Flat Rubber Roofing in Bradford & Yorkshire

It’s important to understand that flat roofs are flat but are generally built with a slight incline. Part of this is so that rain water can drain away into the guttering rather than pooling on the roof. This effect is commonly known as ‘ponding’ – whereby, surface water on the roof begins to accumulate and create puddles, or ponds.

This is best avoided, as excessive ponding can lead to leaking and damaged roofing. Ponding, if severe enough and left not dealt with, can impact your flat roof’s lifespan and longevity. That’s why most flat roofs supplied and installed by the team here at Flat Roof Experts are built on an incline – so that ponding and the pooling of surface water can be avoided and the roof can be protected from water damage and leaking. Essentially, not all flat roofs are entirely flat.

What exactly is EPDM? Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber is a synthetic material used in many different applications thanks to its amazing durability, flexibility and strength. Using EPDM rubber for our flat roofing, here at Flat Roof Experts we are able to install incredibly durable roofs made from this synthetic rubber material. An EPDM rubber roof is best applied and adhered to a flat roof surface, offering an amazing life expectancy and reliability.

EPDM rubber roofing is amazing for a number of reasons. It is incredibly quick and easy to install, it is resistant to the growth of moss and algae, it is resistant to harsh weather, rain and UV rays, it is an environmentally friendly synthetic material, requires little maintenance, and is also cost effective! It’s a no brainer – EPDM is one of the best roofing materials out there, which is why we specialise in it here at Flat Roof Experts.

One of the best things about our signature EPDM rubber roofs here at Flat Roof Experts is the fact that it barely requires any maintenance at all. It’s one of the reasons that we have come to specialise in supplying and installing flat roofs with this synthetic rubber material, after all.

In order to give your flat roof proper maintenance, it’s a good idea to give it a bit of inspection once or twice a year. We often recommend doing this in March and November, keeping your inspections around six months apart and inspecting them at times where the weather in the UK really begins to change, especially for commercial roofs. Generally, the best time to inspect your flat roof will be soon after rain or snow – this gives you a chance to inspect whether or not water is draining away off your roof properly.

Of course, always be careful when climbing up onto any roof. Our EPDM rubber roofs are generally built able to support light foot traffic but always make sure that your roof can support you before climbing up onto it for an inspection. When you have your flat roof installed by the team here at Flat Roof Experts, we’ll be able to advise and guide you on how much weight your roof will be able to support.

If you want to have Flat Roof Experts install EPDM rubber roofing but also want to install slabs or roof tiles over the top of it, then good news: this is entirely possible. Of course, it is dependent on what kind of slabs or roof tiles you’re hoping to install, and it’s certainly best to let us know of your plans when we’re installing your EPDM rubber roof. It’s important to make sure that rain water, snow and other substances are able to pass between the gaps of your roof tiles in order to properly drain off your roof rather than sitting on top of the rubber membrane. Otherwise, this could lead to ponding and the accumulation of surface water on your roof.

Generally speaking, most green roofs can be installed without needing planning permission from a local authority whatsoever. However, there are exceptions, depending on a number of factors. Depending on the location of your green roof, the type of building you are installing it onto, the height of the green roof and more, planning permission may or may not be required for your green roof.

It’s always best to consult the team here at Flat Roof Experts first if you aren’t sure about whether you need planning permission. Before installation, we’ll be able to provide the guidance and advice necessary to discern whether you need to get in touch with your local authority. You never want to get half way through the installation process only to discover that you don’t have the necessary planning permission.

Green roofs are rising in popularity, even becoming mandatory installations for many new developments across the UK. As such, there’s a little more scrutiny than there has been previously for green roof conservation areas. Planning consent can revolve around a few different matters. For example, your local authority might stipulate that the green area has to blend in with the surrounding natural landscape, or that the water runoff and drainage works in a particular way, or anything else. Fortunately, the expert team here at Flat Roof Experts specialise in supplying and installing modern green roof solutions, and we can work alongside you to ensure that all necessary permissions are met.

One of the reasons we use sedum plants for our green roofs is because it is incredibly drought resistant and is a generally very resilient plant. Your green roof will need to be irrigated after installation and for the following few months, but generally speaking your roof will not need regular watering to stay healthy.

EPDM rubber roofing systems are built to withstand various treacherous weather conditions – including hail, wind and intense heat. EPDM is also highly fire-resistant, helping to explain why it is a popular choice of material for commercial flat roofing. 

When installed well, as we would install it as standard on your Leeds or Bradford property, a rubber roof can last between 40 and 50 years. However, achieving this kind of lifespan for your rubber roof would depend on you adhering to a thorough inspection and cleaning regime for it. 

Four times a year, you should have your rubber roof professionally cleaned as well as inspected by a professional contractor for signs of damage, such as swelling or peeling.

The good news is that, in many instances, an EPDM roof can be fitted over an existing roof covering. The bad news is that affixing a rubber roof directly to asphalt would be hugely inadvisable, as oil from the asphalt would lead the EPDM layer above it to swell and disintegrate. 

