EPDM rubber roofing
EPDM rubber roofing installation and repair
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EPDM is the black rubber roof that has covered American buildings for more than 50 years. It stays flexible through North Jersey winters, comes in sheets big enough to cover a small roof without a single seam, and is simple to repair when done correctly.
What it is
What is an EPDM roof?
EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane. It is sold in 45, 60 and 90 mil thicknesses and in very large sheets, so a garage, porch or small commercial roof can often be covered in one piece. Where sheets do meet, the seams are joined with primer and factory seam tape.
The EPDM industry association reports an expected service life of several decades, and many EPDM roofs from the 1980s are still working. Rubber handles freeze-thaw cycles, hail and building movement well.
We install EPDM from Carlisle, Elevate (formerly Firestone Building Products, maker of the well-known RubberGard line), Mule-Hide and Versico.
Installation
How EPDM is attached
| Method | How it works | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Fully adhered | The sheet is glued to the cover board or insulation with bonding adhesive. | Most residential and small commercial roofs. Clean look, no flutter. |
| Mechanically attached | Fastened in the seams with plates and screws, then taped. | Larger roofs where speed and cost matter. |
| Ballasted | Loose-laid and held down with smooth river stone or pavers. | Large roofs built to carry the weight. Common on older buildings. |
Done right
The details that keep rubber roofs dry
- Seams cleaned, primed and taped, then rolled with pressure. No shortcuts with caulk.
- Corners and pipes flashed with uncured EPDM flashing or molded boots
- Membrane turned up walls and finished with termination bar and counter-flashing
- No asphalt products. Roof cement and tar attack rubber. If someone has patched your EPDM roof with tar, that patch needs to come off.
- Drains and scuppers flashed and clamped properly
Our work
EPDM roofs we have installed
Rubber roofs on homes, on commercial buildings and under a paver terrace.
On homes
A new EPDM roof on the low-slope rear section of a home, seams taped and rolled. 
EPDM on a porch roof, turned up the wall and finished with new white edge metal. 
A large EPDM roof over a deck and sunroom on a wooded lot.
On commercial buildings
Terrace deck waterproofing: EPDM membrane down, pavers going on pedestals over the top. 
EPDM carried up and over a parapet wall on a new commercial building.
Repairs
EPDM repair, not always replacement
Most rubber roof leaks start at a flashing: a curb, a pipe, a wall or a seam that has let go. When the rest of the membrane is sound, we cut out the failed area, remove any wet insulation or soft board under it, and dry the deck before anything new goes on.
Then we set new 60-mil EPDM, prime and tape the seams to the existing roof, and flash the curb or pipe with uncured flashing. Repairs like this carry our minimum 2-year workmanship warranty on the repaired area.
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Questions
EPDM roofing questions
Is a black roof a problem in summer?
With today’s insulation levels, membrane color has a modest effect on cooling bills in our climate, and a dark roof helps a little in winter. White EPDM is also available where reflectivity is required.
Why is my rubber roof leaking at the seams?
Older EPDM roofs were seamed with liquid adhesive, which breaks down over 15 to 20 years. We clean the laps and install cover tape over them, which can add years to an otherwise sound roof.
Can you put EPDM on my porch or addition?
Yes. EPDM is one of the best choices for small residential flat roofs because one sheet can cover the whole area. See flat roofing.
My rubber roof has shrunk away from the walls. Can it be fixed?
Often. Shrinkage pulls flashing off walls and curbs. We cut in relief, add new perimeter attachment and install new flashing. If the whole sheet is tight and brittle, replacement is the better investment.
Related services
Rubber roof leaking or wrinkling?
We will tell you whether it needs new seams, new flashing or a new roof.