EPDM Roofing Material: What Are the Pros and Cons?

EPDM rubber roofing material doesn’t only make for a great roof, it is also environmentally friendly and easy to install. Learn the pros and cons to rubber roofing.

Are you looking for the best way to recover a flat roof? If you’ve been looking online, then you’ll see that many roofers recommend EPDM roofing material.

What is it, and should you use it to cover your roof?

Here are all the pros and cons, so you’re prepared with all the information before you make a decision.

What Is EPDM Roofing Material?

Firstly, you need to know what the EPDM roofing material actually consists of.

EPDM, or Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer roofing, is a type of rubber roofing.

It’s made up of:

• Recycled tires
• Sawdust
• Slate dust

You’ll spend roughly $0.80 per square foot, making it some of the cheapest roofing materials around.

The Pros Of EPDM Rubber Roofing

So why should you consider buying this type of roofing to cover your flat roof? There’s lots of reasons why you should take a look at it.

Here’s just a few for you to think about:

1. The price is cheap:

There’s no doubt that replacing a roof is an expensive job. You don’t want to spend money that you don’t have to, when you’re looking to improve your home.

EPDM roofing is some of the cheapest around, so it’s well worth looking at.

2. Easily installed:

The joy of EPDM roofing is that it’s so simple to install. If you’re a reasonably competent DIYer, then you could install it yourself.

This is what attracts a lot of people to it, as installing it themselves saves money. However, it is also cheaper when you have roofers install it for you, as it won’t take them very long to get the job done.

3. Made with recycled materials:

As already mentioned, the EPDM roofing material is made up of several recycled products.

This is great news for anyone who’s looking to reduce their impact on the environment. You can be safe in the knowledge that you’re not creating any more waste with your roofing choice.

4. Rubber lasts a long time:

As a material, rubber is very sturdy. On your roof, it will last for years to come. If repairs need to be made, it’s fairly easy to do them.

It can be patched with rubber shingles if needed. Also, even though it’s rubber and it does absorb heat, it’s not easily damaged by UV rays.

5. Lightweight and watertight:

When a rubber roof is installed, the easiest way to do it is to strip everything off the existing roof, apply the adhesive and then roll out the roofing.

This method means there are very little seams that can let water in. The roof itself is very lightweight, so you won’t have to worry about the weight of it causing problems later down the line.

6. Options for installation:

There are several ways your roof can be installed, depending on your home and your needs. The easiest way is to glue it down with adhesive.

If needed, it can be fastened down too for extra security. It’s also an option to ballast it with stone, making it look more attractive into the bargain.

7. Fire resistant:

One of the great things about a rubber roof is that it’s almost totally fire resistant. If a fire were to break out beneath it, it’s almost impossible for it to be set aflame.

It can even slow the spread of fire, making it much safer. Some insurance companies will give you a discount if you have a rubber roof, so get in touch with them and see what they can offer you.

 

 

The Cons Of EPDM Roofing

This all sounds really good, but you also need to know the drawbacks of your roofing. Here’s some of the issues of the EPDM roofing material that you need to be aware of.

1. Not as attractive as other roofing materials:

As opposed to other roofing materials, rubber roofing doesn’t look quite as good.

Many homeowners report that their roofs look like a stretched out inner tube. It’s not ideal. In most cases, people use rubber roofing to roof sheds and garages, as it’s a more utilitarian roofing material.

If you use it on your main home, then it may affect the curb appeal.

2. Leads to overheating:

As you’d expect with rubber, you’ll find that EPDM roofing material does absorb heat. This will lead to the rooms below it becoming warmer.

A lot of this can be attributed to the color of the rubber. You can buy lighter colored rubber roofing, which does stop a lot of heating from happening.

However, you will pay more for that roofing.

3. Easily punctured:

The problem with rubber is that it is easily punctured. If you walk on the roof with the wrong kind of boots, or a branch falls on the roof after a storm, damage will occur.

It’s not too difficult to repair it, but you probably will need to repair it at least once.

It’s better to install a rubber roof somewhere away from trees, and ensure that it’s not walked on if at all possible.

Conclusion

There’s lots of reasons why you’ll want to consider a rubber roof. It’s easy to install, it’s fire resistant, and it’s made with recycled materials. There’s all kinds of reasons why it’s great for your home.

The best reason? Just how inexpensive it is. Re-roofing parts of your home is expensive, and you want to save money where you can.

Why not look into how much a EPDM roof will cost you?

There’s lots of benefits to EPDM roofing material. They’re perfect if you’re environmentally friendly, they’re good for DIY enthusiasts who want to install their own roofs, and they’re basically great all round roofs.