Pros and Cons of EPDM Roofing
EPDM roofing is usually best for cold climates or areas that don’t see extreme weather
Highlights
EPDM roofing can last for 25 to 30 years, making it a long-lasting option that provides a lot of value.
It’s often black and absorbs heat well, so it can help reduce heating costs in colder climates.
It’s not very resistant to impact, so it’s not a good option if your area sees a lot of extreme weather.
Flat and low-sloped roofs need special roofing materials to prevent leaks, and EPDM roofing is a tried and true option that’s affordable and boasts a long life span. However, it’s not ideal in all situations. In this guide, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of EPDM roofing to help you decide if it’s the right roofing material for your building.
What Is EPDM Roofing?
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) roofing is a single-ply rubber roofing product that comes in sheets and can serve as the last line of defense for flat or low-sloped roofs. A local roofing company will lay down the sheets, seal the seams, and use one of three installation methods to keep the material in place: mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or ballasts.
| Pros of EPDM Roofing | Cons of EPDM Roofing |
|---|---|
| Long life span | Low impact resistance |
| Relatively affordable | Not very appealing |
| Easy to repair | Low chemical resistance |
| Reduces heating bills | Increases cooling bills |
Pros of EPDM Roofing
EPDM roofing comes with some impressive benefits that make it one of the most popular roofing products for flat roofs.
History of Success
EPDM roofing has been around since the 1970s, so unlike newer roofing products like TPO, it’s a tried and true option for flat roofs. Along with being a trusted material, the fact that it has been around for so long means most roofing companies that handle flat roofs will be able to tackle it, and you should have no issues with finding a professional for repairs if you need them.
Affordable
The cost to install an EPDM roof sits between $4.25 and $12.00 per square foot, so it’s usually a bit less expensive than some other options, like TPO and PVC. You can also choose a ballasted EPDM roof, which uses heavy ballasts to hold the material in place. This is the easiest and most affordable installation option for a roofing material, and most other flat roof options don’t have this option.
Easy to Repair
EPDM roofs are one of the easiest flat roofs to repair, so you’ll usually spend less on labor than you would with a TPO or a modified bitumen roof. In addition to the longer life span of EPDM roofing, the ease of repair helps keep long-term costs low.
Can Help Keep Your Building Warm
EPDM roofing is usually black, so it readily absorbs heat from the sun and will transfer some of that to your building. This makes it an energy-efficient option in colder climates, where buildings benefit from the solar heat gain. Ultimately, a black EPDM roof could mean lower heating bills than if you went with a standard white TPO roof.
Long life span
EPDM roofs last around 25 years, and some building owners can get 30 years or more of useful life out of their rubber roofs. The material is also easy to repair, so regular upkeep can both be affordable and extend the life span of your roof.
Flexible
EPDM roofing is a rubber material that flexes more than other flat roof types, including TPO. This makes it ideal for areas that see extreme temperature changes and have cold winters and hot, intense summers. The flexibility is a factor in the product’s life span, as well.
Sustainability
EPDM roofing is both recyclable and can include recycled materials during manufacturing. As such, it’s considered a reasonably sustainable building material.
Cons of EPDM Roofing
There are, of course, a few downsides of EPDM roofing to consider before installing it on your home or building.
Low Impact Resistance
The most significant drawback of EPDM roofing is the low impact resistance. Impacts from hail and blown debris can easily lead to punctures and leave your building prone to water damage. Even walking on the material or dropping tools can cause punctures. As such, it’s not the best option in areas that see hail storms, hurricanes, tropical storms, or tornadoes.
Low Chemical Resistance
EPDM rubber breaks down more quickly in the presence of petroleum than TPO roofing and modified bitumen roofs. This means it may not be the best roofing material in areas that have a high level of air pollution, like industrial or commercial areas.
Not Visually Appealing
Many building owners prefer the clean look of white TPO roofs as opposed to EPDM roofs, which have a flat black appearance in most cases. You can opt for an EPDM roof with a white, reflective surface, but the added layer drives up the material costs, and availability can be limited.
Less Efficient in Hotter Climates
Standard EPDM roofs are black, so they readily absorb heat from the sun. They can also transfer that heat to your building’s interior, so they tend to deliver below-average energy efficiency in hot climates. You’ll likely notice higher cooling bills than if you chose a cool roof material, like a white TPO roof.
Alternatives to EPDM Roofing
There are three primary alternatives to EPDM roofing that are suitable for flat and low-slope roofs:
Built-up Roofing (BUR): BUR consists of multiple layers of asphalt and reinforcing roofing felt, which your roofing professional will create on-site. It’s more affordable than EPDM and has about the same life span, but they’re more challenging and expensive to repair. They also add a lot more weight to your building, and the installation process involves hot tar, which is dangerous and creates fumes.
Modified Bitumen: Modified bitumen is easy and affordable to install, and it’s more fire-resistant than EPDM. However, it has a shorter life span of up to 20 years, it will need regular resealing, and it shares the same low impact resistance with EPDM.
TPO: TPO is a newer flat roof material that is usually white and reflective, making it a cool-roof option for boosting efficiency in hotter climates. TPO provides a cleaner appearance and is also far more resistant to damage from impacts. However, it has a much shorter life span of just 7 to 20 years, has a lower fire resistance, and is typically more expensive to install.
Is EPDM Roofing Right for You?
EPDM roofing is very likely the best option for your flat roof if you live in an area that doesn’t see much in the way of extreme weather, including hail storms, hurricanes, or tropical storms. It boasts a long life span of 25 to 30 years or more, and it’s still as affordable as many other options in most cases. Black EPDM roofing is also particularly well suited to buildings in cold climates that would benefit from a little extra heat gain from the sun.
On the other hand, EPDM isn’t ideal in areas that see extreme weather, nor is it the most energy-efficient option in hotter climates.
If you’re looking for a tried and true flat or low-slope roof option that’s affordable upfront and over time, is easy to repair, and requires minimal maintenance, then EPDM might provide the best value.
Frequently Asked Questions
EPDM roofing features exceptional waterproof capabilities, so water pooling on an EPDM roof usually isn’t an issue in terms of leaking. However, if you notice ongoing issues with water pooling, you should call in a roofing professional to ensure you don’t have an underlying problem like a clogged roof drain or structural shifting that’s causing the pooling.
It’s possible to walk on an EPDM roof, but it’s best not to. EPDM has a very low impact resistance, and even putting your full weight on the material could compromise it. Roofing professionals can walk on an EPDM roof if they’re careful, but it’s best to stay off of it yourself.
EPDM roofs can include adhesives, but this installation option—called fully-adhered—is only one of three. The second option is to use mechanical fasteners and then seal over each fastener to protect the materials below from water. The third option—called a ballasted EPDM roof—uses heavy rocks to keep the rubber material in place, similar to what you’d see on some built-up roofs. Using an adhesive on an EPDM roof leads to the most secure installation but is the most expensive option.
The installation timeline for an EPDM roof will vary based on the building size, but you can expect the process to take between 2 and 7 days in most cases. Smaller roofs will fall toward the lower end of that range, while larger buildings can take an entire week or more. The installation method can also affect the timeline, with full-adhered EPDM roofs taking the longest and ballasted EPDM roofs taking the shortest amount of time.