How To Care For A Flat Rubber Roof
Rubber roofing is designed to last and has a life expectancy of over 50+ years. Due to its exceptional weather resistance in a whole host of conditions and its durability, rubber roofing is the ideal choice when replacing an outdated roofing system.
To ensure your rubber roof lives up to its life expectancy and stays in good condition, it is important to know how to take care of your flat rubber roof. Here at Rubber4Roofs we’ve put together some tips on how you can maintain your rubber roof to extend its life even further.
Periodically carry out visual checks
The beauty of an EPDM roof is that they require very little maintenance and will withstand years of neglect without any leaks or issues. However, it’s always a good idea to periodically carry out visual checks on your roof. This way you can spot any repair work before they become a serious issue. Luckily most EPDM repairs are very easy to carry out and can be done by the homeowners themselves. A useful tip is to also check up on your rubber roof after a particularly bad spell of weather such as a storm as this will help to spot any little concerns.
Sweep your flat roof to remove any debris
As the seasons change one of the easiest & quickest pieces of maintenance you can carry out is sweeping your flat roof. Due to the obvious nature that the roof is “flat”, this means that the roof can collect more leaves, twigs, dirt and debris than a pitched roof. If left for years and years this can become a safety hazard and can also prevent the rubber roof from working to its best ability, as this can cause pools of water to sit stagnant on the roof. It’s also important to periodically clean any gutter and drains to allow the water to flow off the rubber roof.
Check your roof for blisters
It is very rare that blisters can appear on your flat roof and only occurs when moisture is trapped between the roof and membrane. It typically arises in hotter climates as the moisture expands (luckily with the weather we have in the UK this isn’t common).
Every once in a while we recommend looking out for blisters to keep your rubber roofing working effectively. If any issues are spotted we recommend contacting a roofing professional to resolve the issue.
Maintain Surrounding Trees
This task is quick and simple and how often you carry this out depends on if and how many trees you have near your rubber roof. If your property is in the vicinity of trees it can increase the amount of debris that falls on your flat roof. Such as leaves, twigs, dirt and moss. To try and manage this it is a good idea to trim and cut down overgrown trees close to your home. This will avoid debris building up and potentially damaging your rubber roof.
Clean Your Rubber Roof
Rubber roofs are very low maintenance however sometimes you may like to give it a clean to keep it as good as new for as long as possible. A handy tip when cleaning your rubber roof is to use dish soap such as fairy liquid and water. With a soft or medium bristle brush, gently brush the liquid onto the rubber roof to remove stains and residues of dirt. It is vital to avoid using harsh chemicals, any products with citrus ingredients or petroleum solvents as this can seriously damage the flat roof. Once you have cleaned the roof, simply leave it to dry.
Rubber roofing is one of the easiest roofing types to maintain and will withstand extreme weather conditions, high temperatures and also years of little to no maintenance. However, when you do feel like it’s time to give your rubber roofing a simple sweep and clean, we hope you find out aftercare tips helpful. By following these tips from our experienced and knowledgeable team we hope that your rubber roof stays in great condition and is a wonderful addition to your home. If you’d like any additional help or have any questions on how to care for your rubber roof, get in touch with our team on 024 7666 7234 .
