Rubber roofing

Rubber baby buggy bumpers. I’m rubber you’re glue, what you say bounces off me and sticks to you. Rubber ducky you’re the one. Rubber roofing. What? Rubber roofing? Stop pulling my leg, rubber roofing indeed. Yes there is. If rubber keeps rain and weather off a person when worn as a rain coat or rain boots, why not keep water and the elements out of a house as a roof?

Number one with a rubber roof is a myth . It’s perfectly fine to install rubber roofing over an existing roof. After all, it saves time from removing the old roof. And in areas where the old roof is intact there’s double protection. Wrong! There are good reasons a roof warranty becomes void if it’s installed over an existing roof. So get ready for that removal. It’s step one.

Rubber roofs can be easy to self install. Both rolls and shingles come in a variety of styles and colors. A perfect material for large flat roofs, rubber roofing will last for years, and won’t split or crack. Rubber roofing experiences less stress than other material shingles because it expands and contracts with the roof in response to weather changes. In fact the first rubber roof, which was installed in Wisconsin in 1980, is still in perfect condition after nearly three decades of service.

Adhesive is used to attach both roll and shingle rubber roofing to the roof. Therefore make sure the roof is as clean as possible with nothing protruding which could pierce the rubber. The surface must be dry and clean of oils or dirt. Use a blower or broom to clear away dirt and debris.

When the base is clean, the rubber roof can be rolled out onto the area being covered, and cut to fit over vents and pipes. It’s a mistake to apply adhesive before the rubber roofing is cut and shaped. Imagine securing portions of the roof only to find it doesn’t fit, or to develop a bubble or seam. When the roof is cut and fit then roll back about half to apply the adhesive. Apply it evenly with a roller, then give it time to become tacky.

It is nearly impossible to lift the roofing once it’s stuck to the roof. So once the adhesive has set carefully roll the rubber roofing into place. The first half will have to dry for about an hour before the second half can be secured.

The home or building now has a rubber roof. Wow.