Rubber roofs (EPDM single ply membranes) are a most common flat roofing systems in the US marker and most people refer to a flat roof as “rubber roof”. However there is much confusion about rubber roofing as well as misunderstanding of its benefits and limitations. In this article we will try to clear up the confusion and show you that rubber that there are better and cheaper alternatives to rubber.
If you have a leaking rubber roof in Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island we can repair your rubber roof at a relatively low cost, using only the best materials that rubber systems have. Example of such materials are peel-and-stick flashing and seam tapes. We do not use black rubber glue as it is outdated, and leaks much faster.
Quick Navigation:
- Why homeowners should avoid rubber roofing – The truth of about residential flat roofing market and why you should stay away from rubber, and carefully choose your roofing contractor.
- Alternatives to rubber roofing – Find out what other, better flat roofing products are available for a similar cost, but without the EPDM’s inherited problems.
- Residential rubber roofing – Learn why rubber roofs should NOT be used on a roof of your home.
- Commercial rubber roofing – Limitations of EPDM rubber in the commercial flat roofing applications.
- Why rubber roofs are so popular – Quick history of EPDM rubber in US flat roofing market, and key to its popularity
Truth about residential flat roofing market and contractors.
This rubber roof is just 1 year old, and has been leaking since day one, until we replaced it with a lifetime IB PVC flat roofing membrane.
Contractors: It is unfortunate, but most residential flat roofs are installed by roofing contractors that specialize in asphalt shingles. Since they can easily purchase rubber roofing materials from their roofing supply warehouse, and are not required to be certified installers, nor do they need any special training or equipment, they will often undertake such projects to keep their crews busy.
The truth is such that to get a quality, rubber roof installed, it usually has to be done by a commercial roofing company that specializes in flat roofing. However it is often the policy of such companies not to work with residential customers, for which there are many reasons. These contractors work with large commercial and institutional customers, employ union workers who are trained roof mechanics specialized in their particular niche. For example, a commercial roofing contractor will have separate crew doing metal roofing or slate – these guys are “roofers”, and yet another crew doing flat roofing ONLY – these are “roof mechanics”.
A residential roofing contractor, usually employees just roofers, who are good at what they do all day long – installation of asphalt shingle roofs, and often do not have a clue about how flat roofs work. When they get a potential client with a flat roof, they go to their supplier, as what supplier has for flat roof, and the salesman at the supply warehouse TEACHES the roofer how to install EPDM rubber. This is not creative fiction or product of my imagination – I see this happening nearly every time, when I come in to get something.
“Trained rubber roofing installers”: If you are lucky, you may get a roofer that has received some sort of training about rubber roof installation. For example, one of my suppliers, provides installation training programs for their roofing contractors who install only asphalt shingles. The idea behind such training seminars is to increase awareness and solicit sales of more roofing products. A manufacturer technician provides a sample installation on a 8×8 feet demo stand.
Bellow is and example of such “hand-on rubber roofing training”.
As you can see, the roofers just sit around the demo stand while the MFG Installation technician shows them what to do. The whole demonstration took about an hour and a half, and covered thing like installing flat roofing insulation (ISO), adhering rubber to the ISO board, flashing a sky-light / chimney penetration with un-cured flashing material, installing the membrane up the vertical wall, cleaning & priming seams and installing seam tape, installing drip edge and a tape to seal the drip edge fasteners, and installing termination bar. In the same 1.5 hours we’ve also learned “learned” how to correctly apply yellow glue – membrane adhesive, seam primer – seam & flashing glue and how to install these systems in the winter, while violating manufacturer’s installation specs.
Out of 25 or so roofing contractors present, there were about 15 or so questions particular to the installation details. 7 of them where asked by me! Bear in mind that I already knew how to install a rubber roof and attended the event to talk to my salesman, representatives of the metal roofing manufacturer and for free refreshments 
In any case, each one of those 25 or so roofing contractors, willing to learn a new, and very complicated roofing system, asked an average of 0.3 questions about this systems.
Rubber roofs for residential customers: It was clear that my supplier and the roofing representatives were selling to Residential Roofing Contractors. Not once did they mention roof-top HVAC units, roof hatches, elevator shafts, gas/electrical pipes, roof drains, etc. They did however insisted that the rubber is a good choice for a low slope shed dormer (without mentioning the poor low slope roof ventilation and ice dam prevention associated with shed dormers). They also mentioned that rubber is a good choice for a flat roof decks and patios.
