The Benefits of Single Ply Roofing for Homeowners

Single ply roofing offers a wider range of benefits for homeowners compared to more traditional products. As today’s consumers strive for increasingly sustainable construction products, these modern, high performance materials are now taking over.

As one of the UKs leading roofing suppliers, we take a closer look at single ply to highlight some of the biggest benefits for homeowners.

What is single ply roofing?

Single ply refers to the type of roofing membrane, EPDM is a good example. Manufactured from oils converted to durable polymers, EPDM is then processed into sheets. Because of the nature of the manufacturing process, some EPDM membranes can be processed into significantly larger sheets than others.
Single ply membrane is not a new concept, being widely used in the UK since the 1970s, typically on the flat roofs of large commercial premises, hospitals and airports. In recent years, popularity in the domestic market has increased significantly and today single ply membranes are one of the fastest growing sectors of the roofing industry.

The advantages of single ply membrane

Choosing single ply membranes over traditional roofing materials gives homeowners greater flexibility and a long-term solution – one of the biggest advantages overall.

Exceptional service life expectancy

EPDM carries a service life expectancy of over 50 years – proven through field testing since the late 1970s. This ticks vital sustainability boxes for consumers and delivers a much better cost vs. value rating over the service life compared to other types of roofing.

Durable and lightweight

Durable and flexible, RubberCover EPDM offers a lightweight solution for domestic flat roofing, weighing just 1.4kg per m2 (1.14mm standard thickness). This makes it easier to handle and install.

Fast and easy to install

EPDM single ply membranes are faster and easier to install than other types of system. They are lightweight and can be produced in significantly larger sheets. RubberCover EPDM can be custom-cut to 15m x 60m in a single sheet. What this does is reduce or even negate traditional joins, which are often the most vulnerable parts of any installation.

EPDM is also installed using cold applied adhesives, making it a much safer option for both DIY and trade roofing installers. This has opened new doors for handy homeowners, offering a DIY approach to some of the most common projects, such as:

• Shed roof replacement
• Garage roofing
• Flat roof extensions
• Green roofing

Professional installations are simplified and labour time for these types of projects can be significantly reduced using EPDM systems. Flat roof kits have been developed for simplified quantifying for both trade and DIY roofers.

Buying single ply roofing

Today, single ply roofing membranes are widely available. However, there are single ply membranes and single ply membranes! When choosing single ply, look at performance and guarantees – both from the manufacturer and the installer.

There are lower quality membranes that do not offer comparable performance, and these are often marketed as EPDM. It is important to select a high performing membrane to gain the benefits of these systems.

RubberCover EPDM from Elevate, formerly Firestone, comes with a range of warranties and guarantees. In our shed roof kits, for instance, we include RubberCover single ply membrane and provide a lifetime guarantee. Using a professional, registered installer can also give homeowners an installation guarantee of up to 30 years.

Can we help?

Buying from a registered, licenced importer can bring peace of mind knowing that you’re getting a genuine, branded product, guaranteed for the long term.
If you’re looking for high performance single ply roofing, we can help you find the right products and even connect you with a reliable, trained and vetted installer. If you’re DIYing, we can offer you a wide range of free installation resources, from PDF downloads to videos. Talk to us and get expert advice for all your roofing projects.

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.