Laps
Lifted Tape at Lap Edges
Cracked lap sealant and tape lifting at the edge of a seam let water wick under the rubber.
EPDM Rubber Roofing
Hopkinsville EPDM Roofing Contractor
Find Out Whether Large Rubber Sheets Fit Your Roof Layout
Working as a Hopkinsville EPDM roofing contractor, we install EPDM rubber roofs on warehouses, churches, schools, and plain commercial buildings.
- SeamsPrimed and taped laps
- SheetsVery large, few seams
- WeatherFlexible in cold
- Best OnWide, plain roofs
Is This Roof A Fit?
Does EPDM Fit This Roof?
The choice a Hopkinsville EPDM roofing contractor makes most is EPDM against welded TPO, or against pitched metal over retrofit framing.
What We Install
EPDM
Roof layoutWide roofs with few penetrations
Seam countLowest, thanks to large sheets
Seam methodPrimer and seam tape
Cold weatherStays flexible for winter work
Later repairsTape and primer, simple years later
Option
TPO
Roof layoutRoofs crowded with curbs and pipes
Seam countMore seams from smaller rolls
Seam methodHot-air welded
Cold weatherWelder set by test welds
Later repairsHeat-welded patches
Option
Metal Over Retrofit Framing
Roof layoutFlat roofs being turned pitched
Seam countPanel laps and ridge only
Seam methodClips or screws
Cold weatherPanels installed year-round
Later repairsScrews, laps, and trim
Roof Conditions
EPDM Roofing Problems We Find on Hopkinsville Roofs
Most EPDM trouble starts at the laps and the flashing, which is where these conditions show up.
Shrinkage
Flashing Pulled Tight at Walls
Rubber drawn taut at the base of a parapet is a sign of membrane shrinkage pulling on the flashing.
Drains
Debris Blocking Scuppers
Leaves and grit in drains and scuppers hold water against seams that sit near the outlet.
Service
Punctures Around Units
Service crews walking to rooftop units leave small holes in the rubber along the same path.
Ballast
Ballast Moved by Wind
Stones blown off one area leave bare membrane exposed and pile up where they block drainage.
Pipes
Shrunken Pipe Boots
Old rubber boots that shrank away from the pipe leave a gap at the collar where water runs straight in.
Options
EPDM Roofing Options for Hopkinsville Buildings
EPDM goes on in a few ways. The deck, the old roof, and the wind exposure choose between them.
Fully Adhered EPDM
Adhesive across the whole sheet gives a smooth roof that stays put at curbs and walls.
Mechanically Fastened EPDM
Plates and screws in the laps hold the sheet to steel decks, with tighter spacing at corners and edges.
EPDM Recover
A dry old roof stays in place under fastened cover board, with blisters and wet patches cut out first.
Fleece-Back Sheet
A fleece backing on the rubber grips cover board well and stands up better to foot traffic near units.
Benefits
Benefits of a New EPDM Roof
Here is how an aging rubber roof compares with new EPDM laid in large sheets.
Before New EPDM
- Dozens of old glued seams across the field
- Flashing drawn tight and pulling off walls
- Patches stacked on patches near units
- Bare rubber where ballast blew away
- Drains clogged with ballast stone and debris
After New EPDM
- A handful of taped laps on a wide roof
- New flashing carried well up curbs and parapets
- Walk paths planned around rooftop units
- Adhered or fastened sheet with no loose stone
- Drains set in sealant under new clamping rings and kept clear
Flashing Pulling Away From Your Parapet Walls?
Rubber pulled tight at the wall base means the membrane is shrinking. Flashing that has started to tear usually goes with a new roof plan.
Get A Free EstimateWhat To Have Ready
- Photos of the wall base flashing
- Leak spots near parapets
- Whether the roof is ballasted
- Age of the current roof, if known
How The Work Runs
Steps a Hopkinsville EPDM Roofing Contractor Follows
Five decisions, in order, from the core cut to the last lap seal.
Inspect Your Roof
Core cuts and a moisture check show whether the old roof is dry enough to recover or needs to come off.
Cut Out Or Tear Off
Blisters, wrinkles, and wet patches come out, and any section holding water goes down to the deck.
Set The Base Layer
Cover board or new insulation gets fastened into the deck, with curbs and edge metal raised to clear it.
Prime And Tape Seams
Laps are cleaned of dust and talc, primed, taped, and rolled, with cover strips at every T-joint.
Flash And Seal
Walls get termination bar and counterflashing, corners get uncured rubber, and every seam edge gets lap sealant.
Related Services
Roofs That Call for Another System
EPDM is one answer for low-slope roofs. These pages cover the others.
TPO Roofing
A roof full of curbs and pipes gets welded TPO, since the extra flashing work narrows the EPDM advantage.
TPO roofingCommercial Roof Repair
A few lifted laps or a torn boot on a sound rubber roof are repaired with primer, tape, and sealant.
Rubber roof repairCommercial Metal Roofing
A flat roof turned pitched with retrofit framing trades membrane for metal panels.
Metal roofing and retrofit framingQuestions
EPDM Questions From Building Owners
EPDM questions, answered for rubber roofs on commercial buildings.
What is an EPDM rubber roof, and when is it chosen?
EPDM is synthetic rubber, black on most roofs and white on some, made in very large sheets. It is picked for wide roofs with simple layouts, for its flexibility in cold weather, and for repairs that use the same tape and primer years later.
What are the EPDM seam tape installation steps?
Both laps are cleaned of dust and talc and primed. Once the primer flashes off, the tape is set and rolled with a silicone roller, cover strips go on at T-joints, and lap sealant runs along each seam edge and splice.
Can EPDM go over an existing commercial roof?
Yes, when the old roof is dry and the deck holds fasteners. Blisters and wet patches are cut out, cover board or insulation is fastened down, the rubber goes on, and curb flashing and edge metal are raised to clear the new height.
How is EPDM flashed at parapets and curbs?
Cured rubber runs up straight walls under a termination bar and coping or counterflashing. Curbs get cured rubber on the sides and uncured rubber at corners. Pipes get molded boots with clamps, and drains are set in sealant under the clamping ring.
What upkeep does an EPDM roof need?
A walk twice a year and after big storms, looking at lap edges, flashing at wall bases, drains and scuppers, punctures near units, and moved ballast. A photo log of each visit makes changes easy to spot.
Does EPDM come in white for roofs that need a light surface?
Yes. EPDM is black on most roofs and white on some, and the white sheet goes on wide, plain roofs where a lighter surface is wanted. Laps, flashing, and upkeep follow the same primer, tape, roller, and sealant steps either way.
Work With a Hopkinsville EPDM Roofing Contractor
Tell us the roof size and how many units sit on it. We will check whether large rubber sheets fit the layout.