What Is EPDM Roofing?
EPDM is a rubber roof material that offers great protection from water
Highlights
EPDM roofing is a rubber roof that’s most common on flat or low-sloped roofs.
EPDM roofing costs between $4 and $14 per square foot.
This roofing material can last for 15 to 25 years, but proper maintenance and repairs can extend the life span even further.
EPDM roofing is a rubber roof material that’s now a common option for flat or low-sloped roofs. It’s more common on commercial buildings than residential ones, but you can install it on low-slope roof sections on homes. If you’re in need of a new roof for your business or a flat section of your home, EPDM could be a good option that provides excellent water resistance and good value, with up to a 25-year life span and a relatively easy repair process.
What Is EPDM Roofing?
EPDM roofing is a single-ply, rubber roof membrane that you can install on flat or low-sloped roofs. EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer, and it’s mostly derived from oil and natural gas. The roofing membrane comes in sheets that an installer will roll out over the roof and adhere before sealing the gaps between the sheets.
Types of EPDM Roofing
There are two types of EPDM roofing, differentiated by their color. The first and most common is black EPDM roofing, which will absorb more heat from sunlight and transfer it into the building. The second is white EPDM, which has a white coating over the top that reflects sunlight and helps keep the building cooler.
How Is EPDM Roofing Installed?
There are three ways to install this type of roofing, and the installation method can affect the material’s durability and the life span of your EPDM roof, as well as the installation cost.
Ballasted
Ballasted EPDM roofs use ballasts, or heavy objects, to keep the roofing material in place. This is the most affordable installation method, but it’s also the least secure. A roofer installing a ballasted EPDM roof will still seal the seams between sheets.
Mechanically Fastened
A mechanically fastened EPDM roof involves the use of screws and plates to keep the roof in place. The roofer will roll out the sheets of EPDM material, fasten them to the roof deck using screws, and then seal the seams and the fasteners.
Fully Adhered
A fully adhered EPDM roof is the most expensive installation option because it involves attaching all the sheets to the roof deck with an adhesive. Your installer will also seal the seams between sheets. This is the most secure method because there are no roof penetrations for fasteners, and it doesn’t rely on ballasts for stability.
Pros and Cons of EPDM Roofing
There are some important benefits and drawbacks of EPDM roofing, which you should understand before you consider this material for your roofing project.
Pros
EPDM roofing is made of rubber, and provided you choose an experienced roofer to install the material properly, it has a high resistance to water. The seams can deteriorate over time if water pools over them, but you can reasonably expect your roof to last for up to 25 years with proper maintenance.
EPDM roofing can be up to three times as expensive as something like built-up roofing—another common material for flat roofs—but the material is easy to repair and patch, so you could see better value from EPDM over time. EPDM also stands up better to extreme climates, especially since it retains its flexibility. It can expand and shrink with changes in temperature, making it ideal in areas that see very hot summers and below-freezing temperatures in the winter.
Another benefit of rubber roofing is that it’s also quite energy-efficient. Black EPDM absorbs heat from sunlight and can help reduce heating bills in colder climates. White EPDM roofing is considered a cool roof, so it will reflect sunlight and reduce cooling costs in hotter temperatures.
Cons
The seams between sheets of EPDM roofing can be susceptible to leaks, especially if they see a lot of exposure to water. It might not be the best option if your area sees above-average rainfall, and in either case, installation by a local roofing company is your best option for longevity and a leak-free roof. That means higher installation costs than you’d see with a DIYable material.
EPDM is resilient to extreme weather, but impacts from flying debris or sharp objects can puncture or tear it, exposing you to roof leaks. Impacts are more common on high-slope roofs, which is one reason the best application for EPDM roofing is on flat or low-slope roofs. In some municipalities, building code will even prohibit EPDM on standard-pitched roofs.
Finally, EPDM roofing isn’t really considered aesthetically pleasing. This may only be a drawback to consider if your roof is visible from the ground, which is less common with low slopes. However, it may affect your home’s resale value.
How Much Does EPDM Roofing Cost?
EPDM roofing costs between $4 and $12 per square foot in most cases. Ballasted installations will fall toward the lower end of that range, fully adhered installations will fall toward the higher end, and mechanical fastening will sit somewhere in the middle. White EPDM roofing is also more expensive, as it includes an additional reflective layer that drives up material costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
EPDM roofing is a single-ply roofing material made of rubber, and a professional will install it in a single sheet and seal the seams. Built-up roofing (BUR) consists of multiple layers made from asphalt, adhesives, and roofing felt. A professional will construct the layers of BUR on-site. EPDM is easier to repair and has better resistance to extreme temperatures, while BUR is more fire-resistant and affordable.
There’s no single best roofing material for flat roofs, but EPDM is considered an excellent option because it lasts longer than TPO roofing and built-up roofing, and it’s the most adaptive to extreme temperatures and variations in temperature. EPDM can also be highly energy-efficient at both ends of the climate spectrum, with black EPDM helping to reduce heating bills and white EPDM helping to keep your building cool in extreme summer temperatures.