Choose Rubber Roofing As An Alternative

Is it time to re-roof your home? Thinking about the same old roof material that was originally used? Try an alternative: rubber roofing. Rubber roofing comes in slate gray or black so your home won’t look like red balls. One of the makers of rubber roofing is Firestone so you know it is good material. It takes less time to install which means you save money on the labor costs. Rubber roofing can be installed over your existing roof so you don’t have to remove it. The article that follows is very informative about using rubber roofing as an alternative. Hope you enjoy it, and if nothing else you can surprise your friends with all the knowledge you have about rubber roofing.

You may have heard of tin roofs, slate roofs, shingle roofs – but rubber roofing? Would that just be for lunatic asylums? No. You can get rubber roofing for any building. And don’t worry about your roof looking like a bunch of schoolyard read balls – unless you really want it to. Rubber roofing is usually a slate gray or black.

Why Choose Rubber Roofing

When you choose rubber roofing, you are not choosing to have your roof be made of 100% rubber. But the roofing material, often called thermoset EPDM roofing, is made largely of rubber polymers, kind of like a good tire. In fact, one of the major makers of rubber roofing is Firestone – yes, the same Firestone that makes tires. Why would you want to choose rubber roofing?

Easier to install than separate shingles or even corrugated seam roofing. Less time for installation means less you have to pay a roofer for labor costs. You don’t necessarily need your old roof ripped off to benefit from rubber roofing. Rubber roofing can be laid over your old roof…as long as your old roof is still sound. If it has gaping holes in it, then you really should get it removed. Rubber roofing is biodegradable and considered “green” in the UK. Easy to maintain Long lasting, because rubber roofing isn’t rigid. It breathes more and therefore incurs less stress than say, asphalt roofing shingles, because they can cope with weather changes. So extreme weather does not bother rubber roofing. Best for flat roofs, as most shops and commercial buildings have flat roofs. Long lasting – some rubber roofing will last up to 50 years. Firestone EDPM roofing claims that it will never crack or split.

Fun Facts

The first rubber roof was put up in 1980 in Wisconsin, and is still there for you and the birdies to admire today. A major hotel called the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai is a lovely curved building somewhat resembling a sailboat on the Dubai coast. It’s roof? you guessed it – rubber roofing! The Barclaycard Headquarters in England also has a rubber roof. Barclaycard is one of England’s major banks. Sometimes a single sheet (20 by 100 feet) can cover a flat roof without a lot of cutting and adjusting. Some rubber roofing manufacturers won’t sell their products to just any old contractor. They need to be certified by the rubber roofing maker before they are allowed to sell.

Rubber roofing is a great alternative to the standard roofing material. Installation is easier then shingles and takes less time. This is going to save you money. If you want to use biodegradable "green" material then rubber roofing meets your needs. Extreme weather won’t bother the rubber roofing and it will last up to 50 years. Since Firestone EDPM roofing says it won’t crack or split then you know you have chosen a really good product. Major hotels are now using rubber roofing. Only certified contractors are able to sell rubber roofing. If you enjoyed this article then check out the other roofing articles on this web site.