Adhered EPDM
Fully-adhered EPDM roofs offer the highest wind-uplift approvals and can be used on low slopes or roofs with unlimited slopes. In addition, Elevate EPDM adhered membranes can be installed on roofs up to 250' (76.2m) high and be eligible for up to 30-year warranties.
Unlike mechanically attached membranes, the fully adhered EPDM membranes don't flutter and have no indoor air intrusion into the roof assembly. As a result, fully-adhered EPDM membranes are more energy-efficient, according to EPDM Roofing Association.
The insulation must first be mechanically fastened or adhered to the deck to install an EPDM roof. Next, the EPDM membrane is bonded over the insulation using adhesives and seam tapes. Almost every roof is a good candidate for an adhered EPDM system thanks to its flexibility and light weight.
Traditional adhered EPDM roofs take longer to install compared to mechanically fastened systems. However, a self-adhered EPDM membrane, such as RubberGard™️ EPDM SA, can make the installation process a breeze thanks to a pre-applied adhesive across the entire surface of the membrane. Unlike traditional adhered EPDM roofs, where you'd manually apply adhesives and seam tapes, a self-adhered membrane comes with adhesive already in place.
For context, a traditional adhered application on a 30,000 SF roof requires about 115 5-gallon pails of bonding adhesive and 33 rolls of seam tape. As a self-adhered membrane, RubberGard™️ EPDM SA requires no pails of adhesive and no rolls of seam tape. All that would be needed would be to strip in all end laps using 6" QuickSeam Batten Cover or 18" QuickSeam SA Flashing (cut to size) and seal with Lap Sealant.
Contractors have to deal with materials and labor no matter the EPDM roof system chosen. But, self-adhered membranes eliminate the need to haul some materials like adhesives, fasteners, and ballast to the roof.