If Your Roof
Is an Old Rubber Roof Pulling at the Walls
Shrinking sheets bridge the corner where roof meets parapet, then tear when the wall moves.
Start WithEPDM Replacement
EPDM Roofing ยท State College, PA
State College EPDM Roofing Contractor
Replacing Shrunken Rubber Roofs on Offices and Retail Rows
As a State College EPDM roofing contractor, we replace worn rubber roofs on brick offices, retail rows, and older flat buildings, seams and drains included.
- Wide rubber sheets
- Taped or adhered seams
- Drains reset with the roof
- Brick parapets reflashed
Fit Check
Does Your Building Suit State College EPDM Roofing?
State College EPDM roofing fits large flat fields and older brick buildings. These roofs show where it fits and where to start elsewhere.
If Your Roof
Spans a Large Field With Few Openings
Wide sheets cover plain roofs with few seams, which keeps the number of joints low.
Start WithFully Adhered EPDM
If Your Roof
Joins Several Retail Units Under One Roof
Shared drains and tenant equipment get scoped unit by unit inside one replacement.
Start WithEPDM Over Joined Units
If Your Roof
Carries Dozens of Units and Exhaust Fans
Crowded equipment roofs flash faster and stay tighter with welded TPO details.
Start WithTPO Roofing
Signs Of Trouble
EPDM Roofing Problems We Find in State College
Rubber roofs age in a few predictable places. Here is how each one shows up inside.
- Inside
Water at Exterior Walls
Damp drywall along outside walls often means the membrane has shrunk away from the parapet.
On The RoofBridged Membrane at Parapets
Rubber that tightens with age pulls off the wall, leaving a stretched sheet over an open corner.
- Inside
Ceiling Drips After Thaws
Leaks that show up as snow melts usually start at seams sitting in standing water.
On The RoofSeam Tape Letting Go
Old splice adhesive dries out, and lap edges open where water sits against them all winter.
- Inside
Crumbling Mortar Up High
Loose mortar near the top of brick walls lets water into the wall above the roof line.
On The RoofOpen Coping and Termination Bars
Coping joints and loose bars at the wall top let water run behind the flashing.
- Inside
Slow Drains Inside the Building
Gurgling or backed-up interior drains can mean the roof drain bowl has shifted under the rubber.
On The RoofLifted Clamping Rings at Drains
Clamping rings that loosen or crack let water slip between the membrane and the bowl.
- Inside
Pinhole Leaks After a Storm
Small new drips after hail or a dropped tool point to punctures in the field.
On The RoofPunctures and Crazed Surface
Brittle, crazed rubber cracks under foot traffic, and punctures multiply near service paths.
Build-Ups
EPDM Roofing Options for State College Offices
Rubber roofs go on in three main ways, plus a recover option when the old roof checks out.
Fully Adhered Sheets
Rubber glued to cover board suits office roofs that need a smooth surface and good wind resistance.
Mechanically Fastened
Plates and fasteners hold the sheet to the deck, a lighter build-up for plain steel decks.
Ballasted Over Loose Board
Stone ballast holds the sheet on decks rated for the weight, with few penetrations to work around.
Recover Over a Dry Roof
New board and rubber over one old roof, used only when cores find dry insulation throughout.
Who Gains
Who Gains From EPDM Roofing in State College
A new rubber roof reaches past the owner to the people inside.
Owner
- Parapet and coping details rebuilt with the field
- Fewer seams across big, plain roofs
- A roof sketch with every splice marked
Facility Manager
- Drains reset and clamped to the new sheet
- Patch material that matches the roof
- Clear walk paths to equipment
Tenants And Staff
- Dry walls along the building edge
- Quiet workdays with adhered systems
- No drips over desks after snowmelt
Rubber Roof Pulling Away From the Wall?
That gap at the parapet lets meltwater straight in. Send the address and we will check the edges and seams.
EPDM Steps
Steps for Replacing an EPDM Roof
Here is the order a rubber roof replacement follows.
Check Edges, Seams, and Drains
AssessWe walk every parapet, probe seams, open a drain ring, and core the field where water sits.
Choose the Build-Up
DesignAdhered, fastened, or ballasted gets picked from the deck, the wind exposure, and the building use below.
Strip and Prepare the Deck
Tear-OffOld rubber and wet board come off in sections, and soft or rusted deck panels get replaced.
Lay Sheets and Seal Splices
InstallLarge sheets roll out over new board, laps get primed and taped, and edges get terminated at the walls.
Flash Walls and Reset Drains
DetailsParapets get new flashing and coping, and every drain gets a fresh clamping ring before the final walk.
Related Systems
Other Systems for Neighboring Roofs
A rubber roof often sits beside a different system on the same lot.
White Membrane
TPO Roofing
Equipment-heavy roofs and cooled stores often switch to welded white TPO when the rubber comes off.
TPO Roofing details
Plant Roofs
Industrial Roofing
Production buildings behind an office need flashing sized for heat and vibration around stacks.
Industrial Roofing details
Sloped Steel
Commercial Metal Roofing
Barns and equipment sheds near a brick office get standing-seam steel with snow guards.
Commercial Metal Roofing detailsEPDM Questions
EPDM Roofing Questions From State College Building Owners
What Is EPDM Roofing, and Why Do People Call It Rubber?
EPDM is a synthetic rubber sheet used as the top layer of many flat commercial roofs, which is why it gets called a rubber roof. The sheet only works with the insulation, drainage, and edge connections around it, so we scope all of those together.
What Changes EPDM Roofing Cost Across Joined Retail Units?
The shared roof and each unit's details. The roof walk sets the price from area, sheet thickness, insulation, tear-off layers, deck repairs, edge metal, flashing, equipment, access, staging, and season. Shared drains and tenant units get listed so nobody pays for work twice.
Does the Average Lifespan of an EPDM Roof Tell Us When To Reroof?
An average figure says little about your roof. We check the membrane, seams, flashing, and moisture under the surface, then read the maintenance record. Those findings decide whether upkeep, a section, or full replacement makes sense for that building.
How Do EPDM and Freeze-Thaw Cycles Interact at Seams and Drains?
Freeze-thaw cycles work on any spot where water lingers, such as seams, drain rings, and wall flashing. Ice opens small gaps a little more each winter. The fix targets drainage and the failed connection itself.
Can a New EPDM Roof Go Over the Old One?
Only over one dry roof. Cores across the field decide it. Wet board or two existing roofs mean a full tear-off, because trapped water rusts the deck and soaks new insulation.
Should Black Rubber Be Replaced With a White Roof?
It depends on the building below. Cooled offices and stores often switch to white TPO, while unheated storage and buildings with heat loss concerns can stay with black EPDM. We talk through how each space gets used.
Which Details Fail First on an Old Rubber Roof?
Perimeter edges, inside corners at parapets, and seams sitting in ponded water usually fail before the open field. Drain clamping rings and pipe boots follow. Those spots get checked closely on every roof walk and rebuilt in a replacement.
Next Step
Hire a State College EPDM Roofing Contractor
Send the address, and we will check the seams, walls, and drains.