5 Basic Steps For An EPDM Roof Restoration
When it comes to flat roofing, EPDM roofing membranes are a durable and budget-conscious option. You can prolong the life of an aging EPDM roof by having it properly restored.
Step 1: Roof Cleaning
Roof restoration typically begins with a thorough cleaning to remove dirt, debris, and acidic bird droppings. This cleaning serves a couple of purposes. First, it ensures anything on the roof that could contribute to ongoing damages is removed. Roof restoration materials will also adhere better to a clean roof. Finally, it is much easier to spot damages that need to be addressed once the dirt is removed.
Step 2: Priming
Damaged areas and seams must be treated with a special EPDM primer, which is painted over the top of the membrane. Priming ensures that patches and seam tapes will adhere properly to the old EPDM, otherwise they may detach and leaks will occur again in short order. The entire roof won't be primed during restoration, only those areas that require patching and taping.
Step 3: Patching and Taping
If any parts of the old EPDM are loose, they will first be adhered down to the sub roofing. Badly ragged pieces may be trimmed for better adhesion. Roofing tape is then applied over the top of the primed existing seams on the roof. Pieces of EPDM are cut to size so they can be used to patch over any punctures or weak spots in the old membrane. These patches are put in place with a roof adhesive, and then the edges are taped with seam tape to ensure there will be no leaks.
Step 4: Roof Rolling
Full adhesion of all patches and tape is necessary or leaks will spring up again quite quickly. A weighted roller is typically used. As the roller is pushed across the roof, it pushes out any trapped air bubbles beneath the tape or patches. This ensures that the patching and sealing materials are in full contact with the material below, thus minimizing the chances of future leaks.
Step 5: Final Coating
A final sealing coat is applied over the entire roof. Coating options vary, but most have a waterproof urethane base. You may want to choose a lighter-colored roof coating, as this will increase roof reflectivity which can aid in improving the building's energy efficiency. The roof coating is applied in an even coat and allowed to cure in place.
Contact a contractor to learn more about how EPDM roofing restoration can prolong the life of your roof.
To learn more reach out to a company such as Bunkum Valley Roofing LLC.
Can you imagine hammering away at shingles from dawn until dusk? If this sounds like fun, then you may have a future in the roofing industry. If this does not sound fun at all, then you're going to be someone who calls a roofing company and leave the work to the professionals. There's nothing wrong with that. Roofing is hard and dangerous; it's definitely not for everyone. In fact, we don't climb up on the roof ourselves. We do, however, write about roofing on this blog. We consider that to be a small service we can do for homeowners who are interested in roofing and want to know more.