EPDM and upstand sagging!

[moneypenny]

Just had a quote for EPDM flat roof, quoted £1600 for 15m2. with new boards.

Second contractor rang today to arrange visit but said that if putting EPDF on a flat roof with an upstand, eg. chased into a wall it can sag over time because it doesn't adhere and as this is more expensive than roofing felt it would defeat the object of going down that route, said if you are just folding down corners then it's brilliant! But will confirm that when he sees the job tomorrow.

This is a bit disappointing because I really wanted the Firestone, does anyone else know about this problem and if so is there a solution? The first contractor to quote didn't mention it.

Please help!!

 

[toptec]

Don't see how it can sag over time if it is fitted correctly. The upstand is glued with a special adhesive and the top chased into the mortar joint. I tried a piece on a brick and after a few days couldn't pull it off!

Mine has been up several months now and there is no sign of sagging.

You could easily go over board and fitting flashing as well but there really is no need. I wonder how many roofs he has done?

 

[moneypenny]

Thankyou for getting back Toptec.

Don't know how many he has done but his company is advertised as building and roofing including flat roofing found him on our Local Government 'Trusted Trader 'site.


Yes I spent ages on the internet searching for this potential problem and came up with nothing, I did, however, find 2 suppliers who recommended fastening the EPDM to the brickwork with a pre drilled aluminium T bar and then using traditional lead flashing on top. They didn't say it was to prevent sagging.

Did find a discussion on one forum though that shrinking in the winter should be allowed for.

Have a third contractor coming tomorrow who specialises in rubber flat roofs, see what he says.

 

[^woody^]

Avoid the second contractor as he either does not know what he is talking about, or just wants to persuade you not to have EPDM.

The up stand will be fine, and it can even be flashed in lead if required for extreme weather locations.

The upstand will be bonded to the wall, or if this will be difficult (loose/problem surface) then a plywood upstand is fitted first and the EPDM adhered to that

Also, the EPDM is flexible enough, so no allowance for winter contraction is required - after all it will be fully adhered to the roof deck

 

[moneypenny]

Contractor No1 was a cold call suspect they had been on Google Earth. Just a salesman; the brother in law, didn't inspect the roof just went into his sales pitch started at £1800 came down to £1600!

Contractor No2 would only fit rubber on a stand alone roof any upstand or awkward corners can be a problem, sometimes adhesive doesn't adhere or fails EPDM pulls out of mortar joint water gets down the back.
Felt done correctly is good, or if I wanted to go the extra mile from rubber, Fibre Glass would be an option. But he said if it was his roof he wouldn't be concerned as it was in good condition and didn't need doing yet ! I asked if I would get another winter out of it and he said at least told me what to look for when it would eventually be a problem or give him a call if I was worried and he have a look.

Contractor No3 who only does EPDM and green roofs said my roof was ok for at least another 2 or 3 years, asked him about the upstand didn't dismiss the problem said particular attention needed to be paid to any upstand. I asked him about the t bar and flashing he said they did that on industrial buildings but it doesn't look as neat. He knew contractor No1 gave wry smile said he had trained him for Firestone new how much he had quoted without asking me; No 3 said under a £1000, but not to worry about it yet.

 

[vinty]

Firestone supply their own brand adhesive, it will stick to anything as long as it is cleaned and primed. As for details like corners they supply a material called formflash which can be stretched and moulded into and around corners once it comes into contact with the primer it will never be removed from the rubber.

I did a firestone course in cheshire six years ago, the person to contact at firestones is carl Bailey he is the technical bloke who deals with customers and contractors queries, he can tell you what firestone can do and what it can't do.

 

[moneypenny]

Thanks for that info Vinty.