EPDM v Kemper

EPDM best for flat roofs with no details

Kemper best for roofs with details ( we now use Triflex basically the same as Kemper but can be laid in colder weather )

EPDM is cheaper and quick to lay

Kemper or Triflex  more expensive to buy More expensive to lay but bullet-proof  as now joints.

Think logically  If the flat roof has lots of skylights pipes and items on the roof that need dressing around, you have to cut and repair the sheet EPDM the more you do the more chance for a problem somewhere along the line

Look at this muck-up of a detail using EPDM

EPDM rubber Joint

This is also true of all the sheet roofing materials look at this TPO roofing material again only 2 years old  but the problem is with making good joints with details.

This is not EPDM

Now look how we can dress the Kemper or the Triflex with now joints

No Joints

Warm Flat Roof Construction

Differences between warm flat roof

construction and cold flat roof construction.

This video shows detailed drawings on how a warm flat roof is constructed.

If you are Interested in cold flat roof construction or want an in-depth comparison

take a moment to drop me some comments regarding these videos. Many people are having problems with this kind of flat roof construction and I can see that we’re going to have lots of problems in the future.

New Videos about EPDM Rubber at Youtube

If you haven’t been over to my YouTude channel for some time go and have a look

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my youTube channel for EPDM rubber

New Single Ply flat roof (not EPDM) leaking Hampstead

Report on Single ply roof flat roof in hampstead

Thank you for allowing us to look at your roof.

As you are aware, your roof is an inverted flat roof which means the insulation is over the top of the waterproofing membrane. In your case the ballast that holds the insulation in place is a fibre tile that’s bonded to the insulation during manufacture. The waterproofing membrane on the flat roof is one of the older systems known as “TPO” (Thermoplastic Olefin or Polyolefin), a good system that uses a heat welded jointing system.

Knowing that your roof is leaking and that the roof materials are relatively new, I can only conclude that the leak is coming from one of these areas:

• A badly made flashing detail.
• A badly welded joint.
• A rip or tear in the membrane.

My recommendations

My first stage of attack would be to remove the insulation from around the areas where the roof is leaking, wash down and closely inspect the membrane for defects, and repair any found.
Assuming defects are found, flood test the roof, prove that all problems have been resolved, replace the insulation and leave site.
If no problems can be found, we should start to look into re-covering the roof.
The above removal of the insulation would also be the first stage of replacing the membrane, so realistically by taking this route you are spreading your options without incurring additional costs.
Costing
PC sum for scaffolding (I will obtain some prices for this but for now assume this is a PC sum).  £1,700.00
The cost for my men to attend the property and remove insulation, support air-conditioning units, wash down and inspect membrane, clear away and dump old insulation:£1580.00
PC sum for repairing the defects found in the membrane: £200.00
To replace insulation using a similar insulation – PC sum for insulation: £500.00
Cost of labour to re-fix insulation:£750.00

New EPDM rubber flat roof with insulation

Just look at this photo! We’ve got all the insulation up onto the roof, ready for the laying tomorrow. We are stacking the roof insulation in the corner so the wind can’t get to it during the night.

If you look down to the left you can see the rolls of EPDM rubber. They’re hard to get up on the roof, because of the size of the rolls. Each roll has 45m2 of EPDM on it and takes three men to manhandle, we can get the EPDM rubber in large sheets but over around 45m2 its hard to get up onto the roof.

Stacks of insulation and this is not all of it