EPDM Rubber Roofing › Porthcawl › Guide
Flat roofs on the Porthcawl coast get everything: southwesterly gales, driving rain, salt in the air and bright sun in summer. EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane laid in one sheet where size allows, and it is suited to this. How well it copes still depends on how it is fitted and what it is laid on. Here is what matters.
Wind and the edges
Wind tests the edges of a flat roof first, lifting trims and getting under any loose upstand. The EPDM sheet is bonded to the deck with adhesive, and the edge trims are fixed and finished with care. On exposed garages and extensions near the seafront, those details get more attention than the sheet itself, since a well-bonded middle means little if an edge lifts. Fixings and trims are chosen for a coastal roof, and the adhesive is applied evenly so there are no unbonded patches.
Rain, ponding and falls
A flat roof is never completely flat. It needs a gentle fall to an outlet or gutter so water drains away. Where falls are poor, water sits in low spots and finds any weakness. EPDM tolerates standing water better than felt, but ponding still stresses the deck underneath. We look at falls and outlets before laying anything.
- Gentle fall to the gutter or outlet
- Outlets clear and big enough for heavy rain
- No low spots holding water for days
- Deck dry and sound underneath
Salt air, sun and temperature
Sea air, bright summers and cold, damp winters all flex a roof. The rubber stays flexible and does not crack or blister the way a split felt seam will. Salt on the surface does not trouble the membrane itself. It is fittings, adhesives and edge details that need to be done properly for it to last, so we do not skimp those.
The deck underneath
The deck matters more than the covering. Soft, damp or rotten boards will move and let the membrane fail, however good the rubber is. On older flat roofs on 1930s garages and extensions in Nottage and Newton, we often find deck repairs are needed. Insulation also matters, because a cold deck invites condensation under the sheet. We always lift a corner to check the board underneath before agreeing the work.
Upstands, corners and joints
Where the roof meets a wall, a dormer cheek or a rooflight, the membrane turns up as an upstand and is sealed under flashing. Corners are formed by hand. These are the places a flat roof leaks, and they are done slowly. Where the roof is larger than a single sheet, joints are made carefully and explained to you beforehand. Our Flat Roofing South Wales section covers other coverings.
Need epdm rubber roofing in Porthcawl? See our epdm rubber roofing in Porthcawl page, or call 07766 547309.
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Common Questions
Will a Porthcawl gale lift an EPDM roof?
A properly bonded sheet with well-fixed edge trims is built to resist it. Wind is the reason we take so much care at the edges. A weak deck or poor edge fixing is what lets wind in, not the rubber.
Does standing water damage EPDM?
The rubber copes with it better than felt, but regular ponding still means the falls are wrong and the deck may suffer. We check drainage before laying, and tell you if it needs correcting first.
Does salt air shorten the life of a rubber roof?
The membrane itself is not harmed by salt air. The risks are poor deck preparation and weak edge details. Those are why careful fitting matters more on the coast, and why we explain them before we start.
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