Epdm Roof: The Strongest Leak Proof Roof In The Business
EPDM has increasinglybecome the number one choice for residential and commercial roofingapplications. This type of roof is popular because it has other applicationstoo. It has been around in the industry since 1960s and after that EPDM hasproven itself the best roofing material available on the market. If yourechoosing a new roof for your residential or commercial building then its timeto look into the benefits of EPDM roofing.
Some Benefits of Choosing EPDM:
1. Affordable
Roof replacement involves huge costs and many people are leery of it.However, when it comes to EPDM roofing costs are affordable whether its a newroofing membrane or re-roofing with EPDM liquid rubber coating. EPDM roofingmakes it possible to re-roof your roof with not losing much fortune or need totake out a large loan.Installation costs are also low if you chooseto take care of the installation yourself.
2. Its Lightweight
With other kinds of roofing materials, you will need to reinforce theroof structure so that it may hold up the weight like Asphalt roofing is quiteheavy. But with EPDM roofing the roofing deck doesnt need any kind ofreinforcement because it is very light-weight.
3. Stop the Leaks
If you have a pretty bad experience with roof leaks or you may worryabout having roof leaks in the future then an EPDM is your ideal option. EPDMroofing stands up extremely well against roof leaks and ponding. You can alsorecoat your EPDM with EPDM Liquid Rubber for added protection.
4. Durable
Wrinkles In Different Types Of Rv Roof
Wrinkles in the EPDM rubber roof of a Class A RV.
Certain brands of RV roofs are plywood that is stapled down on the edges. With time the wood flexes, pops loose and you will see clear, defined lines on your RV roof with a slight bubble in the RV roof. If the membrane is intact, you do not need an RV roof replacement in this situation. This is totally cosmetic and is not hurting the membrane ability to keep your unit water tight. You do need to keep a close eye on these areas for staples though, they will puncture the membrane allowing water intrusion. These loose areas are easier for low hanging branches to snag so inspection is always your best protection against expensive RV roof repairs. If you see air pockets in wide open areas and the wood is solid and you see no holes, you do not need to worry. This spot just didnt receive enough glue and with time and temperature changes, the membrane has come loose from the wood. These areas bother owners but they are only cosmetic in nature and do not require the whole roof to be replaced.
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.
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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.
- Thermoplastic Polyolefin
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer
- Polyvinyl chloride
Fix A Rubber Roof Leak Using Epdm Rubber Roof Seam Tape
This rubber roof on a New York home was installed in 2011. Most of the work has proven durable but five years after initial work a couple of roof seams had failed, particularly where the new EPDM roof had been seamed against older EPDM sections by gluing down the EPDM to the paper surface of older insulating roof panels below.
You can see, stuck to the under-side of the peeled-up EPDM, the wet paper coating that formed the skin of the insulating panels under the EPDM.
That paper contamination on the new EPDM under-side means that simply gluing down this seam again wont’ be a reliable repair.
Instead it’s necessary to clean and seal the seam using a surface-applied strip of repair material.
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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.
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.
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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.
Torch Down Rubber Membrane Repair
It is fairly easy to make a rubber membrane repair ones you have the tools and materials.
This video shoes how to go about repairing a Torch Down Rubber Roof
What is on this page
- Materials and Tools list with instructions to fix a Torch Down Rubber Roof
- What to look for before making roof repairs
- Comparing Torch Downs with other Roof systems
- Aluminum or Silver Coating for Torch Down membrane
- How to mend or patch a Torch Down Rubber Roof
Warning Before making Torch Down Rubber Membrane Repairs determine the Type of Roof
Image of tools needed to repair rubber roofs
The Torch Down Rubber Membrane is still by far the best roofing membrane and will outlast any other roofing membrane.
How to repair a Torch Down Rubber Membrane Roof
If you have a Torch Down Rubber roof and it was protected against ultraviolet rays with a silver coating or a ceramic surface, then it could last indefinitely. These roofs are tough and as long as there is a protection on it, they will not go bad.
If it was not protected, then you have to look for certain signs to determine if its repairable or not.
Spider cracks on a Torch Down Rubber surface
Modified Bitumen Rubber Membranes
Round Nose Trowel
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Wrinkles In The Rubber Roof Invite Future Seam Failures
Shown during its 1998 installation above and at left, 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 14 years and describe the results here.
The roofer also may have been in a bit of a rush. EPDM needs to be opened and allowed to relax before it is installed, and care should be taken to minimize the number and size of wrinkles in the roof during the bonding process.
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.
Reasons Why Epdm Is An Excellent Choice
Most contractors will recommend EPDM because of the following:
Durability:EPDM is durable enough to support rooftop gardens as well as TPO and PVC can. The material is seamless. This enables it to lock moisture and prevent any growth of fungi and other roof-harming lifeforms. If installed properly, EPDM roofs can last up to 40 years.
Lightweight: EPDM roofs weigh only two pounds per square foot, making them lighter than modified bitumen but more durable.
Only Requires a Good Installation: Seamless sheets of rubber membranes only need good installation to achieve its moisture-resistant and no-leak capabilities similar to TPO, PVC, and other more-expensive roofing materials.
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How To Repair Rubber Roof Seams
- Written by Garry Steck on Nov 21, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
Information about techniques for the repair of a rubber roof may come in handy for you if your home or other building has a flat roof covered with rubber. Typically, repair of these roofs involves re-sealing seams that have separated and are allowing moisture to enter and leak through your building’s roof system. Although the installation of these rubber roofs can be technical enough to require trained and experienced roofers, you will likely be able to repair your rubber roof seam leaks if you have the right material, tools, and instructions.
