EPDM roofing

An brilliant rubber roofing solution for flat roofs where inflexibility, weathering and failing joints often cause roofs to leak is EPDM roofing.  If you’ve been struggling with a flat roof leak, or you’re working on a flat or gently sloping roof project, you’ll be pleased to learn EPDM rubber roofing. EPDM has been proven to give many years of leak free service over billions of square feet installed. The best part is, it’s simple to install.

EPDM is ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber with a benefit of not polluting run off water.  This means the water falling from the roof can be re-used for sanitation purposes.  Since harvesting rainwater is an element of the green movement, EPDM roofs are well loved in green projects.  EPDM roofing, like TPO roofing is a membrane product.  It is commonly used in huge box stores with large open areas.  Chances are if there’s a Walmart around it uses an EPDM roof.

First used as a roofing material in the 1960’s, efforts to recycle it started in the early 1990’s.  Currently there are more than 1 billion square feet of EPDM new roof coverings installed every year, with over 20 billion square feet already installed.  In 2007 the EPA raised the recycle bar calling for 50% of roofing materials used in any new project to be recyclable.  The EPA conducted a study in 2007 to determine if EPDM could be recycled to that level.  Although the results were positive, some questions remained as to whether the material could be produced in enough quantity to be useful.

The EPDM Roofing Association, or ERA, is a trade association for EPDM.  According to this group,  “Since the early 1960’s, EPDM single-ply rubber membrane roofing products have gained wide industry acceptance and respect by providing long-term, economically efficient, dependable roofing solutions for the construction community. Their attributes include long-term warranties, low life-cycle costs, reduced labor costs, minimal maintenance and user-friendly code approvals. The sustained growth of EPDM roofing systems is attributed to the development of complementary technologies that have made it possible for EPDM roofing systems to be beneficial in a wide number of applications. Architects and contractors have come to depend on this proven track record of performance. As environmentalists and code regulators place more emphasis on the long-term performance of building materials, EPDM has become an increasingly obvious choice. The need to provide the construction and roofing communities with current and accurate data documenting the many benefits of EPDM roofing systems led to the formation of ERA”.

Wind resistance is one EPDM benefit heavily highlighted by the EPA.  For buildings in hurricane prone areas, EPDM roofs that can resist winds of 120 MPH or more are highly desirable.

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it