EPDM roofing offers a highly reliable, low maintenance approach to waterproofing – and with a service lifespan of over 50 years, is the smart choice for sealing and protecting flat roofing for the long-term. Fast and straightforward to install, EPDM is fast-becoming the go-to membrane for both trade and DIY.

Whether you need to replace outdated felt or looking for a modern, sustainable system for a new flat roof, we’re here to highlight the benefits of EPDM for a wide range of projects. We’ve been working with EPDM roofing for 25 years – as installers, suppliers and install trainers – and we’re here to help you.

EPDM is the accepted, abbreviated form of the contents of the membrane – Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer. The first rubber EPDM roofs were laid in the States in the 1980’s and are still protecting these roofs today. Well known buildings rely on their EPDM rubber roofing such as factories, schools, shopping centres, railway stations, hospitals and hundreds of thousands more commercial and residential properties. Over 1.5 billion square metres of material installed worldwide.

Thanks to its manufacturing methods, EPDM remains UV and Ozone stable and can be rolled to incredible lengths, which ELEVATE use to its full advantage, making membranes available up to 15m x 60m. Installing in a single sheet means fewer or no field seams, simpler installation and additional reliability.

EPDM roofing membranes bring a wide range of long-term benefits to all types of flat roofing projects, whether you’re looking at replacing an old felt shed roof covering, waterproofing a double garage conversion, creating a roof terrace for a commercial office building or sealing the roof of an industrial warehouse.

Here are a handful of the top benefits:

Long term solution – 50 years+ life expectancy

Proven and field tested for many decades in almost every climate, EPDM is a solution that is truly for the long term. Properly vulcanised EPDM membrane carries an expected service life of more than 50-years and long membrane warranties are available.

Sustainable roofing

As environmentalists and regulatory organisations put more emphasis on the sustainable performance of building materials, EPDM continues to be the roofing material that stands the test of time. Characteristics that contribute to EPDM’s overall system performance include:

> Cyclical membrane fatigue resistance

> Proven hail resistance

> High resistance to ozone, weathering and abrasion

> Flexibility in low temperatures

> Thermal shock durability

> Ultraviolet radiation resistance

EPDM is easy to repair and lasts longer than traditional roof coverings, reducing land fill and is fully recyclable at the end of its exceptional service life. Eco friendlier materials are all manufactured and applied with little energy. Both Government and the International Kyoto Ecology Agreement recommend EPDM rubber as best value sustainable eco-sound roofing. It is also ideal for providing a waterproof rubber roof solution for a green or other eco roof system.

Performance backed by the ERA (EPDM Roofing Association)

Given the recent challenges of increasingly cataclysmic weather events, this durability and longevity is one important aspect of the contribution that EPDM can make to a resilient roofing system. Additionally, EPDM has excellent hail resistance, remaining flexible and pliable so that it can absorb the impact from hail without fracturing. The membrane is dimensionally stable when exposed to significant changes in temperature and EPDM is the only commercially available membrane that performs in an unreinforced state, making it very forgiving to large amounts of movement without damage and potentially more cycles before fatiguing.

Read the full report (2021) from the EPDM Roofing Association

Aesthetically pleasing

EPDM roofing material is a charcoal grey/black colour and doesn’t easily show dirt. One of the many advantages is that it does not support the growth of moss, unlike traditional felt systems and no stone chippings or solar reflective paint is required. Using an edge trim system can neaten and protect the installation, completing the seal in addition to increasing kerb appeal.

ELEVATE’s parent company, Holcim, believes in sustainable construction and is a fast growing, leading supplier of a wide range of products across the world. We are proud to be a UK distributor for ELEVATE EPDM systems – membranes, adhesives and extensive range of accessories and components. Here are some of the reasons why our customers trust ELEVATE:

A tradition of quality

From research and development through product manufacturing, ELEVATE follows stringent quality control guidelines to ensure each component of an ELEVATE Roofing or Lining System meets or exceeds industry standards.

Plants operate with state-of-the-art equipment to offer quality roofing and lining systems that perform to last. All these plants have achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, which are a testimony of the company’s commitment to quality and environmental management systems.

A proven brand you can rely on

Since the installation of the first EPDM roof in 1980, over 1.500.000.000 m² of ELEVATE’s EPDM has been produced and installed worldwide, from the cold climates of Alaska to the desert sun of the Arabian Gulf.

ELEVATE EPDM Roofing Systems dominate the single-ply roofing market through their proven performance, durability and flexibility over a wide range of building types.

Codes of Approvals

ELEVATE EPDM membranes are CE certified in accordance with EN 13956: “Flexible sheet for waterproofing – Plastic and rubber sheets for roof waterproofing – Definitions and characteristics” and also meet or exceed the minimum requirements set forth in ASTM D-4637, “Standard Specification for EPDM Sheet Used in Single-Ply Roof Membrane”.

In addition, ELEVATE EPDM Roofing Systems have also been assessed for their performance, resulting in a variety of national and international type approvals and classifications.

Quality manufacturing

ELEVATE’s state-of-the-art EPDM manufacturing facilities based in North America follow stringent quality control guidelines from raw material selection to finished product testing. EPDM manufacturing plants have been certified according to ISO 9001 for their quality management system and to ISO 14001 for their environmental management system.

One of Europe’s largest manufacturers of EPDM, SealEco has more than 50 years’ experience in the production of rubber products for waterproofing. In addition to flat roofing membrane, SealEco is also used for the protection of all aspects of the building envelope, such as façade waterproofing and for lining applications.

A life expectancy of more than 50 years

SealEco fleece backed EPDM roofing systems offer a long-lasting and low maintenance approach to domestic, commercial and industrial projects. With a life expectancy of more than 50 years, this high performance membrane could be the sustainable roofing you’ve been looking for.

High puncture resistance

Fleeceback EPDM is a popular choice in rooftop gardens and extensive green roof projects, due to its high resistance to root penetration and puncture. It should be noted that all membranes require protection from furniture and potential damage from foot traffic.

Proven track record

RubberTop Fleece has been used in roofing applications for over 30 years and has a proven track record in a wide variety of applications and climates around the world. Suitable for domestic, commercial and industrial applications, RubberTop Fleece comes with a range of cold applied tapes and accessories which make the system simple and fast to install for trades.

PermaRoof UK offers commercial, trade and DIY roofers leading support with all your projects, regardless of size. We also run high-quality accredited EPDM roofing application training courses at our Derby headquarters in our purpose-built training centre.

If you’re looking for more than just high performance EPDM roofing, you’re in the right place – time to try the PermaRoof way? Give us a call today and let’s get started. Detailed specification, technical and installation advice to home and business owners, architects and project managers.

PermaGroup has established links with some of the biggest names in our industry thanks to our reputation of excellence. Read more about becoming a supplier or stockist here.