Blistering And Alligatoring On Flat Roofs: Causes And How To Fix It
Blistering and alligatoring are two problems that are common among membrane roofing systems. Alligatoring is a crazed cracking pattern in the roofs surfacing. It looks a lot like alligator skin, which is where the name comes from. Blistering is a different phenomenon in which bubbles form underneath the roofs membrane. Blistering sometimes results in cracks, but unlike alligatoring, the cracks caused by blisters are usually follow the length of the blister rather than forming a pattern.
How To Fix Cracks Or Membrane Ruptures
The true fix to cracks or membrane ruptures is to apply a brand new coating to your flat roof. Before applying be sure to clean the roof of all debris and particles. The next step is to place a primer down that is compatible with your roof deck. Apply the coating and reinforce the coatings with fiberglass mesh strips. The strips help strengthen the roof and the coating.
Epdm Rubber Roofing Problems Troubleshooting And Repairs
With EPDM membranes, the advantages of using them for your roofing and waterproofing are clear, although its advantages outweigh its limitations, the material does have some limitations.
However, many of the common problems that are encountered with EPDM roofs are due to incorrect or improper installation. This is why a trained roofer is essential to any roof installation.
Read Also: Can You Claim A New Roof On Your Taxes
Locating The Leak For A Flat Roof Leak Repair
Discovering the source of a leak in a flat roof is usually easier than finding one on a sloped roof or a shingled roof. That said, roof leaks of any kind can be more complicated than they initially seem especially if youre an amateur trying to DIY roof repairs.
There are many reasons for this, starting with the fact that the spot where you initially notice water entering your interior rooms might not actually be where the leak itself is, since water that penetrates the membrane of your roof can travel across the roof until it reaches a seam in the sheathing/roof deck, skylight or electrical, HVAC or plumbing penetration and then manages to drip or seep through to the inside.
Nonetheless, there are steps you can definitely follow to determine the source of the leak , whether or not it is easy to find or readily evident when you first notice the water entering your interior.
You May Like: Roof Overhang Extension
Reviews Of A Washington Dc Rubber Roofing Contractor
I recently had my roof, gutters and siding replaced. Ryan and Juan were respectable and knowledgeable men. They paid close attention to detail and were very patient. Seth scheduled the delivery of material. It was on time and they took special care to not damage my lawn and flower beds. If you are looking for a company that is knowledgeable, patient, kind, experienced and provides excellent and high quality of work, look no further, Capitol Improvements is it. -Ninotchica A.
- Washington, D.C.
- Polyvinyl chloride
Don’t Miss: How Much Is A New Roof In Chicago
Dont Wait With The Epdm Installation
Everyone is busy, but you shouldnt put off installing the EPDM roofing membrane. Dont wait until you have a roofing issue or notice a water leak. The damages are already done, and they often go much further than what you can see. This can mean your structure is vulnerable and future problems due to that downward spiral.
Instead, put the EPDM roofing membrane in place as a source of prevention. This will offer you an additional layer of protection you can count on. The harsh weather including the high-speed winds isnt going to get you nervous. Instead, you will be confident to know your roof is going to be in good shape when all is said and done.
Installing A Rubber Roof On A Camper Using Rivets
6. Finally, caulk all around the edges of the roof to ensure a tight seal.
No matter which method you choose, be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Also, be sure to allow the roof plenty of time to cure before using your camper.
You May Like: How Long Does A Roof Last In Texas
Mm Rubbertop Epdm Rubber Roof Covering
RubberTop is a synthetic EPDM rubber roofing membrane providing the highest standards in terms of weather protection, durability and environmental benefits. SealEco have been producing EPDM and Butyl Rubbers for building protection, roofing, facades and basement tanking, and water retention, lakes and reservoirs, since 1967.
RubberTop EPDM membrane is simple, fast and safe to install, with large prefabricated EPDM panels meaning minimal joining is required onsite. Flexible Roofing Supplies is also able to create bespoke shaped panels if required find out about our bespoke roof membrane repair products.Please ensure that you add 300mm minimum to both the width and length of your roof when ordering to allow for fixing .
Why choose RubberTop EPDMRubberTop roofing has a number of features that make it the perfect roof repair material.
Highly durable: EPDM rubber from SealEco has unrivalled resistance to UV, ozone, temperatures and frost, meaning it has a projected life expectancy of over 50 years!
Very flexible: RubberTop maintains its flexibility even down to -45°C and can elongate up to 300%, making it easy to detail and providing the suppleness required to adapt to building movements and changes to temperature.
Environmentally friendly: EPDM is an inert material, meaning it will not have an impact on the environment over time. Producing it in Europe also means the transport mileage compared to other EPDMs is low.
