EPDM Rubber Roofing in
Mercer, PA

The older homes and rural properties around Mercer often include sections that standard asphalt shingles can't handle: detached garages with flat or near-flat decks, additions that were built out the back of the house at a low slope, enclosed porches that were converted over the years, and outbuildings. These sections almost always have some form of flat roofing — original modified bitumen that was installed in the 1980s or 1990s, tar and gravel that was patched repeatedly, or a rubber membrane that was done right once but is now at the point of replacement.

Flat roofs don't announce problems the way a missing shingle does. They fail at seams first, usually at the perimeter or around penetrations like drains and pipes. Water gets under the membrane slowly, saturating the insulation board below it before it ever shows up as a stain on the ceiling of the room underneath.

By the time there's visible interior evidence, the insulation layer has often been wet long enough that it needs to come out along with the membrane. We assess what's under the existing system before recommending a scope.

Why EPDM Is the Right System for Mercer's Climate

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) is a single-ply rubber membrane that handles western PA climate conditions better than most alternatives. It's flexible enough to accommodate the thermal movement that comes with Mercer County's temperature range — from 5°F in January to 90°F in July, a flat roof deck moves significantly, and a rigid membrane cracks at the seams over time. EPDM stretches with that movement rather than cracking.

EPDM also performs well under ponding water, which is inevitable on truly flat decks. Properly detailed drains and crickets minimize ponding, but some pooling always occurs on flat sections. EPDM's composition is resistant to long-term water exposure in a way that some other single-ply systems are not. We use 60-mil EPDM as our standard residential specification — thicker than the 45-mil material that lower-bid contractors typically spec.

What Our EPDM Installations Include

• Full tear-off of existing membrane and failed insulation layers
• Deck inspection — replace any delaminated or water-damaged sheathing boards
• New rigid insulation board installation where needed for slope and drainage
• 60-mil EPDM membrane, fully adhered or mechanically fastened based on application
• Seams heat-welded or seam-taped per manufacturer specification
• Perimeter termination bars at all edges, sealed with lap sealant
• New drain flashings at all existing and new drains
• Pipe boot flashings at all penetrations
• CompanyCam photo documentation of every step, shared with you