When you own a business, it’s your responsibility to ensure that it stays in good shape. So you’ll want to focus mainly on those areas that are most likely to attract attention — or present the most significant problems — once people start looking carefully at your business: YOUR ROOF! If your roof is starting to look shabby or has outlived its lifespan, a roof replacement could be in order.
EPDM roofing is worth checking out if you’re planning a new commercial roof or a complete roof replacement. It’s one of the most enduring and affordable options and has been proven to last up to 50 years with no material degradation.
EPDM rubber roofing is popular with industrial and commercial properties, but it’s frequently used in residential and commercial settings because of its durability and dependability. When selecting an EPDM roofing material, there are a few considerations that you’ll want to keep in mind. So let’s take a look at it.
What Is EPDM?
Although many people think of rubber when they imagine EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), it is a synthetic rubber with a molecular structure composed of three components that create an elastomer. These components are ethylene, propylene, and diene. The EPDM rubber is used in roofs, gaskets, and other applications that require a rubber sealant.
Composition Of The EPDM Roofing Material
The EPDM roofing membrane used in your commercial roofing system does not contain 100% EPDM material. Instead, it constitutes 40-45% of the base resin. Most EPDM roofing manufacturers use a combination of carbon black and plasticizing oil to form the base. Some also add fillers, fire retardants, and antioxidants.
What Are The Benefits Of EPDM Roofs?
EPDM is becoming more and more popular as homeowners become aware of the benefits of this material. Here are just a few benefits of installing an EPDM roof for your commercial business.
Fits Your Budget
EPDM is a single-ply roofing membrane that’s easy to install and maintain and will last for years. Cost comparable to other materials can save your serious business money on installation without sacrificing quality or safety. It’s built to protect for years with minimal maintenance and is highly durable — saving you the time and money of having to replace it anytime soon.
Helps In Reducing Energy Consumption
No one likes to pay high energy bills for their residential property or commercial business. Also, the rising environmental concerns point to the fact that energy saving is the need of the hour. You can reduce your energy consumption if you install an EPDM roofing system.
How? EPDM roofs help lower cooling costs by reflecting heat and keeping interiors cool; they are also breathable, allowing heat and vapor to escape from inside the building so that it doesn’t get too hot.
Environment-Friendly Composition
You can do your bit towards saving the environment by installing an EPDM roof. It is one of the most environmentally-friendly materials present in the market.
Easy To Maintain
One of the main advantages of EPDM is it requires minimal maintenance. You would not have to invest much time to maintain your EPDM roof and can thus focus on your business. Though it requires little maintenance, it’s still essential to ensure they’re in top shape. Scheduling a regular maintenance regimen will help you prolong their life span and ensure that your EPDM won’t leak or break down prematurely.
Long-Lasting
The EPDM roofing system lasts for more than 20 years — even 30 or 40, with proper care and maintenance. In addition, its UV resistance and sturdiness allow for a longer lifespan. The longevity of the EPDM roofing system allows homeowners to enjoy high-quality roofing without worrying about the high costs of replacement.
Protect Your EPDM Roof From These Damages
There is one significant disadvantage to the myriad of benefits of EPDM roofing. These roofs are very prone to damage by specific forces and elements. Given below are some of the things that can affect your EPDM roof.
Poor Installation
This is the first and foremost cause of the damage to your roof. If the roof is not installed correctly, it can attract more damage. A poor installation by an unlicensed worker could result in long-term damage to your property and a negative impact on the value of your building. For example, when a rubber roof is improperly installed or given shoddy maintenance, it can cause leaks that can permanently damage your building.
Roof Punctures
Rubber roof membranes (EPDM roofing membranes) are relatively vulnerable to roof punctures., especially older seamless roofs that have never been adequately maintained. Punctures from falling debris, roofing tools, sharp stones, and even sharp-tipped shoes can lead to leaks over time, so it’s essential to take preventative measures to avoid them.
Shrinkages
Prolonged exposure to the elements can shrink a rubber roof. In addition, rubber roofs are particularly vulnerable to leaks when seams come apart and crack open up. This makes coating your roof with acrylic paint a tremendous preventative measure — but even then, drier climates may eventually still become a problem.