Cleaning Mould And Mildew On Epdm Roofing
As roofs are exposed to a whole host of weather conditions and dont always have time to dry out properly in between bouts of bad weather, mould and mildew can be a potential problem. While there are no components of EPDM rubber roofing that promote the growth of mould or mildew, it is still a risk for this reason.
Mould or mildew wont harm your EPDM membrane structurally, however it is not pretty to look at, and can be tricky to get rid of completely once its appeared. As such, as with many of the other problems listed here, prevention is better than cure,
However if you do spot mould or mildew on your EPDM rubber roof, all is not lost! It can be cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner and a soft-medium brush. Vinegar can also be used to clean mould from your EPDM roof. Apply with a sponge, leave to sit for a few minutes and then sponge away. You may need to reapply to get rid of particularly stubborn patches.
Recommended Reading: How To Sell Roofing Jobs
One: Remove The Metal Roof
Before you can install a rubber roof, youll have to take off the old one. If your RV already came with a rubber roof, then youll have a much easier time, since all you have to do is peel that one off.
If you are removing a metal roof, make sure to work slowly and carefully. Its easy to cut yourself on the sharp edges of both the tools and the metal itself, so wear thick gloves and extra layers of clothing to be safe.
Recommended Reading: A Cut Above Roofing Cookeville Tn
Expanding Trapped Air Within The Roof Structure
This type of bubbling / lifting can occurr on warm deck roof designs where the EPDM membrane is fully bonded onto either a timber deck or directly onto the insulation. If the roof structure under the insulation is damp or the boards are fitted with large gaps the trapped moist air will expand when the sun warms the roof and appear along the seams in the boards. Often the membrane will contract back in to position in the evening when the roof cools back down .
It is important when installing the warm deck insulation to ensure the roof structure underneath is dry and that the insulation boards are fitted snuggly together. Any gaps can be filled with an expanding foam adhesive to stop the trapped air lifting the membrane. If you are installing a timber deck over the insulation a cheap visqueen membrane can be installed under the timber deck, this is also a great way of ensuring that the expanding air doesnt cuase the membrane to lift.
Don’t Miss: Are Metal Roofs Better For Hurricanes
Epdm Roof Membrane Shrinkage
While EPDM roofs are easy to install, the installation MUST be carried out by someone who is trained in installing EPDM roofing. Otherwise, it is all to easy to fall victim to problems caused by incorrect installation, such as shrinkage, for example.
Some common reasons for shrinkage are:
- failure to fully adhere perimeters and angle changes
- not allowing the EPDM sheeting enough time to relax before installing
- not allowing for sheet expansion in warmer weather before applying
Left untreated, problems can develop until theyre much bigger than the original issue. They can lead to potential damage to not just the membrane and the roofing seams, but also to the underlying structure of the roof, drainage outlets and flashing.
A skilled EPDM roofing professional will take into account weather conditions when installing the EPDM membrane and allow it to relax/contract as required. In addition, they will not just cut the EPDM membrane to fit but will ensure that the roof is fully sealed, taking into account upstands and roofing features, and leaving sufficient overlap between the membranes to discourage further breaches .
Unfortunately, its likely that if your EPDM roof has been incorrectly installed, and has led to shrinkage, to the extent where you are seeing some of these problems, the only solution is to have it correctly installed by a trained professional roofer.
Do You Need A New Roof Or Just Roof Repairs
At the RVRoof.com corporate location, we get phone calls of all types. In many cases, it is a customer thinking they need a new roof, and we are able to help them learn something new about their RV construction. Yes, we are in the business of providing RV roofs. No, we are not in the business of selling you something you dont need. We would rather educate you, and share our experiences, than schedule you for a job you dont need.
Also Check: A& a Roofing And Exteriors
How Much Does Rv Armor Roof Cost
How much does RV armor cost? Direct from the company, a new RV armor roof costs about $140 per linear foot with a minimum cost of $3,650. That may be a steal given the fact that RV Armor guarantees its news roofs for life. To learn more about RV Armor roofs and their costs, etc., just keep reading our article.
Cost Per Square Meter
EPDM is cheap to manufacture because it uses recycled materials. The rubber membrane has an average price of $0.80 per square foot. This rate is affordable compared to TPO, which can cost about $5-$6 per square feet. The most expensive non-asphalt and metal roof membrane is PVC, which costs about $6-$9.5 per square foot. Metal roofs costs about $9 per square foot while modified bitumen costs about $7.
Dont Miss: Rv Roof Repair Cost
Read Also: What Plywood Is Used For Roofing
Epdm Roofing Issues Poor Installation
Proper preparation is key for EPDM installation.
