[box border=”full”]Useful guest post from Findley Roofing & Building about the popular finish for garden room roofs.[/box]
Building a garden room increases your living space. For a fraction of the cost of building an addition to your home, you can have a garden room that can function as a gym, home office, or living room.
But how do you pick a roof for your garden room that isn’t going to cause you maintenance headaches?
One of the easiest to maintain roofing solutions is an EPDM roof – a cost-effective option for those who want a durable, environmentally friendly and wind resistant roof that will last for many years.
What is an EPDM Roof?
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a rubber roof that’s applied in rolls to a low slope or flat roof. EPDM is a rubber membrane that is extremely durable, making it the perfect choice for roofs.
EPDM was originally designed for industrial buildings, but builders eventually realized that it’s a great option for homes as well.
Why Choose an EPDM Roof for your Garden Room?
Your garden room, whether it’s attached to your house or a standalone structure, has different roof requirements than your house. You might have environmental, maintenance, or strength concerns that you need to take into consideration before deciding what type of roof to install.
At Findley Roofing & Building we install several EPDM systems every week and it is our recommend product in applications such as garden rooms for the following reasons:
Weight
Many garden rooms are simple structures, without an engineered foundation. A heavy roof might be too much weight for the structure, which is often a simple wood or composite wall, not reinforced with structural integrity. With a single ply rubber roof, an EPDM roof is the lightest viable option, keeping the structure of your new garden room safe from collapse.
Weatherability
The roof of your garden room is the only thing standing between you and a foot of water. Hail and high winds may cause major damage to the integrity of the roof of your garden room, eventually allowing moisture to seep into the building. An EPDM roof will resist winds up to 120km/hour. The puncture resistance feature of an EPDM roof is perfect for hail prone environments. EPDM is also an exceptionally strong water protectant and any small leaks are easily repaired.
Longevity
An EPDM roof lasts twice as long as an asphalt roof. The material is flexible and doesn’t break down and it can last for 30-50 years. It is also easy to repair if you get any punctures in your roof.
Environmentally responsible
EPDM roofs are an environmentally responsible choice. They cost little in the way of energy to produce, and even less to install. They also last twice as long as an asphalt roof and almost four times the lifespan of a felt roof. You can even fully recycle your EPDM root at the end of its life cycle into something like a walkway.
Installation Tips
Installing an EPDM roof on your garden room doesn’t require heavy equipment, but it does command a well-made product and a qualified installation. My favourite manufacturer is Firestone however I would ask your installer what he prefers to install as the quality of the workmanship is just as important as the brand of material used. The most frequent problem with installations are the seams, so it is worth letting the installer use a product they recommend and are familiar with fitting.
Now we can get rubber manufactured in 6m wide rolls and 16m long, and less seams means less to go wrong. It’s now the norm to get full EPDM roofs done in one piece owing to advancements in the manufacturing and delivering process.
Colour Choices
EPDM is available in a variety of colours, with white and black as the most popular.
Black EPDM is the perfect choice for those living in a cold climate as the black attracts the sun in the cold winter months, causing a reduction in heating costs for your garden room.
White EPDM is great for those living in a warmer climate since the white reflects back into the atmosphere, making you use less energy to cool your garden home. White is also a great option if you plan to use your garden room only in the hot summer months.
If you aren’t sure which colour to use, talk to an EPDM roofing professional.
EPDM roofs are a fantastic option for those who want a weather resistant, maintenance free roof for their garden room and the I would personally recommend
