In the previous blog, we discussed the benefits of installing a TPO roof. In this one, we’ll do that for another single-ply roofing membrane called Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer rubber or EPDM rubber.
If you want to understand how the EPDM rubber works, think of the black rubber material used to seal your car doors, windows, and trunk. They are made of EPDM too.
Like TPO, EPDM is easy to install and can be adhered with adhesive, mechanically attached, or ballasted. EPDM is commonly used for locations that experience a lot of hailstorms as the synthetic rubber surface will bounce the hail off without damage. On the other hand, when hail hits the TPO membrane, it makes concentric circles that stay in place and compromise the roof’s integrity.
The biggest advantage of a TPO roof is its reflective property, but an EPDM roof, being black, absorbs light and hence is not ideal if you want to save AC costs. However, an important thing to note is that if your property plans to have a solar panel installation, a TPO roof will not work well as it will just reflect away the light. The better option then is to choose an EPDM roof.
Both materials entail the same installation costs, but an EPDM roof is known to last 25-30 years, slightly longer than a TPO roof. However, the black color can be somewhat off-putting to those who want a classy look on their property.
Further, TPO is thermoplastic, which means you can heat-weld the seams and repair them easily. All you need to do is clean the membrane and heat-weld directly to it. But EPDM cannot be welded and cannot be re-taped when the weather is too cold to use primer and adhesives. So you’ll need a temporary fix until the weather warms up.
Looking at this comparison, it’s easy to understand why TPO is fast becoming a popular choice among property owners. Although it might be slightly more expensive, it offers better performance in the long run.