EPDM is a material that is commonly used in roofing, specifically in flat roofs. It is a blend of resilient rubbers, made by the same companies that make car tires. It’s very resilient, waterproof, and long-lasting. One of the biggest concerns with rubber is that it will eventually dry out. When it dries out, it loses its elasticity. It will begin to turn rigid and start cracking. Quality rubber does not dry out, even in the harshest sunlight. It will continue to be elastic, waterproof, and protective, even in bad weather, which is why it’s used for roofing.
Synthetic Rubber
Like the overwhelming majority of rubbers in use today, EPDM is a synthetic rubber. EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer. It is a blend of different synthetic materials that creates the synthetic rubber. Roofers in West Yorkshire use EPDM so often because it tests incredibly well in various roofing stress tests. It has proven itself to be incredibly resilient in the face of bad weather, fire, and the ozone. It also resists polar substances, which are substances made up of strong positive or negative chemical charges.
EPDM resists hydraulic fluids, most petroleum products, and most water temperatures. In short, it can resist pretty much anything it will face, which makes it perfect to use as roofing material.
Waterproof
Perhaps the most important quality of EPDM is that it is waterproof. The most common danger your roof will face will be rainfall. The rain will collect on a flat roof until it can be directed into a drain or evaporates, which is why your roofing material needs to be completely waterproof. In the context of a flat roof, part of being waterproof is being resistant to the weight of the water. Water can get very heavy and cause a roof to sag or gap. A properly installed EPDM roof will not do either of those things.