Travis Q
Member
We just finished the installation of our EPDM roof, and I thought I would share a few notes that would make it easier for someone else to do if they decided to go this route.
First, Geof was right about using twice as much glue as the instructions say. Thanks for the advice, Geof! using more glue makes it easier to move the rubber around after you get it down, and reduces the number of air pockets you will have.
Second, don't follow the directions about doing half the truck at once. Too much surface area to smooth out. What we came up with is this: roll out the roof on the truck before you put the glue down, and get it good and squared up (we bought more length and width than we needed so we could trim to size when we are done). Get rid of the big wrinkles by rolling it down with a dry paint roller. Then start at one end with a piece of tubing, and roll it up tight on the tubing. Then start back with the glue, and go about 3 feet at a time so it's easy to work out all the wrinkles and pockets. Using the tubing to roll the roof up on will help in keeping it straight and flat. A dry paint roller works wonders for spreading it out and getting rid of air pockets. USE LOTS OF GLUE!! Be sure that all of your screw heads are either below surface, or grind them down. We did this, but still missed a couple. Be sure all of our seams where plywood panels meet are filled with butyl rubber sealer, and are the same level so as not to create an air pocket. We spent lots of time on this. When you come to a AC or vent hole in the roof as you are gluing it down, cut a small "X" so you know where the hole is and to make it easier to walk bubbles to the hole.
This job is best done with 4 people. We did it with two, but it was not easy.
I got my roof and installation kit at PPL, and I am very happy with the product, the price, and the service they gave me. I will definitely do more business with them in the future.
Anyway, hope this helps anyone who is thinking of using an EPDM roof. Ours turned out pretty good for the first time. Thanks for everyone that gave input!!
First, Geof was right about using twice as much glue as the instructions say. Thanks for the advice, Geof! using more glue makes it easier to move the rubber around after you get it down, and reduces the number of air pockets you will have.
Second, don't follow the directions about doing half the truck at once. Too much surface area to smooth out. What we came up with is this: roll out the roof on the truck before you put the glue down, and get it good and squared up (we bought more length and width than we needed so we could trim to size when we are done). Get rid of the big wrinkles by rolling it down with a dry paint roller. Then start at one end with a piece of tubing, and roll it up tight on the tubing. Then start back with the glue, and go about 3 feet at a time so it's easy to work out all the wrinkles and pockets. Using the tubing to roll the roof up on will help in keeping it straight and flat. A dry paint roller works wonders for spreading it out and getting rid of air pockets. USE LOTS OF GLUE!! Be sure that all of your screw heads are either below surface, or grind them down. We did this, but still missed a couple. Be sure all of our seams where plywood panels meet are filled with butyl rubber sealer, and are the same level so as not to create an air pocket. We spent lots of time on this. When you come to a AC or vent hole in the roof as you are gluing it down, cut a small "X" so you know where the hole is and to make it easier to walk bubbles to the hole.
This job is best done with 4 people. We did it with two, but it was not easy.
I got my roof and installation kit at PPL, and I am very happy with the product, the price, and the service they gave me. I will definitely do more business with them in the future.
Anyway, hope this helps anyone who is thinking of using an EPDM roof. Ours turned out pretty good for the first time. Thanks for everyone that gave input!!