Wrinkles
If you notice a small amount of oil is coming from your roof, it might not be an issue. It could be that your HVAC system is leaking some oil into the gutter. This is usually nothing to worry about, but if the problem persists and worsens, this could lead to damage in the form of wrinkles and leaks. This can cause your structure to be weak. If you see such damage, then you may want to call a professional roofing company for help.
Install EPDM Roofing With Firestone EPDM Roofing Systems
With all the benefits and wide popularity, you would likely like to choose an EPDM roofing system for your commercial property. However, before installing, you must make sure that you purchase an EPDM roof from only the best providers. Firestone is one of them.
Firestone is one of the leading names in the roofing industry. They help in providing their customers with world-class building and roofing solutions. They have been providing the best EPDM roofing systems since the 1980s.
Top Firestone EPDM Products
Firestone is the home of many industry-leading EPDM roofing systems. Given below are some of the most popular and designing products.
FullForce EPDM
Compared to a standard EPDM membrane with a complete adhesive seal. The more advanced technology and modern manufacturing processes that FullForce uses lead to quicker installation. They can be installed 4.6x faster than the standard EPDM. Also, these do not carry any odor and can be installed on your commercial roof without hindering your business activities.
RubberGard™ EPDM system
This is one of Firestone’s most premium products. The RubberGard™ roofing system is responsible for Firestone’s dominance in the single-ply roofing market. Popular throughout commercial buildings in New Jersey, the product offers a long-term, reliable roofing solution that has broad applicability.
Features
- Extremely durable, with proper maintenance, this EPDM roofing system can last for up to 50 years
- It has a very lightweight structure. This makes them easy to handle and install
- It can save up to 25% more energy when compared to other materials
- Suitable for many commercial properties
RubberGard™ EPDM Platinum™ System
Firestone Company’s RubberGard EPDM Platinum System is Firestone’s best roof yet, thanks to its unmatched longevity and wind resistance. These EPDM roofing systems are designed to deliver the highest level of durability while providing an attractive, low-maintenance structure. In addition, it provides roof surfaces that are more than 90 mils thick with 10′ wideness. They also come packed with the company’s own Red Shield™ Platinum Warranty that offers to cover the roof system for 30 years.
Features
- This system possesses watertight seams that hold together the EPDM roofing systems and seal out moisture.
- Provide more flexibility and resistance to harsh weather conditions as well as UV rays
- This EPDM roofing installation can be done with the help of multiple methods, be it mechanical or ballasted installation.
RubberGard EcoWhite™EPDM
As the name suggests, the EcoWhite™EPDM is a white EPDM roofing system that ensures that your business roof remains cooler during scorching temperatures. This EPDM flat roof is fit for both UL- and FM-rated systems and exceeds ASTM D 4637 standards. In addition, an exclusive Firestone Red Shield™ warranty covers your roof for 20 years, with a 30-year option.
Features
- Helps in providing good reflectivity, enabling your roof to remain cool
- Bi-laminated nature, a white color coating is used over the regular black EPDM roofing membrane
- Available in 2 thickness variants, 60 and 90-Mil
Tips To Maintain Your EPDM Roofing System
The answer to ‘how long does an EPDM roof last’ depends on how you treat it. If you want your EPDM rubber roof to last longer and protect your commercial property for longer, you must perform regular maintenance. Here are some tips for that:
- Clean your EPDM roofs with a gentle brush and water
- Get regular roof inspections from experts to detect any underlying issue
- Remove leaves and debris from your roof
We Install Firestone EPDM Roofing Systems!
Northkit Roofing, your premier commercial roofing and exterior services contractor, proudly serves the entire Northern New Jersey region, including Essex, Sussex, Passaic, Warren, Morris, Bergen, and Hudson counties. Strategically located in Cedar Grove, NJ, we are ideally positioned to service major cities near Cedar Grove, such as Montclair, Bloomfield, and Verona, along with other key areas in the region.
Our experienced team is dedicated to assessing your building’s roofing needs and providing top-notch EPDM roofing solutions. We install only with industry-leading EPDM roofing systems from Firestone. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and experience our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction in Northern New Jersey. Contact us now on (973) 396-7416.
