Sika's Roofing History
Sika entered the UK roofing market over 60 years ago, beginning with the acquisition of Sarnafil® — a manufacturer of single-ply membranes with an established presence in the UK. Since then, Sika has continued to develop its membrane technologies, including Sarnafil® Advanced Technology, which was the first single-ply membrane in the UK to achieve Silver Cradle to Cradle Certification.
To expand its offering in cold-applied liquid waterproofing systems, Sika acquired UK manufacturer Liquid Plastics, including its Preston-based manufacturing and R&D facility. This site continues to support the development of cold-applied waterproofing systems for roofs, walkways, balconies, and terraces, serving both UK and international markets.
Recognising the need to support a wider range of roof types, Sika introduced a bituminous product range for the UK market through the acquisition of a major European manufacturer. This range was rebranded in 2022 as SikaShield® to unify Sika’s bituminous offering across regions.
Sika provides flat roof waterproofing systems suitable for both new-build and refurbishment projects. System selection is based on project-specific requirements and intended use, and can be supported by bespoke specifications developed to assist with regulatory compliance and performance expectations. For guidance on suitable technologies, contact your local Area Technical Manager.
Sika Roofing Timeline
| 1958 | a company called Sarna is formed in Switzerland to develop polymeric products (Sarnafil®) |
| 1962 | Sarna chemists develop the first thermoplastic membrane reinforced with fabric, leading to a number of industrial applications and an ever-growing roofing membrane market. This tear-resistant thermoplastic membrane was patented and trademarked “Sarnafil®” |
| 1963 | Liquid Plastics is founded |
| 1978 | Sika Index is founded, specialising in advanced bituminous technology (SikaBit®) |
| 1985 | Decothane launched in the UK (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2001 | QA Contractor Programme (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2005 | Inverted Roofs and Balcony systems (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2008 | BUR receives world's first BBA Certificate (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2009 | Sika acquires Liquid Plastics Limited (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2013 | Celebration 50 years of Liquid Plastics |
| 2015 | Decothane® low-odour systems (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2016 | Sikalastic® Rapid Systems (PMMA) (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2017 | Sikalastic® STP Systems launched (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2019 | Sika Pro-Tecta Metal Roof Solutions (Liquid Plastics) |
| 2019 | Sika’s bituminous range is branded ‘SikaBit®’ in the UK and includes Safe2Torch and self-adhered system build ups to meet any project requirement |
| 2020 | Sika brings its roofing brands together as The Sika Roofing Team |
| 2022 | SikaBit is rebranded globally to SikaShield® |