EPDM Rubber Roofing › Cwmbran › Guide
Cwmbran has a lot of attached and integral garages from the 1950s to 1970s, many with tired flat roofs. An EPDM rubber roof is a good replacement when the deck is sound. This guide walks through how the roof is laid, from the first look at the boards to the final trim at the edge.
Checking the deck and the falls
Everything depends on what is underneath. We look at the boards or deck for softness, check that water will run towards the gutter and see whether the old covering has to come off. Many garage roofs around Llanyrafon and Thornhill have sagged over the years and hold water in the middle. Soft boards are replaced and falls are corrected before any rubber is laid.
Preparing the surface
The old felt is stripped if it is wet or blistered, or checked and cleaned if it can stay. The deck must be dry, clean and flat, because the membrane is bonded to it with adhesive and will show every lump. Insulation is added at this stage if the roof allows it. Preparation is the part nobody sees afterwards, and it decides how well the finished roof performs.
Laying and bonding the sheet
EPDM is a single-ply synthetic rubber membrane, supplied in large sheets, so most garages can be covered in one piece with no joint across the middle. The sheet is rolled out, folded back and bonded to the deck with adhesive. It is worked down smoothly from the middle to the edges to push out air, and left to relax before it is bonded, so it lies flat without stress or wrinkles.
Edges, upstands and corners
This is where the skill lies. The membrane is turned up against the wall to form an upstand, covered with flashing or a trim, and the corners are formed by hand so the rubber folds without a weak point. At the front a drip trim sends water into the gutter. Few joints means few weak spots, but each corner and edge still has to be done carefully.
- Upstand formed up the adjoining wall and sealed under a trim
- Corners folded and shaped by hand, not cut and patched
- Edge trims fixed so water drops cleanly into the gutter
- Outlets and any rooflights sealed with matching details
What you see when it is finished
A clean, even black surface with neat trims and no puddles. We clear the site and explain what has been done, and anything we found under the old covering. For other sizes and types of flat roof, our Flat Roofing South Wales section covers the wider range. We also tell you not to walk on it needlessly, and to keep gutters clear.
Need epdm rubber roofing in Cwmbran? See our epdm rubber roofing in Cwmbran page, or call 07766 547309.
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Common Questions
Can a garage roof in Cwmbran be done in one sheet?
Usually yes. EPDM comes in large sheets, so a typical garage can be covered without a joint across the middle. Where a roof is larger than a sheet allows, we explain where a joint goes and how it is made.
Does the old roof have to come off first?
It depends. If the felt is dry, flat and bonded, it can sometimes stay as a base. Wet, blistered or loose felt must come off, and soft boards underneath are replaced before the rubber is laid.
Do I need to be at home while it is laid?
Not for most of the work. We need access to the garage and the area around it, and we will tell you in advance if we need to move anything. The roof is bonded on the day.
Get a Quote in Cwmbran
Tell us what the roof is doing in Cwmbran and we will look at it. Call 07766 547309, message us on WhatsApp or use the form below.