Elevate EPDM Rubber

Whats the difference? Simply the thickness!

This thickness does determine their suitability for different flat roofs though. 

For most simple flat roofs, on a very low pitch & within 150 square meters. 1.14m EPDM is suitable. If bonding to a shed or roof with a steeper slope, Bonding Adhesive should be used over the typical Waterbased Adhesive, as this will improve its immediate grip.

For other roofs, such as Green Roofs, Roofs with increased foot traffic etc, the Premium, Heavy Duty 1.52mm should be used. Additionally, if the roof is over 150 square meters, the Premium EPDM should be used with Bonding Adhesive. Trained persons should complete roofs over 150 sqm with the RubberGard system.

• What is EPDM Rubber Membrane?
  EPDM is a 100% cured single-ply roofing membrane made of a synthetic rubber ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. Since 1980, more than 1,000,000,000 square meters of firestone epdm membranes have been successfully installed on commercial, industrial and residential roofs worldwide.
• What is Elevate EPDM & what happened to Firestone?
  Firestone Building Products was purchased by the giant Lafarge Holcim, & rebranded to Elevate. They've kept the same team, products & quality service that Firestone boasted for over 40 years - just a brand change.
• What is the difference between standard 1.14mm & premium 1.52mm rubber?
  Your standard 1.14mm thickness is suitable for most roofing applications. The more durable Premium grade 1.52mm thickness is better suited to heavy duty situations, such as increased foot-traffic or for green roofs.
• Does the rubber have an up and bottom side?
  No, there is no difference between the top and bottom of the membrane.
• How long does EPDM rubber last?
  The membrane offers unmatched resistance to UV radiation, ozone, alkali rains and high or low temperatures. Recent studies show that the membrane can have a life expectancy of up to 50 years, even when exposed to sunlight.
• Does EPDM rubber require a protective covering?
  No, the membrane is totally UV stable and requires no chippings, ballast or solar reflective paint.
• Is the installation of rubber membrane weather dependant?
  Yes, the minimum temperature for application of the adhesives is +5c and the maximum humidity is 80%. If the temperature is likely to drop below freezing during the following 24 hours after application, firestone bonding adhesive should be used instead and/or a protective covering laid over the EPDM to protect it from frosting.
• Can EPDM be used for green roofs?
  Yes, perfect for green roofs. Most residential roofs have no joints, so nothing to fail. Even large commercial roofs can have little or no joints. We do recommend a roof barrier with green roof installations, as well as using the Premium Grade 1.52mm EPDM.
• Can an EPDM rubber membrane be repaired?
  Yes, your EPDM can be easily repaired. Clean the area with Firestone Aerosol Cleaner, Prime the area with QuickPrime Primer & then apply the necessary sized Firestone Flashform. Work in with necessary rollers. For larger areas, you can clean the area and then use spray bonding adhesive to bond another piece of EPDM on top of your existing rubber. You can then use QuickPrime Primer & Firestone Flashform to seal the edges.
• Is rubber available in different colours?
  No, the membrane is only available in slate grey (light black).
• Which substrates can EPDM be bonded to?
  Ideally osb3 sterling board, or plywood timber is also acceptable. The EPDM will still bond to other surfaces however, such as smooth concrete and tissue-faced insulation boards. For non-timber decking though, a spray bonding adhesive must be applied to both sides, left to touch dry before bonding. New concrete should be fully cured before membrane installation, and this takes a minimum of 28 days.
• Can I walk on my EPDM rubber
  Yes, the roof can be accessed for periodical maintenance, but take care to ensure no sharp objects (for example with a walkway such as small stones or glass) are attached to the underside of footwear. In case of regular foot traffic, the membrane must be protected with a walkway, e.g., pavers placed on protective rubber feet.
• Is there a warranty for Elevate RubberCover EPDM Membrane?
  Not on supply only. For a 20-year membrane warranty, installations must be carried out by trained contractors.
• Is it easy to install a rubber roof?
  For a competent DIY’er, most EPDM Rubber Roof installations will be simple, especially when backed by our installation guides. Some roofs can have more difficult aspects, such as when meeting multiple different roof edges (brickwork, tiled roof & felt roof etc) or when having skylights or pipework in and around the roof. Like most cases though, the key is the preparation. Ensuring all your preparation is correct, then any competent DIY’er can fit an EPDM Rubber Roof.
• How do you prepare for an EPDM flat roof?
  There are a few things to consider, please see our preparation advice and any necessary guides to help you prepare your roof for the ideal EPDM installation.
• Does an EPDM Flat Roof need specialist tools?
  For most straight forward installations of EPDM, your tool list should be mostly limited to basic hand tools, such as: Clean Hammer; Soft Brush Broom & Pan; Tape measure & Pencil; Handsaw; Scissors; EPDM installation tools (Scissors & Rollers etc). If your flat roof needs additional preparation, such as stripping and reboarding, you will need some additional specialist equipment. These can include, but are not limited to: Spirit Level; PPE Gear; Circular Saw; Jigsaw; Drill Driver; Appropriate fixings & drill tip; Spade & crowbar; Waste buckets/bags.