If the roofing area is not properly cleaned, dried and prepared prior to installation, then this too can create problems further down the line.
Our EPDM systems such as HERTALAN® and RESITRIX® can be installed on most substrates, however you should always check first that the substrate you are using meets the installation requirements, and install a protective barrier if needed.
If the surface is damp in any way, there is the possibility that the membrane will not adhere to it. This can cause air and moisture to be trapped underneath, which can create a bubbling effect.
You may see some waviness or unevenness on your roof, this is usually found on older roofs where there is residual moisture, on decking where there is natural moisture and on insulation where you can frequently see movement and shrinkage. Due to EPDMs extreme flexibility, the function of the membrane is not affected, so these changes are merely cosmetic.
How To Keep Wrinkles Out Of Roll Roofing
Roll roofing has a very similar composition to asphalt shingles. The main difference is that shingles are small rectangles that come in bundles, and roll roofing is long sheets of material in rolls. This type of roofing has a much shorter service life than shingles but is much easier to work with than traditional shingles. Because of that, it is favored for use on sheds and outbuildings as opposed to being laid on homes.
1.
Check the weather report. You do not want to use or install roll roofing unless the temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. Ideally, the hotter the better.
2.
Unroll the roofing on a long, flat surface in full sunlight. Measure and cut 18-foot lengths with a utility knife. Allow the pieces of roll roofing to soak up the sun, which will remove any wrinkles and make the roofing pliable.
3.
Install the roll roofing on a warm day in full sun. Lay it out flat on a roof and nail it down every 6 inches. This will prevent wrinkles during installation. Some types may need to be glued down at the edges first. Always work your way from the lower roof to the upper roof and make sure the roofing has plenty of time to heat up before you attach it to the roof.
References
Read Also: How Long Does A New Roof Take To Install
Common Problems In Pvc Or Epdm Membrane Or Rubber Roofs
As Carson Dunlop Associates’ sketches illustrate, wrinkling and failure at seams are problems to watch for where membrane roofs of EPDM, PVC, or similar materials are installed. A wrinkle in an EPDM roof is also shown at the top of this page.
Common EPDM or Rubber Roof Installation or Wear Defects include
- Shrinkage and material pulling or even ruptures at flashings if proper allowances were not made during installation
- Wrinkles in the rubber roof surface increase the chances of failures at adhesive-bonded rubber roof seams – as was our experience – see our rubber roof repair photos below.
- Rubber roof seam failures can occur over time due to weather effects, frost push against slightly open seam edges, or due to improper original cleaning and bonding of the material edges.
- Improper choice of roof edge flashing can cause extended ponding near the roof lower edge, risking frost damage to seam tapes or overlapped rubber roof seams – see our photos below.
Wrinkles in the rubber roof invite future seam failures
Shown during its 1998 installation above, this rubber EPDM roof was installed on a New York home by a very large and busy Kingston New York roofing company.
We followed the life of this roof and its leak and repair history for the ensuing 15 years and describe the results here.
A few small wrinkles in the center of a section of rubber probably won’t cause much trouble, but wrinkles near EPDM roof seams are an other story, as we explain here.
Rubber Roof Bubbles And Bounce
Hi there, my roofer installed a rubber roof on a part of my roof about 2 months ago. The bubbles are still crazy and but we just realized that the roof has significant bounce I am a 130 lbs woman and especially along the seams, the roof gives with each step. I have a video but cant seem to upload it here.
Roofer is coming tomorrow. Please help me understand if this is normal and what I should request to get fixed, if any. Thank you.
Do those wrinkles move if you push them with your foot? If its a fully adhered system, is the adhesive solvent or water based? Is the roof over a heated area? Was this a tear off / re-deck, or a recover?
Yes, wrinkles move if I push them with foot.
I am sorry, I am not sure I know what a fully adhered system is. The roof is over a heated area. My understanding is that it was a tearoff and redeck.
Thank you!
Need to know if the rafters are on 16″ OR 24″ centers, and what thickness of OSB/plywood was used. FA system uses glue to hold the membrane to the fiberboard thats being held down by the 3″ plates screwed to the deck. They apparently went too light on the adhesive. If youre in WI youll need 2 way vapor vents to keep the moisture out of the system.
Don’t Miss: How Many Square Feet In A Square Of Roofing Shingles
Priming The Roof Repair Area
The next step in applying the patch after properly cleaning the roof surface is to apply a thin coat of primer to the membrane surface. When applying the primer use a paint roller with a medium nap roller or paint brush to apply a thin coat of primer to the area where the patch is to be applied.
When applying the primer, ensure that it extends past all edges of where the patch is to be applied. This will ensure that all leading edges of the EPDM patch are properly adhered to the roof membrane.
