membrane flexes with the slab instead of tearing over it. This is the same build-up detailed on our concrete roof slab waterproofing system page and on our dedicated flat roof waterproofing page.

Torch-on renewal — over your existing membrane

A tired torch-on roof rarely needs to be stripped and replaced. In most cases the ArmTec HyperFlex system can be installed straight over the existing membrane to renew it — at a fraction of the cost and mess of a full strip-and-replace. The critical difference here is the primer: over torch-on we apply UltraBond WP first, over the entire surface, without exception. This is mandatory because it stops the off-gassing and delamination that would otherwise lift the new membrane off the old bitumen. After that, the sequence is the same — StretchSeal on all laps, joints and cracked areas, then the reinforced HyperFlex-and-mesh membrane, then HydroSeal HF. This renewal route is our ArmTec Renew waterproofing system, and if your existing torch-on roof is blistering, cracking or leaking, our torch-on waterproofing repairs page explains the assessment and options in detail.

Balconies & wet areas — including under-tile

Leaking balconies are one of the most common causes of water damage in townhouse complexes and estates, and they are almost always a detailing failure — at the door threshold, the corners, or under the tiles. Where the existing tiles are sound and the owner wants to keep a tiled finish, the ArmTec HyperFlex system goes in as an under-tile membrane: we fill open grout lines and cavities with Posi Screed, prime the tile face with UltraBond WP, detail every corner and wall-to-floor junction with StretchSeal, then build the reinforced membrane before the new tiles go back on top. The result is a continuous, movement-tolerant waterproof layer sealing exactly the points where balcony waterproofing usually fails.

The base for non-slip floors

Because the ArmTec HyperFlex system produces a fully bonded, reinforced and waterproof surface, it also serves as the base layer for trafficable non-slip floors on service areas, pool surrounds, walkways and wet-area floors. The reinforced membrane is installed first, a HydroSeal HF base coat goes over it, and the non-slip finish is built on top of that fully waterproof foundation — so the floor is both slip-resistant and watertight, in that order.

Why the Reinforced System Beats a Plain Coating

It is worth being blunt about why this matters, because on the day of application a reinforced system and a plain liquid coating can look almost identical — a white membrane on a roof. The difference only shows up later, when the building moves.

• The mesh bridges movement. A plain coating concentrates all the strain of an opening crack into the thin film directly above it, and tears. The full-surface ArmTec mesh distributes that movement across a wide area, so the reinforced membrane stretches and bridges the crack instead of splitting. This is the single biggest reason unreinforced coatings fail and reinforced systems do not.
• The details are reinforced individually. Most leaks start at corners, joints, outlets and parapets — not in the open field. StretchSeal detail reinforcement seals and bridges each of these failure points on its own, before the field membrane even goes down. A plain coating simply paints over them and leaves them as weak spots.
• It is a system, not a product. Correct primer for the surface, correct detail reinforcement, correct embed membrane, correct topcoat — in the correct sequence. Each layer supports the one above it. A single-product coating skips the primer discipline, skips the reinforcement entirely, and relies on one film to do a job that needs several.
• Two topcoats, not one. The finish is always two coats of HydroSeal HF. One coat leaves pinholes and uneven thickness; two coats give a continuous, durable, UV-stable membrane. Cutting the second coat to save a tin is exactly the kind of shortcut this system is designed to avoid.

Guarantees, Specification & Trust

EcoSeal installs the ArmTec HyperFlex system strictly to SealPro’s manufacturer specification, as one of SealPro’s approved applicators. That is the point of using an approved applicator rather than a general handyman: the system on your roof is the manufacturer’s full specification, applied in the correct sequence with the correct products, not a cheaper improvisation that happens to share a name. Every job starts with a proper on-site inspection so the right system and the right primer are specified for your actual surface — a torch-on roof, a raw concrete slab and a tiled balcony each need a different primer and a different preparation, and guessing over the phone is how systems fail.

If you would like details of the workmanship and system guarantee that applies to your specific project, Contact us if you need more information. You can also browse real completed EcoSeal projects in our work portfolio, or read more about how we approach jobs on our waterproofing services page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ArmTec HyperFlex system?

It is a fully reinforced, liquid-applied waterproofing membrane system. Rather than a single coat of liquid rubber, it combines the correct primer for your surface, StretchSeal detail reinforcement at all the failure points, a high-elongation HyperFlex membrane, and a full sheet of ArmTec fibreglass mesh embedded across the whole surface, finished with two coats of HydroSeal HF. The embedded mesh turns the whole roof into one continuous reinforced membrane that bridges cracks and building movement. EcoSeal installs it as an approved applicator for SealPro Coatings, a South African manufacturer.

How is it different from normal liquid waterproofing?

Normal liquid waterproofing is usually a coating — one product painted onto the surface. It has no reinforcement, so when a crack or joint opens beneath it, all the strain concentrates in the film directly over that crack and it tears. The ArmTec HyperFlex system embeds fibreglass mesh across the entire surface and reinforces every detail point individually, so movement is spread across a wide area and the membrane bridges the crack instead of splitting. It also enforces the correct primer for each surface and a minimum of two topcoats — the discipline that plain coatings tend to skip.

Can it go over my existing torch-on roof?

Yes — and in most cases that is the smart route. A tired torch-on roof can usually be renewed with the ArmTec HyperFlex system rather than stripped and replaced, saving considerable cost, mess and downtime. The one non-negotiable step is priming the whole surface with UltraBond WP first, which prevents the off-gassing and delamination that would otherwise blister a new membrane off the old bitumen. See our ArmTec Renew system and torch-on waterproofing repairs pages for how we assess and renew torch-on roofs.

How long does it last?

Rather than quote a single number, it is more honest to explain what determines lifespan, because a correctly installed reinforced membrane can last for many years when it is looked after. The main factors are: correct installation to the manufacturer’s specification in the first place, the amount of UV exposure the roof gets, whether standing water is allowed to pond on it, and — most importantly — periodic inspection and maintenance. A membrane that is checked every few years and recoated when the topcoat starts to age lasts significantly longer than one that is installed and then forgotten. When we assess your roof we will explain the realistic maintenance cycle for your specific situation. For a project-specific guarantee, Contact us if you need more information.

What surfaces can it be applied to?

The reinforced HyperFlex-and-mesh core adapts to a wide range of surfaces — new and existing concrete roof slabs, screed, existing torch-on and bitumen membranes, tiled balconies and wet areas, and as the waterproof base for non-slip floors. What changes between them is the primer and the surface preparation: Penetrar on porous concrete and screed, UltraBond WP over torch-on, sealed or tiled surfaces. That is exactly why every job begins with an on-site inspection — so the right primer and preparation are specified for your actual surface.

Do you install it in Centurion, Midrand and the surrounding areas?

Yes. EcoSeal is based in Moreleta Park, Pretoria, and we install the ArmTec HyperFlex system across Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand and Johannesburg. Being centrally located keeps inspections quick and our teams supervised on site. If you are in Centurion specifically, see our Centurion waterproofing & roof painting page, or simply call us to book an assessment for your address.

Book Your Free ArmTec HyperFlex Assessment

If your flat roof, slab, balcony or torch-on membrane is leaking — or you simply want it waterproofed properly the first time — the ArmTec HyperFlex system is the reinforced solution, and EcoSeal is the approved applicator that installs it to SealPro’s specification. Every quote starts with a proper on-site inspection so the right system and primer are specified for your actual surface. We are open Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00, and the assessment is free.