EPDM Rubber roofing and flat roof homes.
Homeowners with flat roof homes often find themselves in a situation where their roof starts to leak rather unexpectedly – i.e. only after a few years since the roof was installed. This for the most part happens to homes which have a rubber roof on them. While most flat roofs will only last 10-15 years, older systems such as Tar & Gravel, Bur and in some cases Modified bitumen roofs are usually installed by roofing contractors that are somewhat specialized in their scope of work – these are “the old-timers” or former union guys that decided to try their luck working for themselves, and they actually went through a special training and have years of experience. Problem is that roofing systems they install do not last long for many reasons outside the scope of this article.
Homes that have a rubber roof, begin to leak well before their minimal life expectancy is reached because in many cases they are roofed by your typical shingle roofing contractor that is so confident in his/her abilities, and a rubber roof is merely a roof with a low slope.
Why rubber roofs are so popular?
The truth is, rubber roofs (EPDM) are the most used flat roofing products in the US / Canadian commercial roofing market. Rubber roofs we first put in service over 40 years ago, and since gained popularity among roofing contractors and their customers. The reason for such success lyes in the condition of flat roofing market of that time and the available alternatives.
Back in 1960’s oil was still very cheap, it was more than a decade before the oil crisis of the 70’s and there wasn’t that much demand for oil. The oil refining process was far from being efficient and the industry was looking to get rid of many by-products of oil refining process.
At the same time flat roofing industry at that time was the same as at the turn of 19th century, and the most common product to use on a flat roof was either a BUR (built-up roofing, using multiple layers of tar paper, saturated in hot tar or hot asphalt) or Tar & Gravel roofing, which was essentially a BUR roof with gravel added for additional protection. Flat roofing technology has not changed for 100 years and contractors needed a new, easier to install and cleaner product, hence, the EPDM was born.
EPDM consists mainly of oil (carbo-hydrate) based by-products with some modifiers and stabilizers added to extend its service life. Rubber roofing was cheap to produce, easier to install that conventional (BUR) roofs, did not require any special equipment to put it down and the membrane could potentially last for decades, as it was UV stable and did not break down when exposed to the weather.
Because rubber roofing was cheap, quick to install, and offered a potentially long service life, and with lack of any opposition from better roofing products, it quickly became the king of flat roofing and the pioneer of the single-ply flat roofing market.
Useful resources:
DIY epdm rubber roof repair – Our original article on how to fix a rubber roof with EPDM rubber adhesive (no peel-n-stick tapes)
Rubber roof repair guide – A part 2 of our Do-it-yourself guide teaching you hot to fix EPDM rubber roofing systems with primer and seam tape.
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November 17th, 2009 - 7:28 am
So this really isn’t about the pros and cons of the roofing system itself but more of a soapbox platform for UNIONS?
November 22nd, 2009 - 4:41 pm
Nathan,
I’m confused about your comment. The article is aimed to show people the negative sides of rubber roofing – EPDM – and not ot promote some soapbox platform that you are referring to or UNIONS. In fact I’m for the most part against unions and we are not a union roofer, and in no way does this article promote or even refers to unions.
Basically I have no idea what you are talking about.
December 7th, 2009 - 8:17 pm
I have installed almost every imaginable roofing system available, both residential & commercial.
There is nothing wrong with EPDM rubber roofs. Yes they must be installed correctly.
The training from Carlisle, Goodyear/Versico and other I have experienced were more than 1/5 hrs long and covered much more. Also, every person that attended performed the procedures taught right there on the “test board”. NO, any roofer CANNOT just pick up some EPDM supplies at the local supply house and install it with a warranty from the manufacturer. Any of the GOOD EPDM manufacturers require the installers to be certified! The before the warranty is awarded, the roof & all details etc, MUST be inspected by an inspector via the manufacturer or an independent inspector approved by that company. The upper class manufacturers even offer incentives for so many excellent passing inspections. If anything fails, the smaller things if any can be repaired right then and reinspected. Larger problems must be corrected and reinspected.
SO you sir are full of crap! And merely trying to sell you so called “System”. That if was as truly as great as you say, would be more popular and a standard rather than a fly on the wall, OBSCURE system, like so many before it. I can bet this gets taken off the site here, and if it does, I will post on forums everywhere.
