A detailed guide to EPDM rubber roof

EPDM roofing offers a cost-effective way to your roofing needs. Because they can last quite long, you can expect the roofing material to withstand the weather elements for at least fifty years. This is because this material has both polypropylene and ethylene qualities. The good thing is that they are easy and quick to install. The material also provides a durable surface that needs little maintenance during its lifetime. 

Remember that you need to install EPDM edge trims to seal and even protect the flat roofing from water ingress. The good news is that you can find rubber roof trims from many roofing suppliers. Also, a built-in kerb can trap roofing membrane and create an effective and reliable waterproof seal. This article is a detailed guide to EPDM rubber roof.

Understanding the EPDM rubber roofing

Ethylene Polypropylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is considered to be a versatile rubber options you can find on the market. Most people regard it as the best material when it comes to flat roofing. Rubber is also a popular option for commercial and industrial applications because it can withstand extreme weather conditions. Even better, it doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, and has great insulation properties and is tear-resistant. All these factors contribute to this material having a long lifespan.  

With the increase in the popularity of EPDM roofing, traditional roofing materials like felt have now taken a backseat in this roofing market. EPDM is not just a strong material, but it’s also easy to work with. It gives an appealing finish. Remember that this roofing option requires you to hire a specialist to handle it.

It’s worth mentioning that the GRP roofing is also popular with many homeowners as it offers an attractive appearance. But the only catch is that you need a professional contractor to install it. Quite often, GRP roofing is also more expensive than EPDM. 

The key benefit of EPDM is that it’s suitable for almost any roof type. Therefore, the overall cost can depend on various factors, such as the roof’s total surface area and the type of roof that needs EPDM covering. And, in most cases, the current roof covering may require to be replaced completely. On some projects, you can lay EPDM on top of the current material. Simply put, prices of EPDM can depend on the work needed.  

As explained earlier, an EPDM rubber roof’s lifespan is usually over fifty years. This is over half a century of little maintenance as it has highly durable properties. This type of roofing needs to be guaranteed for a period of fifty years, but it’s common for most EPDM manufacturers to give a warranty of at least 25 to 30 years. 

Installing EPDM roofing

The good thing about EPDM is that you can choose to fit it yourself. If you are good at DIY, then you don’t have to contact a specialist to do it on your behalf. You can fit EPDM by following some specific steps.

Before you decide to install EPDM, you need to ensure that the surface you want to lay it on is dust-free, clean, and dry. You should note that any moisture can affect the performance of your rubber roofing. Therefore, you must start with a clean and dry base.  

If you want to fit a single piece EPDM roof, there are good chances that it may be glued in place. Hence, you should consider buying a new roof deck prior to installing the rubber roofing. It’s crucial to understand that bitumen tends to have a negative effect when it comes to the performance of EPDM rubber membranes. Therefore, you need to remove any residue before the installation process. 

It can be refreshing to fully remove your roof and begin from scratch, but there are some situations that this solution may not be viable. If you want to over board, then the timber decking and roof structure need to be in great condition. You should inspect these to determine whether or not over-boarding can work. 

A flat roof usually requires complete stripping. And, it’s quite common for the chipboard to fall off after it’s exposed to the weather elements. This can leave you with a base that may be hard to work with. 

You can achieve the best appearance for your roof when you spend time preparing the surface of the roof and relaxing the EPDM membrane. Remember that allocating time to this process is a crucial step in making sure that you get a quality finish.

Also, the roof surface needs to be 100 percent clean because any dust particles can be visible below the membrane. Worse still, the dust particles can prevent the glue from bonding. As a result, you may not get an aesthetically pleasing outcome with some bumps below the membrane. You can reduce this problem by brushing the roof’s surface at least twice.   

Before you place the membrane, you should give it time so that EPDM membranes can relax. This lets it expand and contract to retain its neutral state. You should remember that you need to unfold the material carefully to make sure that it doesn’t get dirty. It also allows it to relax in place for at least twenty to thirty minutes. It’s worth mentioning that this is an important step because failure to give it enough relaxing time can lead to having a wrinkled surface that allows water to pond in the future.  

Lastly, the key steps involved in fitting EPDM roofing include gluing and trimming of the rubber roof membrane. You should start this process when the membrane has had enough time to relax. In other words, the membrane should have its neutral state to start this process.   

In conclusion, EPDM rubber roofing has become a popular way you can improve the appearance of your roof. The good thing is that you can decide to install it yourself as it’s easy to work with. But if you cannot install it yourself, then you need to hire a professional contractor with experience in handling EPDM rubber roofing to do it on your behalf.