Why use a rubber roof for commercial buildings?

Are you considering a new flat roofing system for a commercial building? Or maybe you are a contractor that replaces roofs for clients? In either case, rubber roof systems are a great alternative to traditional flat roofing systems.

Rubber roofs are exceptionally durable and are friendly to the environment. By installing a new rubber membrane, you can expect a long life expectancy with fewer leaks and other problems over the life of the roof. A new rubber roof system is usually less costly than a fibreglass or GRP roof and comparable in cost to a felt flat roof system.

The Rubberbond Fleeceback EPDM roofing system, for example, has a demonstrated life expectancy of 50 years regardless of the type of flat roof building involved. The materials used for the Fleeceback system are among the toughest available and are noteworthy for their ability to resist exposure to weather and sunlight.

The Fleeceback rubber roof systems are guaranteed for 20 years against rain and snow damage with some exceptions such as damage caused by falling trees, fire, etc.  This is providing that it is fitted by a professional and approved roofing contractor.

Rubber roof systems are widely used throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, and more than a billion square metres of rubber roof have been installed across the globe. The first roofs date back to the 1960s and they are still functional some 50 years later.

The rubber roof is remarkable in its ability to conform to the shape of the roof in every detail, yet it is at the same time highly resistant to cracking, splitting and tearing. The roof membrane is highly attractive, but tough enough to walk on. Rubber roofs are also safe as no heat or fire is used during the installation process.

Testing has shown that Rubberbond’s EPDM is the only membrane that maintained flexural fatigue resistance in all tests and locations. The Fleeceback EPDM materials have proven highly reliable with a history going back more than 15 years.

Other types of flat roof systems like asphalt, felt and bitumen have significantly shorter life spans particularly when exposed to the UK’s diverse climatic conditions. Often these other types of flat roofs develop cracks and leaks relatively quickly when compared to rubber systems. The repairs needed to fix non-rubber roofs can quickly mount up, so it is often more cost effective to simply install a new flat roof with greater life expectancy.

Many rubber roof suppliers can be found on the internet via major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. One should take care to make sure that the supplier has a good track record and is using materials that are proven in the field. Reputable suppliers should guarantee their materials in the same way that Rubberbond guarantees its Fleeceback system for 20 years. Another way to check for reliability is to ask people you trust who have experience with rubber roofing system suppliers.

In concluding, when you take into account all the factors including cost, life expectancy and ease of installation, rubber membranes are clearly the most cost effective roofing alternative for your commercial building.