PVC? Are you kidding me? Ive installed those also, heat welded failures. The PVC breaks down and leaks 10x faster than any EPDM or even modified bitumen roof. Your a complete line of BS, and any fool that pays you to put a roof on their house or business without doing their own research will regret every cent.
If that is a photo of you 2 twenty something no nothings, you never were a “roofer” and never will be.
What is you vast years of experience, jobs you have done & scope of the work you performed. Seems like a business course college failure selling BS on the internet.
You’re a snake oil salesman, and like most the rest, prey on consumers lack of knowledge, misinformation and fears. I hope karma comes back to you 10 fold just as you deserve it. Your no roofer, but you slept at a Holiday Inn last night. SCAMMMMM ALERT~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PVC LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and the “Green” friendly roof system. Explain to your customers about the PVC itself and what is in it and how it is made, then how it is disposed of and where that goes? And also explain the chemicals involved in the washes & caulks etc. Pathetic. You aren’t roofers, your internet marketing kids, selling BS. Good luck with that PVC. I look forward to watching you flop!
A Real Roofer with real hands on knowledge!
December 15th, 2009 - 8:58 am
Hi Real Roofer (too bad you did not leave your name)
I am approving your comment as-is – just fixed a couple of typos.
I appreciate your enthusiasm about the “ohh so great” rubber roofs and against PVC. Also thanks for acknowledging our talents when it comes to marketing a roofing business online. And yes, that is myself and my brother Alex on the picture on front page of our site – I bet you never wore a white shirt – you are a real roof and that’s not what real roofers do
January 14th, 2010 - 7:38 pm
Fact of the matter is, no roofing system goes without it’s flaws.
Given the experience of almost all the systems out there. And being around long enough to see the pluses & minuses of each system. I have seen how each has typical failures. Whether breaking down and becoming brittle as PVC does, especially in more extreme climates very hot to very cold seasons etc. The attempts to reactivate the product once it cures etc. in cases of needed repairs additions with tie-ins etc. And I have seen less than experienced folks overheat, under heat the welds etc.
EPDM field membrane is infinite. The adhesive in the seams, uncured/neoprene flashings etc, will start to fail as early as ten years, sometimes they will last 15 or 20. I have also seen inexperienced folks not mix the adhesive properly, not apply the proper thickness or coverage of adhesive, and over work/stretch the flashings to the point where they are paper thin. Or not cleaned enough and not properly adhered.
Both are more prone to penetrations, but once complete, really should not have the opportunity to be penetrated other than when maintenance on roof units/ AC etc are performed. Some mechanics are just don’t care, what happens to the roof, or will purposely oops to make the roofer’s life miserable on purpose.
Modified is an ok system, but needs more maintenance and if not properly/periodically coated. They will fail in 10 years or less. And as any other system, the installing mechanic needs to know what he is doing and have experience when it is being installed. This is the torch down system. The cold applied is pure garbage.
PVC is PVC, in time, and exposure to the sun, air pollution & the enviornment, it will break down, become brittle, and I have personally seen how it delaminates as it breaks down. The old Gates system was notorious for this. As well as becoming completely unable to be reactivated once cured.
There is nothing wrong with trying to sell your product that you may believe in, or maybe that is the one you can sell and warrant without being certified to install and obtain warranty for from the manufacturer. That is business. I wonder what your real roof time & roofing/installation experience is? How many systems have you put on? I would put money on the fact that I was on a roof laying rubber, torching modified, heat welding PVC, and slopping down hot tar before you were even born, or damn near close.
No one on a roof should be wearing a white shirt. If you are you don’t belong up there. Or your an architect that is scratching his head, cause “it worked out on paper and the drawings”. But in real life, it ain’t even close.
Good luck to you. But downplaying one time proven, widely acceptable, specified and respected product, to sell your own, first off eliminates a product you may want to sell in the future. And especially when preying on consumers lack of knowledge & fears, always come bask to bite you in the you know what.
But down playing another product as inferior as the “one” you sell, is just plain BS. And praying on the consumer’s fears to sell your product.
My name is Rob Leonard btw, and I live in Berwick, PA. And have nothing to hide, and no one to hide from.
And yes, I am a real roofer. Not a carpenter, not a drywall installer, not a jack of all trades, master of none.
I am and a damn good sheet metal mechanic also.