EPDM Learning Centre
Everything we know about rubber roofing, written down. Start with the guide that matches your project, or work through the fundamentals first if you are new to EPDM. Every guide is written for UK conditions, UK building practice and the products we actually stock.
New to rubber roofs? Read the complete rubber roof guide first: what an EPDM rubber roof is, what it costs per square metre, how long it lasts, its pros and cons, and how it is fitted.
Free downloads
Print these and take them onto the roof — no email address required.
Installation Manual (PDF) Install-Day Checklist (PDF)
The complete one-piece fitting method in nine printable pages — planning, deck prep, bonding, corners, trims, walls, details and aftercare — plus a one-page checklist with every step in fitting order and the key numbers.
Start here: the fundamentals
If you have not worked with EPDM before, these guides cover what the material is, which version to buy and how it goes on.
- Rubber roof guide — the complete UK overview: what a rubber roof is, cost per square metre, lifespan, pros and cons, and installation
- What is EPDM rubber roofing? — what the material is, how it compares with felt, GRP and single-ply, and why it lasts
- Types of EPDM membrane — standard, fleece-backed and cut-to-size, and when each is the right choice
- Thickness guide — 1.0mm, 1.2mm and 1.5mm compared, with a recommendation for each roof type
- How to install EPDM — the full method, start to finish
Guides by project
Detailed, project-specific method guides with quantities, timings and the mistakes that cause leaks on that particular kind of roof.
- Shed and summerhouse roofs — the simplest EPDM job, usually a single afternoon
- Garage re-roofing — stripping old felt, deck repair and a one-piece rubber covering
- House extension roofs — warm roof build-ups, falls, rooflights and Building Regulations
- L-shaped roofs and internal corners — how to fold rather than cut, and why it matters
- Gutter lining — box, parapet, valley and concrete gutters, including how to measure the girth
- Pipes and roof penetrations — pipe boots, kerbs, flues and cable entries
- Skylights and roof lanterns — building the kerb, dressing the membrane and the corner details, with section drawings
- Corner forming — the pig's ear fold, external wraps and corner patches, with photos of each stage
- Drain outlets — internal and horizontal outlets, how many you need, and the overflow rule
- Edge trim fitting — drip trim, kerb trim and moulded corners, and which edge gets which
Products and materials
- EPDM roof kits explained — what is in a kit and how to check nothing is missing
- Adhesives and primers guide — which adhesive goes where, coverage rates and flash-off times
- Flashing and detailing — trims, upstands, corners and wall abutments
- Drainage and ventilation — falls, outlets, overflows and cold-roof ventilation
Planning, cost and ownership
- EPDM roofing cost guide — what a rubber roof actually costs per square metre
- DIY or professional? — an honest checklist for deciding which jobs to take on yourself
- Lifespan and durability — what 50 years actually means and what shortens it
- Maintenance and care — the short annual routine that keeps a rubber roof working
Questions
- EPDM rubber roofing FAQ — the technical questions we are asked most
- Ordering, delivery and returns FAQ
Tools
Once you know what you need, size it accurately. The EPDM roof calculator takes your roof dimensions and works out the membrane size, adhesive quantities and trim lengths, including for L-shaped roofs and roofs with skylights. If you would rather build a kit piece by piece, use the roof kit builder.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us the roof. Send the dimensions, the shape and a photograph to sales@rubberroofuk.uk and we will tell you what you need and roughly what it will cost. There is no obligation and we would far rather answer a question before you order than deal with a return afterwards.