Marked Increase in Unbranded EPDM Poses Risk to Roofing

Correctly installing high quality materials is the only way to ensure roofing is reliably waterproofed for the long term. One of the biggest challenges facing the industry at the current time is the marked rise in unbranded EPDM products within the sector. 

With winter fast approaching, thoughts are turning to the impact the unpredictable weather will bring upon roofing across the country. The initially-appealing cheaper unbranded versions of EPDM pose a high risk to homes and commercial properties, being much more prone to failure. 

What has caused the spike in subpar products usage

Across the construction industry, it is no secret that access to products has been limited over the past two years. This has been linked to ongoing stock and driver shortages and logistic delays caused by Brexit and the global Covid-19 pandemic. 

This, in many cases, has led to installers and property owners to turn to lower quality copies of popular branded products.

Why is the use of unbranded EPDM a problem?

Branded EPDM membranes offer a high-quality, durable waterproofing solution with an expected service life of more than 50 years. These include Firestone RubberCover, RubberGard and SealEco fleece backed EPDM. 

Effective, long-term waterproofing is essential to the longevity of all types of roofing projects and particularly those exposed to extreme weather conditions. Unbranded, cheaper versions of EPDM can pose a serious risk to waterproofing, not having similar testing procedures or offering a warranty in many cases.

How to tell the difference 

There are several ways to tell the difference between high quality EPDM and an unbranded alternative. Primarily, buy from a reputable supplier. For instance, here at PermaRoof UK, we import and distribute only branded EPDM products such as RubberCover EPDM and SealEco membranes and accessories.
 
These are the vital pieces of information to look for when confirming the quality of both supplier and EPDM products:

• Provision of a BBA certificate
• Technical and safety specifications
• Declaration of performance / environmental product declaration
• ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards

You can find further information and downloads in our Knowledge Base resource library here.

Knowing the difference between high and low quality products can often simply be a matter of ensuring that the right guarantees and warranties are in place. Ask for confirmation from the supplier, as reputable merchants should be happy to share knowledge and vital information with customers.

Read more about this on our corporate website here.