EPDM roofing

[banjerbill]

Hi,
I am going to build a combined shed and summerhouse and am considering using an epdm sheet instead of felt. Anyone used it?
Can it be fitted without the expensive edge trims or are they essential to hold it down? I plan to fit a timber fascia so I am hoping this will be sufficient to secure the edges. Any observations/ advice welcome.

Bill

 

[RickN]

I fitted some to a big hutch I made ( 7ft x 3ft x 5 ft) , found it very easy and forgiving to work with.
I found it a lot less fiddly than felt, I also used wooden edge trims.
I just sealed the top join with roofing sealant just to stop any moisture penetrating to the rear of the edge trim really, so far so good.

one thing I will stress is use the recommended adhesive for the membrane you purchase, I did experiment with evil stick contact adhesive on a test piece and it bubbled the stuff forming blister like gas pockets under it, was most annoying although I think this was due to me not giving the solvent in the adhesive enough time to off gas while waiting for the tack.
After that I thought "Bugger that for a game of soldiers"and used the supplied adhesive which looks to me to be some sort of latex/acrylic type of substance which incidentally went on with no bother.

P.S. make sure the substrate of the roof is flat and debris free before you lay the membrane down, as its blooming annoying seeing little pimples on the finished surface. ( yeah I know it's only a shed roof, and you probably won't ever see them, but I would know they where there.....)

 

[screwpainting]

Just use a good pond liner. I did this about ten years ago on my workshop roof of about 12 x 5 mts. let it flop over the edges of the roof and cut it back after you have fitted fascia boards. I didn't stick mine down and just laid it over a breather membrane. It has worked a treat, dead cheap and no problems to date.


Steve

 

[NazNomad]

As above, I've used butyl pond liner but I stuck it down with spray-on carpet tile adhesive.

 

[rafezetter]

Really? pond liner... our sheds need doing, I should look into this - how do you think it might react with holes cut in for windows or something?

 

[RogerS]

Really? pond liner... our sheds need doing, I should look into this - how do you think it might react with holes cut in for windows or something?

I think the fish would enjoy the view

 

[screwpainting]

Anywhere that needs to be a watertight joint I did by using an aluminum strip about 20mm wide x 4mm thick and laid this on top of the liner material and screwed through this at 15cm centers. No way that is going to leak and to date, mine is as good as the day I fitted it. It's the best/simplest shed type roofing stuff/system I've ever come across. There are virtually no additional processes or sealants added to the project other than picking up the liner and laying it out, letting it overhang the roof area and only cutting off the excess when all the fascia work is complete!

Another additional benefit is the amount of beer you are compelled to ingest during the process of setting the job out, pondering (pond liner) and mulling things over.

Just go for it! Pond liner, roof, beer, boyish enthusiasm, what could possibly go wrong (homer)

 

[banjerbill]

Thanks for the feedback folks, very helpful. Wouldn't have thought of pond liner but on a shed it should be perfectly adequate.
Should be easier than felt on a 5 x 3 metre roof.

Bill

 

[NazNomad]

It's very tempting to want to stretch it slightly... don't.

That's why I spray adhesived mine as I went, to prevent stretching.