Step 1 – Locate and Clean Your Separated Seam
Step 2 – Apply EPDM Adhesive
Using a soft brush, apply your EPDM adhesive to the bottom and top surfaces of the seam. The area to be covered by the adhesive on both top and bottom surfaces should be 6 to 8-inches wide. Apply the adhesive into the corner of the surfaces where the two-seam surfaces meet.
Step 3 – Roll the Seams Together
Step 4 – Apply Seam Tape
Asphalt Roll Roof Systems
The most common rubber roof alternative for flat and low-sloped roofs is asphalt-roll roofing. Asphalt roll roofing is applied in sheets in a fairly easy installation process.
For this reason, asphalt roll roofing is popular for sheds and small buildings, as well as for do-it-yourself projects.
However, asphalt roll is only a temporary roofing solution, as it has a very short lifespan.
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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.
Prepare The Roof Surface
The first step in repairing an EPDM roof is to prepare the roof surface to receive the patch. EPDM has carbon contained within the membrane, and as the membrane ages, the sheet develops a carbon film that can be seen if you rub a hand across the sheet. This carbon film, as well as dirt and other oxidation, must be cleaned from the surface to ensure that the patch will stick and perform well over the long-term.
To clean the roof surface, use a cleaner that does not leave a residue. Many manufacturers recommend an all-purpose household cleaner, such as Simple Green or Spic-and-Span. Wash the patch area, cleaning well beyond the area where the patch will be applied. Use cloth rags to remove the oxidation from the surface of the EPDM and to remove all traces of moisture.
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Epdm Wrinkles Extend Into Roof Membrane Seams Aggravated By Gravel
Our photos below illustrate what happens when an EPDM wrinkle extends into a roof seam, and as you can see by the water stains, the gravel stop caused excessive ponding that gave frost extra time to work on and push open the seam tape near the roof edge. These seam failures began appearing in the rubber roof in less than five years. The photos below show the roof edge at 14 years of age.
Interim Roof Repairs Avoided a Leak Catastrophe in this EPDM Rubber Roof
We made some interim EPDM roof repairs by cutting out the worst wrinkles and gluing down new sections of EPDM roofing material over the cutout. But as more of the original work deteriorated, by the end of a decade and after discovering carpenter ant infestations traced to leaks near the roof edges, we just didn’t trust this roof further.
We inspected this roof every year, sealing suspect seam edges by cleaning the plies and applying rubber roof seam sealer.
But as our photo at below left illustrates, it was an endless task, exacerbated by that damnable gravel stop. At below right shows another of the original roofer’s ideas for roof-wall flashing: “run it up the wall and glue the top edge of the rubber to the wood siding” – not a reliable installation and one that required constant attention.
Pounding the gravel stop “flat” to allow the roof to drain provided emergency relief to slow the frost working away at seams near the roof edge, but it left a horrible, ugly, and equally stupid roof edge flashing installation.
Just Apply Epdm Lap Seal Or Surface
In 2012 we removed an improper gravel-stop drip edge along the lower edge of a rubber roof, and we installed a new length of EPDM with proper drip edge at this home in Poughkeepsie, New York.
With Eric Galow we under-took this repair in the first place because the original roofer had used the wrong form of drip edge. The result of the originally-installed raised lip gravel stop drip edge was constant ponding inviting leaks in the roof membrane.
But because the gravel stop drip edge was well-bonded to the first course of EPDM roofing our repair crew decided to pull off the entire first course of EPDM, then install new proper drip edge without a gravel lip and a new lower-course run of rubber roofing.
The bottom edge of the upper run of EPDM was peeled back, the old lower run of EPDM roof was removed, new EPDM was glued down, and the roughly 5″ lap of the old EPDM atop the new EPDM was glued down and also treated with lap sealant.
Within a year portions of that seam had failed and water was backing up under the old EPDM. We decided to repair this leak before water got into the ceiling below.
Watch out: there are two durable ways to repair this old-to-new EPDM rubber roof: using a glued-down strip of rubber roofing or using a self-adhesive EPDM roof repair tape.
Those are discussed above. We do not recommend the method described here – I include it as a a diagnostic example of why the original seam failed.
A closer look at the photo below shows why this roof seam failed.
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Rubber Membrane Roof Life Expectancy: A Complete Guide
Contractors often recommend that commercial property owners invest in EPDM. The average rubber membrane roof life expectancy, durability, ease of installation, and cost per square foot makes it the best replacement for any damaged material. While it does have its own disadvantages in some areas, the material itself is strong enough to last for decades.
Learn more about the costs of having professional contractors install your rubber roofs, the actual cost of material, and how to best install them on your roof below!
Before You Begin Your Rubber Roof Repair
First the following conditions should be met:
1. Ambient temperature MUST be 40 degrees F or higher otherwise the primer will either freeze or the bond will not be as strong as it is intended to be, thus your patch will leak prematurely.2. Repair surface MUST be dry when you apply primer and patch otherwise the patch will not hold.3. Before applying the patch, you must thoroughly clean the repair surface, remove any and all debris, dirt, any tar or other sealants / caulking that might have been applied.4. It is recommended in certain situations to also remove old lap caulk, before applying the new patch.
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