Roofing in the Autumn & Winter

• The Lincs Group
• 2024-11-11 10:00:00

Autumn is here, & winter will soon be upon us. For flat roofers, these seasons present some challenges: Low temperatures with rain & frost, shorter days, higher humidity, & even more rain. 

Installing EPDM Rubber in these seasons is sometimes difficult, but still very achievable with the correct preparation & execution. We'll explore some of these in this blog post.

Temperature & EPDM:

EPDM rubber is more flexible than many other roofing materials, but cold temperatures can still make it stiffer and more challenging to work with. Ideally, it should be installed above 5 degrees, & not exposed to an overnight frost, as this will affect the curing of the adhesive. Even at these low temperatures, the installation is more challenging, & in reality as installers - there may be time critical installation timelines when you must install the EPDM in temperatures below 5 degrees, or when the next day brings frost & snow. Below are some tips to help:

The Rubber:

The rubber itself, when exposed to lower temperatures, can become stiffer & more difficult to lay out. Additionally, when it comes rolled up from your supplier (preferably Elevate EPDM from The Lincs Group LTD!), it will have some crease or fold lines which need to settle. Storing the EPDM in a warm location first, or gently heating it up with a heat gun can aid installation and reduce any wrinkles. 

You may also need to let the rubber settle for longer once laid out. Plan extra time accordingly for your installation.

The deck, or substrate:

The surface you are bonding the EPDM to must be completely dry & free of debris. In winter especially, humidity is higher, allowing for moisture to enter the substrate. Keep your substrate dry with a temporary covering of polythene or similar to make sure the EPDM can bond properly.

The adhesives:

Due to the moisture content, the usual deck adhesive can be slightly less effective in colder temperatures, especially with an overnight frost which can affect the curing. Using more temperature resilient adhesives, such as Elevate Bonding Adhesive, can give a better bond, which also cures quicker, reducing the risk of poor adhesive cure time.

It will be even more crucial in colder temperatures to thoroughly mix any adhesives before applying to your surface. 

Overnight protection:

If the temperature is due to drop below 5 degrees after installation, or overnight, either: Postpone the installation, keeping the surface dry - or lay some sheeting over the EPDM overnight, to allow the adhesive to cure without being affected by a layer of frost or snow.

Other notes:

If you're using roofing edge trims, be mindful that plastic can be more brittle when colder, so some more care needs taking when cutting and securing in position, so as not to damage your trims.

Elevates primer & Flashform can be applied even in freezing temperatures, providing the area is dry & clean. This can allow you to temporarily repair or cover an area, before the weather conditions permit the full repairs.

Sealants, such as Lap Sealant, are also more difficult to apply in the winter. It can be quite helpful during your commute to the job, to keep the sealants (& even adhesives) in the front of your vehicle to warm them up slightly, ready to be used.

Conclusion:

Whilst challenging, by monitoring weather conditions & planning accordingly, installing EPDM in the winter is still achievable & is still a more reliable method than its counterparts.