untitled
Roger Woods Web Page
I had a recent email about rubber
roof "bubbles."
These are usually blisters where the
rubber roof membrane has separated from the substrate.
Before I retired, I held a Florida
state-wide roofing contractor license, ran the office of a roofing
contractor in Norfolk, VA for twenty years, on and off, and attended
the various factory schools for the rubber/pvc roof systems that we
installed. Got plenty of hands on experience in the field installing
EPDM roofing systems on buildings, and dealing with blisters when we
were short of roofers.
This condition must be checked out now
by an experienced installer. Don’t delay or put it off thinking things
might not get any worse!!! They might not, but you have no way of
knowing! If they do get worse you could be in deep doo doo.
You risk water getting past the metal
roof and into the roof insulation. That can mean some serious bucks to
repair. Dealing with the blisters will be cheap compared to the
alternative.
If the blisters are real small, and
not numerous, you may be able to keep an eye on them. They will
probably get worse. I found that blisters often result from a roofer
not properly preparing the surface before fully adhering the roofing
membrane. But, flying debris along the highway can also cut a small
hole, water gets in, the glue lets go, and a blister forms. If the
installer fully adhered insulation onto the roof deck then adhered the
roof membrane, and water gets into the insulation, it can wreak havoc,
depending up whether the insulation is closed cell, or not.
One thing you never want to do is let
some jerk, rip-off mechanic use regular asphalt roofing cement to patch
any holes around the blisters. This will destroy the rubber roof if it
is EPDM. If you have a warranty on the roof, it ain’t gonna be any good
when an adjuster sees the roofing cement!
Each manufacturer of the roofing
material will have its own recommended repair procedures and these must
be followed to the letter. For EPDM, they are usually about the same.
That may mean you cut open a blister, clean down to the substrate,
prime it, fully adhere the membrane, then fully adhere a large patch
that completely covers the area of the blisters.
Say you have some blisters fairly
close spread over an area of a few square feet. Example, an area 3’X
3’. If the manufacturer of the membrane has approved it, you may be
able to simply cut open the blisters, clean the area, prime, fully
adhere, then fully adhere a large piece of membrane over that area.
Then seal the edges of the patch with approved caulking material. Say,
four or five feet square. That will save you having to replace the
entire roof.
BUT, be prepared for the possibility
that you are going to have blisters all over the roof, especially if
the installer did not properly adhere the membrane, or you have a bunch
of road debris hit the roof.
Be sure you have a experienced,
factory-trained expert rubber roof mechanic give you his opinion as to
what you need to do with your roof.
Years ago I had a 12'X65' mobile home.
I got some of our Goodyear white EPDM membrane from my company. The
price was right. Free. Prepared the roof, as per Goodyear instructions,
fully adhered it, and never had any problems during the 20 years I
lived there.
I've never done any rubber roof work
on rec vehicles. But if any folks staying at the Slabs with their rig
have problems with their rubber roof, and it ain’t under warranty, I
ain't gonna sit there and let them get soaked from rain coming in--
what rain there normally is in the desert.
My consultation fee might be a bit
steep for some folks. Donation of a case of Milwaukee’s Best beer, or a
5-liter box of burgundy, and a large bag of ice. The donor is invited
to partake of the booze if they is so inclined. Plus, we is on Slabs
time. I play music at the Range so might take
a break to do
some picking.
Calling
all folks with out-of-warranty
rubber roof problems! Head for the Slabs. Bring some beer or wine.
Enjoy some good music picking. Get the roof looked at, on Slabs time.
(Big smile!)
Back
bravenet.com