Rubber roofing is one of the most durable and best types of roofing materials that you can use on your home or other buildings. The installation process of rubber roofing is not much difficult but if you don’t know how to do it, it can be challenging for you.
This 10-step guide will walk you through everything from how to prepare and install your rubber roofing to making sure that the seals are airtight and water doesn’t seep into your house.
1. Measure and Estimate Material
First of all, you will have to decide how much material you need and order it. Once you have it, take measurements to determine how much will be needed for your project. Order more than what you expect to use to avoid last-minute problems.
Ask a professional to help with estimates if you are unsure of yourself. You can easily DIY EPDM surface roofing but it’s better to take professional help.
2. Prepare the Surface
To ensure that your job is done well, start by ensuring that your roof is clean and dry before installing anything on top of it. If there is any debris or dirt on top of it, remove them carefully using a broom or a soft brush so as not to damage or scratch the surface underneath.
If there’s mildew present, consider hiring professionals to do the removal before proceeding with your project. Look for a normal temperature when it’s not too hot or too cold.
Also, don’t install it if it’s raining, and wait until it stops and the roof becomes dry. Walk around your house, and check that nothing is overhanging above or beyond your surfaces, such as bricks or exposed wood framing.
3. Remove Old Roofing Material
Depending on what type of material your old roof was made of, you may need to remove it before proceeding with your new one. Old asphalt shingles, for example, must be removed with a power saw.
It’s best to wear safety goggles and work gloves to protect yourself from flying debris during your cleaning process. Remove any nails that are sticking up by hammering them gently with a hammer or drill set.
4. Install Base Layer
Most homeowners and roofing contractors use felt paper as a base layer. In order to do this, you will have to stick a 12-inch strip of felt paper over each seam, using a glue roller to press down each strip.
Once finished with all seams, spread adhesive evenly over the entire surface of felt paper and cover with another sheet. This will serve as your base layer. Allow 24 hours for bonding time before proceeding further.
After this, use an adhesive sprayer or roller to apply one coat of rubberized adhesive over the entire surface area of the newly installed base layer (felt paper).
5. Add Scrim and Sealant Coating
After thoroughly cleaning your roof liners, you should cover them with a plastic material called scrim, which will protect them from excessive exposure to UV light and other factors that could cause deterioration of your liner.
Your liner should then be covered with a layer of asphalt-based sealant coating; it is important that these two processes are done together or else you will end up damaging your liner.
6. Install the First Layer of Rubber Roofing
There are multiple ways to install your first layer. You can either use an air nail gun, a stapler, or a hammer. If you don’t have access to any of these tools, then consider using a heavy-duty staple gun instead.
That being said, it is recommended that you use one of those three methods, as they will create a much more secure hold than staples alone. Make sure to start at one end and work your way across until you reach the other side.
After this procedure, continue with installing rubber roofing. The same goes for every layer of rubber roofing.
7. Attach Underlayment and Gutters
If you choose to add gutters, now is a good time to install them. If you do not intend to use gutters, then skip ahead. Make sure that your underlayment fits well by cutting off any excess sheet with scissors or a razor knife.
Attach your underlayment to your sideboards using nails and metal brackets if needed. You can also attach it with adhesive or screws but these will be more difficult to fix if they are needed in the future.
8. Trim the Edges
Once all of your panels are installed, trim any excess that may have formed around your door and window openings. We recommend using a jig saw with a metal-cutting blade to trim the edges. This will allow you to bend your edging back and make it easier to install.
If you don’t have a jig saw, then use tin snips or heavy-duty scissors. However, make sure to use them carefully and don’t cut yourself. You can also use tin snips if you need more leverage than what scissors can provide.
It is best if there is someone helping hold down the panel while cutting so that it doesn’t shift or move during cutting.
9. Secure and Seal the Seams
After you have installed all the rubber sheets, it is time to make sure that all the seams are perfectly sealed and there are no leaks. To do this, you can use seam adhesive or seam tape. Make sure that you carefully lay the tape down on each seam and make a watertight seal.
After this, remember to double-check what you have done and apply more adhesive or heat if needed.
10. Final Check and Clean up
If you’re going to install your own rubber roofing, make sure you read through every instruction and follow them very carefully. Even if your new roof looks great on top, it will look unattractive if it’s covered with overspray.
Also, make sure you clean up any mess or overspray immediately, otherwise, it can be very difficult to remove completely. If you need help or have questions about installing a new rubber roof, don’t hesitate to call a professional.
These are all DIY steps to install the rubber roofing. However, if you don’t want to involve in this mess, you can always take help from a professional roofing contractor.
