Don’t Make These Common Mistakes With Your Roofing

There is no doubt that EPDM roofing membrane is amazing to work with. It is affordable, can be installed in a very short time and is durable. This is a great opportunity for you to have a little prevention and get results. However, there are mistakes that people need to avoid in order to get the most value.

dont wait

Everyone is busy, but you shouldn’t put off installing your EPDM roofing membrane. Don’t wait until you have a problem with your roof or notice a water leak. The damage is already done and often goes far beyond what you can see. This can mean that your structure is vulnerable and future problems due to that downward spiral.

Instead, apply EPDM Roofing Membrane as a source of prevention. This will offer you an extra layer of protection that you can count on. Severe weather, including high speed winds, won’t make you nervous. Instead, you’ll have the confidence of knowing your roof will be in good condition when all is said and done.

prepare your roof

While you can get a lot of overall value out of EPDM roofing membrane, it doesn’t work like magic. You should invest the time to properly inspect and prepare your roof to fix any problems that may already exist. Don’t ignore them and just hope for the best or you’ll end up having to do the work anyway. However, you also waste those materials.

Any loose items of debris should be brushed off the ceiling. You cannot lay the materials flat if there is any material causing it to lift anywhere. Even small pebbles that might have exploded there can be a problem.

edge flashing

The protection offered by EPDM roofing membrane can be reduced if you do not have a good flashing edge in place. If you don’t know how to handle this type of work on your own, it’s important that you hire someone to look at it and give you an estimate. It has to be done right with quality results.

A common mistake made is that the rim flashing is placed on top of the new rubber and then secured in place with nails or glue. The correct method is to place it under the EPDM roofing membrane. This allows the rubber to extend about an inch from the roof, toward the gutters.

wrinkles

Never secure materials in place if you see signs of wrinkling. For best results, materials should be smooth and flat. Any wrinkles will reduce the useful life and protection that the materials can offer. This is especially true if those wrinkles are near the edges of the rubber.

Secure it in place

You have the option of using nails or glue to secure the materials in place. If you use nails, make sure they are designed for this type of material. You will also want to make sure they are long enough to hold the materials in place. If they are too short, it won’t offer much security. If you choose to use glue, make sure you get a quality product approved for such a project or it won’t stick.

The joining process takes some time, so it’s a good idea to use bricks or other items to press the materials together. Let them sit there for the rest of the day before removing them. Double check all the seams and fix anything that is missing.