What is Rubber Roofing?

It’s quite possible that, as a homeowner, you’ve never considered a rubber roof as your next roofing material. Or, even more likely, you’ve never even heard of rubber roofing. Also known as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer), rubber roofing can be a good alternative to traditional asphalt shingles – especially if you’re looking for a roof that is easy to maintain and repair.

Advantages of Rubber Roofing

There are quite a few advantages to having a rubber roof installed on your home or commercial building.

1. Low maintenance.

If your rubber roof develops a leak or needs repairs, it’s easy. Often times, your rubber roof can be repaired with liquid rubber or a heavy duty rubber repair tape. For optimum longevity, you can repaint your rubber roof with acrylic paint every 10 years or so.

2. Low cost.

Rubber roofing is easy to install, and the price of the material itself is comparable to other traditional roofing materials. Because installation is so straightforward, you won’t spend as much money in labor costs when installing your new rubber roof. Remember to only obtain rubber roof installation services from a licensed professional.

3. Long lifespan.

Because rubber roofs can be laid out in a single (or just a few) sheets, there are fewer seams. Fewer seams means less opportunity for water to leak through and underneath your rubber roof, causing damage to your home and the roof itself. Your rubber roofing can easily last for 50 years or more.

4. Energy efficient.

Rubber roofing can help you to reduce your heating and cooling costs all year round. EPDM rooftops insulate your home efficiently, trapping in heat during the colder winter months. Lighter colored rubber roofs are great at reflecting the sun’s heat during the summer, cutting down on air conditioning costs.

5. Fire resistant.

A great safety feature of rubber roofing is its ability to resist fire. In some cases, you might even get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance policy for opting to install a rubber rooftop.

6. Do You Have a Rubber Roof?

If you have hands on experience with your own rubber roof (or with installing rubber roofs) we want to hear your story. What do you like about your rubber roofing? What drawbacks have you noticed? Share your comments below.  And if you ever need a roofer in Concord, roofer in Pleasant Hill, or a roofer in Orinda give us a call!