As a result, the roof could soon start leaking – maybe even in multiple places. This is why, whenever professionals from our Yorkshire roofing company install EPDM rubber roofing on a property, they are always careful to secure the EPDM material to either insulation or fibreboard. 

This is a tried, tested and trusted approach for achieving a watertight result – and helping to extend the length of time before the roofing would need replacing. 

There are various flat roofing materials on the market, potentially making you indecisive about which of them to choose for your residential or commercial roof. The material featuring most often on flat roofs in the UK is probably, however, roofing felt. 

This is largely because of the material’s relatively low upfront cost. However, felt roofing is generally expected to last about 15-20 years – making it a less reliable long-term investment than EPDM roofing, the anticipated lifespan of which can be 40-50 years in similar circumstances. 

While modified bitumen roofing is another flat roofing option, the manner in which it is applied – where the adhesive is heated as the material is unrolled – makes such roofing a fire hazard. It also fails to resist scuffs or tears as readily as EPDM roofing.

EPDM is one of the most eco-friendly roofing products available. This is for several reasons, including that it is fully recyclable. As no toxic adhesives are used in applying EPDM roofing and it does not contain any bitumen, EPDM roofing is also non-toxic. 

Arranging for EPDM roofing to be installed on your residential or commercial building would have encouraging implications for any greenery – like lawns or flowers – you maintain just outside it. Rainwater you collect from the roof to water this greenery will not have been polluted by this roof.

The non-toxic composition of EPDM roofing also makes it a suitable foundation for a roof garden, where mosses and grasses are added to a flat roof to help guard against heat loss. Our roofing contractors can install both EPDM roofing and a roof garden on your Leeds or Bradford property.

The short answer is: yes, but only to an extent. EPDM roofing is capable of taking light foot traffic both during and after installation – enabling you to, for example, walk across the roof to undertake occasional cleaning and maintenance.  

However, you should still act with caution when you do walk on the roof. This includes not wearing any purposefully studded footwear – or footwear where small objects, like small stones, have become stuck to the underside. Any such footwear could too easily pierce the single-ply membrane.

If you want your rubber roof to be capable of handling higher foot traffic, there are various options – such as having tiles or decking installed directly onto the membrane. 

The acronym EPDM stands for ‘ethylene propylene diene monomer’, reflecting that this synthetic rubber comprises ethylene, propylene and diene monomers. 

EPDM roofing was first introduced in 1962, and it increased in popularity in the 1970s as asphalt-based roofs became prohibitively expensive due to the Middle East oil embargo. 

EPDM rubber is made through various means, including the use of slurry and gas – and, over time, improvements in the production process have doubtlessly helped to enhance the energy efficiency of EPDM rubber roofing.

There are several types of flat roofs on the market, and their durability and life expectancies depend on the flat roofing material used.

EPDM rubber roofs are suitable for commercial buildings, residential buildings and industrial buildings because the roofing material is water resistant no matter how abrasive the climate is. With EPDM roofing, there’ll be no need for the extra cost of spray-on roof coating for your roof surface.

When it comes to flat roof solutions, this type of roof can’t be beaten. The warranty is better than the usual 10- to 20-year warranty, too. Typically, the homeowner can expect their EPDM rubber flat roof to last for a period of time of up to 40 years with proper maintenance. The materials used are easy to repair too, so you can install them along a parapet wall, for example, and you won’t have to worry about a roof replacement or a shorter lifespan.

Green roofs can add an extra special finish to a residential or corporate building. Installations for this type of flat roof construction actually increase the flat roof life expectancy because it’s suitable for a choice of climates and offers great protection from water damage. Because this type of roof has a pleasing finish and improves the appearance of buildings, it’s an especially popular flat roofing choice and can last for 50 years or more, with a manufacturer’s warranty of a 20 or 25-year warranty.

Commercial flat roofing is the most standard of the flat roof options. It refers to flat roof materials and commercial roof repair, in general, like the 3-layer system and 2-layer system of a built-up roof.

The material used

A rubber roof will be more lightweight than concrete roofs, green roof kits or fibreglass roofs, making its installation and maintenance a lot easier. Water ingress and ponding water are also unlikely to be an issue as EPDM material offers a good level of resistance to the elements. Black plastic wall trims are often used on the wall at the edge to give the appearance of a jointless finish.

The climate 

Green roof systems have been known to benefit buildings from time to time by improving the lifespan of the waterproofing membranes contained underneath. So the rain doesn’t damage these roofing supplies in any way and actually benefits the covering over time.

Maintenance 

Neither green nor rubber roofing requires a lot of maintenance, which is why they’re so popular, but a certain amount of checking is necessary every year or so to ensure there’s no debris caught on the roof or any leaks. Whilst a traditional built-up system offers a mineral finish, for example, a simple roofing calculator can show you the price difference in opting for newer flat roofing solutions.

Now that you know how long a flat roof typically lasts, and some of the factors that can affect your roof, get in touch with Flat Roof Experts today to find out more about our flat roofing products.