EPDM membrane reuse following prior adhseive bonding?

piggoy · 26 Aug 2014

Hey guys,

My garage/shed has a flat roof with a EPDM rubber membrane bonded to OSB boards. Unfortunately the dimwit who built the garage built the roof literally flat with no relief whatsoever. As a result water pools for days on the roof and runs off uncontrollably down the sides creating damp problems inside.

I am planning the rebuild the roof with a small relief by inserting furring strips between the joists and OSB. This requires me to remove the EPDM membrane from the OSB boards. The EPDM is bonded using presumably contact adhesive. Is it OK to reuse the membrane by reapplying contact adhesive once the roof is rebuilt?

Thanks

cotswoldbuilders · 26 Aug 2014

It will most probably be water based on the main deck area, and contact at all edges plus upstands.

I don't think it will be reusable.

piggoy · 26 Aug 2014

cotswoldbuilders said:
It will most probably be water based on the main deck area, and contact at all edges plus upstands.

I don't think it will be reusable.

Thanks. The membrane is fairly new and was laid in the last two years. I've managed to detach a small corner without damaging it. Is it the case that the adhesives only work on unused membranes?

garyo · 27 Aug 2014

EPDM isn't cheap so I can understand you wanting to reuse it.

Depending on the size of the shed, I'd be tempted to look at methods for jacking up one side with acros and then sliding something in to give you the relief that you want.

Mw Roofline · 27 Aug 2014

You will have to turn the osbs' over and turn the rubber over to use them again. You'll just have to live with whatever it looks like though. Might weather off if water based was used, bit of petrol on a rag should clean it up.

piggoy · 27 Aug 2014

garyo said:
EPDM isn't cheap so I can understand you wanting to reuse it.

Depending on the size of the shed, I'd be tempted to look at methods for jacking up one side with acros and then sliding something in to give you the relief that you want.

Good idea. The roof is 6m x 3m. I fear it is too big to jack up but I'll certainly consider it if I can get hold of the the acro props.

garyo · 27 Aug 2014

You can get them on eBay for £15-£20 each then sell them for the same price when you're done. Then you can take your time with the job.

Xenon · 30 Aug 2014

garyo said:
EPDM isn't cheap so I can understand you wanting to reuse it.

Depending on the size of the shed, I'd be tempted to look at methods for jacking up one side with acros and then sliding something in to give you the relief that you want.

4.50 a square isn't terribly expensive. Even an everyday punter should be able to get it for 6 quid odd.

piggoy · 31 Aug 2014

I managed to peel back more of the EPDM membrane really easily. I can't tell what type of adhesive has been used to bond it but it is certainly only one type for sure. There is no border of contact adhesive with a central area of water based. Is there a way to tell the difference between EPDM bonded with water based and contact?

The jacking up method will be just too complicated. There are too many things attached to the roof joists including supports for a roller garage door etc. Plus many of the screws attaching the joists to the upright frame are obscured.

munchingB · 2 Sep 2014

if its on osb i would say that the contact adhesive would pull half the wood off with the membrane-the waterbased can still pull something up too but not as much-the compact adhesive should be properly brittle compared to the water based stuf that is suppose to allow for some movement in the roof boarding and membrane.

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EPDM membrane reuse following prior adhseive bonding?

munchingB

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