Rubber roof

[90micromini]

Has anyone installed a rubber roof kit? Any input is appreciated!

[Back East Don]

I too am considering covering my roof later this summer and am very interested in the experience of others. That said, here is what I've come up with my little research into the subject.

I have been looking at both standard EPDM and Alpha Ply. All the kits I've seen so far list latex based adhesives and are intended to be applied to a porous surface and not over a metal roof. In doing searches, I've found a couple of places that sell adhesive for application on metal. What I've resigned myself too is having to piece together my own "kit" from various sources.

Interested in what other members have gone through.

Don

[Davidadro]

I too am going to use EPDM to cover my Dolphins roof. I plan to first remove most of the not used air vents, stink vents, roof rack, and the roof air in exchange for an inside cooling and heat unit that has vent pipe out the side. This will remove most of the potenital leak factors, make it real streemlined for better fuel milage, and create less damaging weight to the roof, and potential wind buffeting. To address your concern about EPDM sticking to metal, one can purchase an adhesive underlayment that WILL stick to the metal roof first, then use the EPDM adhesive and roll rubber to stick to that. Use RV trim moulding with roll inserts for the corner edges and I would use the flat moulding with roll insert across front and back edges and maybe each third of roof distance to insure the wind wont rip the whole works off. Here are some links;

Adhesive Underlayment:

http://www.cofair.co...waterguard.aspx

Bonding adhesive:

http://www.bestmater...l.aspx?ID=16077

Materials and instructions:

http://www.flatroofs...-Info-c-67.html

EPDM rolls at reasonable prices:

http://www.rubbershe...oofing_epdm.htm

Roll Vinyl trim insert rolls:

http://www.rvsupplyp...t_detail&p=8952

Metal Trim Strips in various lengths and styles:

http://www.rvplus.co...-14-164511.html

Hope these help you out some. Good luck, and let us know the progress. Peace!

Edited May 29, 2012 by Davidadro

[90micromini]

thx for kicking this around I'm still researching myself. another source here in Portland is www.interstatervmetalandsupply.com they also have rubber roof kits and supplies. And very good prices on metal trim of all the right kinds.

Edited May 30, 2012 by 90micromini

[Back East Don]

In reading the technical data on much of this, one thing I am realizing is that in order to adhere EDPM, I'll need to apply adhesive to both surfaces which seems like a pain. Given the added cost of the underlayment membrane listed and that it is not permeable, it seems to have limited benefit. I've contacted Best Materials and they recommended a different adhesive for metal but it is the same issue (has to be applied to both surfaces).

So far what I am thinking for this is to use 1/8" luan which is available at a specialty lumber source near me. Having used it to re-do my ceilings and walls, it is very light. Likely lighter than the polymer underlayment. The advantage is that it is porous and then I can use the latex EPDM adhesives that can be wet applied. This is much more forgiving. I've done plenty of work over the years with contact cement and laminates. At least those were solid sheets. I envision this coming out more wrinkled than a bad pool liner, never mind the mess of gluing both the roof surface and EPDM.

I know liquid nails will adhere the luan to metal. I can easily roto zip or even trim using a drywall saw or utility knife. I also figure it will be less expensive.

I really appreciate you input Dave. It pooled a bunch of data in one place but reading the techical material is what leads me to believe that it is going to be more effort than I am looking for. In the end, I don't do this for a living and so it needs to be novice friendly. Being able to lay the material on wet adhesive will be more forgiving and much less effort.

My 2 cents

Don

[Davidadro]

I guess its all about what one wants to put into it Don, as some investing into a roof want something that will give them one thing, and others choose a different path. The reason both sided are coated is that like contact cement, the material adhesion comes from the bond of the two sides of tacky cement, which insures the material will be stuck down, as no guarantee with a wet application due to not knowing if its gonna work until it completely tries to dry underneath the laid roof. Anyway, if you want to try a liquid, self leveling EPDM that one just pours on the roof and dries, here is a place to get it. Thanks for the input, and PEACE!

http://www.epdmcoatings.com/