• How long does it take to install a rubber roof?
  How long is a piece of string? It does vary, but generally: The typically sized straight forward flat roof (3x6m), should only take approximately half a day to install, providing preparation is correct. More time will be required for: Larger flat roofs; more difficult situations such as meeting brickwork/tiled roofs etc; or when overboarding/reboarding the existing decking.
• What happens if it rains when installing a rubber roof?
  Preparation is key as usual again. We recommend checking the weather forecast prior to stripping your existing roof covering. Additionally, the benefit of one piece rubber is you can use the EPDM itself as a protective sheeting! However, if there is risk of damage to the EPDM, it is advisable to have some water-proof sheeting available to temporarily protect your roof and the area beneath if the weather turns. Having all your tools and materials ready and safely stored beforehand will also aid your installation time, decreasing the risk of weather affecting you.
• How do you remove an old flat roof?
  Short answer, it depends. If your existing timber is chipboard or has been subjected to prolonged and/or extensive leaks – you will need to reboard (at least in the rotten places). If your timber decking is only minimally affected by leaks, is sound and made off OSB, ply, planking or concrete, you should not need to strip this. Cut away your roof edges and any overhangs. Clean the roof down appropriately – you may need to remove the actual roof covering (felt/fibreglass). You may then be able to overboard the existing timber decking with new 18mm OSB or Ply, securing into the base layer. You may need to install some new upvc fascia trim to cover old cover marks if your new roofing trims aren’t deep enough (65mm from top of new boarding).
• Should you insulate your flat roof
  Short answer, it depends. If your new EPDM Rubber is to protect your shed, garage, or any other area beneath which is OK to reach temperatures close to the outside temperature, you do not need insulation. If it is living accommodation beneath, somewhere where you are likely to spend time in (like a summer house) or where the items stored may get affected by colder temperatures – you should strongly consider insulating your roof. Where applicable, we recommend a warm roof. Part L Regulations from June 2022 stipulate that on main structures, new or newly renovated flat roofs above living space should have 150mm rigid insulation.
• Are rubber roofing products safe to use?
  All products supplied are safe to use. Instructions for use are labelled on the necessary products. Reasonable use & precaution still applies – use appropriate PPE where applicable, don’t inhale adhesive fumes, keep away from the reach of children & do not get adhesives in eyes etc. Yes, all products are supplied with clear instructions. Sensible precautions should be taken i.e. do not inhale adhesive fumes, do not allow children access to the products etc.
• Is Rubber EPDM environmentally friendly?
  EPDM has been Greenpeace (link) approved! Due its increased life-expectancy, sustainability and recycling options, Greenpeace ranked it as the top performing, low impact flat roofing membrane. Can I use Techno EPDM on top of insulation boards to create a warm roof? We recommend a ply faced insulation board e.g. Kingspan TR31 or similar. Alternatively, you can insulate on top of the decking with foil faced boards, then overboard with OSB or plywood, secured with long screws.
• Can rubber be installed directly onto other surfaces such as felt or fibreglass?
  Whilst technically possible in many situations by cleaning the surface and using spray bonding adhesive, we strongly advise against this. For best results either: Overboard your existing covering (providing existing decking is sound and dry) with 18mm OSB or Ply; or fully strip your existing roof covering and install new 18mm OSB or Ply to your roofing joists,
• Why does EPDM have chalk marks on it?
  During the manufacturing process, chalk is used to stop the rubber membranes sticking together. It should gradually wear off with weathering and will not affect the quality or longevity of your roof. Once your roof is completed and fully cured, you can gently clean your EPDM with warm soapy water.
• Why does rubber have creases in it?
  Sometimes during manufacturing & transport, creases and wrinkles can be created in the rubber. We recommend opening the EPDM out and letting it settle on a flat, clean surface for as long as possible, or at least 30 minutes. A heat gun or hair dryer can be carefully used on particularly creased areas to relax the rubber.
• Why does EPDM rubber have joins in it?
  During manufacturing, the large panels of EPDM rubber are created using vulcanised seams. The material of these seams is homogenous and 100% cured. They will not leak.
• Can EPDM be installed in the rain?
  The short answer is no, the EPDM & adhesives will not bond properly when damp. Technically, the waterbased deck adhesive would still bond in light rain or on a slightly damp decking, but adhesion would be affected and creases/bubbles may develop – thought it would still be water-tight. The benefit of one piece rubber though, is you can use that as protection for you timber decking to keep the area dry until the rain passes over – then you can pull the EPDM back and carry on!