Summer is here—the peak season for roofing projects. With the shortage of skilled labor facing the construction industry, it is more important than ever for roofing consultants to specify materials and installation practices that help complete installations on time. This means making smart, effective choices for roofing materials that do not sacrifice performance or burden the environment, especially when working on large commercial buildings.
EPDM self-adhered (SA) is a superior option for re-roof projects as it does not require welding or adhesive application expertise, helping to reduce labor requirements and removing membrane adhesive inconsistencies. With factory-applied adhesives, SA membranes remove the typical variability that roofers experience with field-applied adhesives, resulting in reduced project time and expenses.
Self-adhered EPDM is a reliable choice for roofing consultants due to its quick and easy installation, uniform application, durability, and eco-friendliness.
Benefits of Self-Adhered EPDM
Quick and Easy Installation. Advancements in self-adhered technology remove the need to apply a membrane adhesive, meaning less time, less equipment, and less labor required for installation. As the construction industry continues to address the shortages in skilled labor, self-adhered membranes reduce installation time and the need for seasoned workers, helping to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner. The cost savings on labor and equipment make self-adhered EPDM an economical option over traditional EPDM membranes.
Choosing self-adhered EPDM significantly accelerates the installation process. Options such as Elevate RubberGard™ EPDM SA install approximately three times faster than a standard EPDM membrane*. This widens the window that contractors can install the product and allows flexibility for unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather.
Less to Order, Less to Bring to the Roof, Less Waste
Pre-applied membrane adhesive means fewer buckets to order and bring on the roof. No last-minute distributor pick-ups of adhesives to cover unexpected shortfalls, and no returning excess adhesives to the warehouse.
It also means fewer products on the roof, helping to reduce trip hazards and removing an entire category of waste to remove from the project.
Uniform Adhesive Application. The adhesive on this EPDM solution is built into the product, meaning adhesive application will be uniform across the roof, even when applied by less experienced workers. However, when choosing which self-adhered EPDM to use, it is important to consider how the adhesive is applied to the membrane as this affects the gripping capabilities of the overall product. Elevate RubberGard EPDM SA features a factory-applied adhesive that makes the roofing system exceptionally strong. Using a membrane with a factory-applied adhesive will ensure that your re-roof project is reliable for years to come. Consultants can recommend this self-adhered EPDM option with confidence and trust that it will deliver consistent and accurate adhesive coverage.
Durability. Since factory-applied adhesives do not impact the properties of EPDM, EPDM SA maintains a strong bond and reliable performance, even in extreme temperatures. Self-adhered EPDM can expand and contract with changing weather conditions, allowing the roofing system to protect the building for many seasons. Given more than 40 years of experience and over 14 billion square feet of EPDM membrane produced, Elevate RubberGard EPDM demonstrates proven performance, durability and flexibility over a wide range of building types.
Environmentally Friendly and Non-Disruptive to Occupied Building Residents. Given current market offerings, EPDM SA is a zero-VOC solution without any solvents. This feature allows for odor-free installations that do not disrupt operations for building occupants. This is especially useful in buildings like hospitals and schools where pausing operations is difficult. Because of its durability, EPDM roofs can last for decades without a tear-off. Furthermore, EPDM is often easy and inexpensive to repair, extending a roof’s lifecycle and making the building even more eco-friendly by reducing waste. RubberGard EPDM's thermal performance can also reduce energy consumption, as a 30-year adhered RubberGard EPDM roof system could reduce costs by up to 25 percent compared to other roof systems.
Selecting an environmentally friendly roofing membrane significantly reduces a building’s carbon footprint. Elevate products offer benefits not only for the environment, but for roofing professionals as well. By installing the most warranted square footage of Elevate self-adhered systems, contractors can earn rewards, including an all-expense paid vacation and a special placement in the “Find a Contractor” section of the Elevate website.
Self-adhered EPDM helps to reduce the risks of re-roofing by removing adhesive application variability, so roofing consultants should consider specifying self-adhered EPDM to help save on cost, labor and installation time this roofing season – for the sake of their clients, contractors and the planet.
* Conducted by Alliance Testing & Consulting, 2018. Results may vary.
