Description
The standard-thickness EPDM rubber roofing membrane, cut to size and supplied as one continuous sheet — no seams, no joining on the roof, and nothing rounded up to a full roll. It bonds cold with adhesive, so there is no torch and no naked flame anywhere in the job. Twenty widths from 0.53m to 15.24m, any whole-metre length up to 30m, and the same rate per square metre whichever width you pick.
Not sure what size you need? Send us the roof dimensions and we will tell you the exact width, length, adhesive quantity and trims before you spend anything.
Work out my size and price L-shapes, pitched roofs, skylight voids and every trim quantity.
Why buy it cut to size rather than from a merchant
This is the same BBA-certified EPDM a builders' merchant sells. The difference is what you are asked to buy, and what you are left with afterwards.
| Buying here | Typical merchant | |
|---|---|---|
| Size supplied | Cut to your length, at whichever of twenty stock widths fits | Fixed widths, sold by the linear metre or a full 30.5m roll |
| Choice of width | Twenty widths, so most roofs land on or just under a stock width | Commonly four stock widths — more offcut you paid for |
| Cutting charge | None | Often charged, or cutting refused entirely |
| Minimum order | None — one metre is fine | Frequently a full roll or a trade account |
| Delivery | Free to UK mainland, tracked, any order size | Charged — commonly from £9.95 — or collection only |
| Pricing | Same rate per m² at every width, VAT included | Ex-VAT, varies by width, trade tiers |
| Technical help | We check your measurements before you order | Counter staff, rarely roof-specific |
We would far rather answer a question before you order than process a return afterwards — and cut membrane cannot be returned, which is exactly why we check first.
How the pricing works
Pick a width, then set the length in metres. Every width works out at exactly the same rate per square metre — a 0.53m offcut and a 15.24m sheet cost the same per m². No cutting charge, no minimum order, no trade account needed, and the price you see already includes VAT. If you need a width between two on the list, you are supplied and billed at the next stock width up — the roll is only made in those widths, and the offcut cannot be sold on.
Length is billed in whole metres. Ask for 5.3m and you are charged for 6m, because that is what comes off the roll and the remainder cannot be sold on. The price box shows you the billed size before you add to the basket, so what you see is what you pay. Width is billed at the stock width supplied — the one you pick from the list, or the next one up if you enter a width in between.
Worked example: a 4.04m wide sheet at 6 metres long is 24.24 m². Multiply that by the per-m² rate and you have the delivered price — that is the whole calculation.
What size should you order?
Measure the roof deck, then add 150mm to each of the four sides so the rubber can dress down over every edge. Take the next width up from the list, and round the length up to whole metres — or type your exact width and we will take the next one up for you.
Where the roof has an upstand, a kerb or a wall, add more than 150mm on that side — the membrane has to climb it as well as turn the edge. If you are between two widths, always take the larger: surplus trims off in seconds with a knife, but a sheet 50mm short cannot be rescued.
Which thickness do you need?
1.2mm is the right answer for most roofs — extensions, garages, garden rooms, dormers and porches. Step down to 1.0mm for sheds and small outbuildings nobody walks on, or up to 1.5mm for commercial spans and roofs that take foot traffic. Being honest about it: extra thickness buys resistance to damage, not extra waterproofing — how the sheet is bonded and detailed is what keeps water out. The thickness guide goes into the detail.
How it compares with the alternatives
| EPDM rubber | Mineral felt | GRP fibreglass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | Up to 50 years | 10–15 years | 20–30 years |
| Seams on a typical roof | None — one sheet | Multiple lapped joints | Bandaged joints between boards |
| Installation | Cold adhesive, no flame | Usually torch-on | Resin and catalyst, weather critical |
| Standing water | Unaffected | Degrades | Tolerated |
| Movement and frost | Stays flexible −40°C to +120°C | Cracks and blisters | Rigid — can crack at joints |
| Suits a competent DIYer | Yes | No — hot works | Rarely |
Over fifty years, felt on the same roof would typically be stripped and replaced five times or more. That is the real comparison, not the price of a single covering.
What arrives
- One continuous sheet of 1.2mm EPDM, cut square to the width and length shown in your order
- Rolled, wrapped and labelled with the size, on a tracked courier
- Our installation manual and install-day checklist, free to download below
Membrane only — adhesive, trims and sealant are ordered separately so you are not paying for tins you already own. Everything you need is listed below.
Specification
| Material | EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) synthetic rubber, single ply |
| Thickness | 1.2mm |
| Colour | Slate grey |
| Widths available | 20 widths: 0.53, 1.03, 1.53, 2.03, 2.53, 3.05, 3.66, 4.04, 4.57, 5.08, 5.55, 6.10, 6.55, 7.07, 7.62, 8.05, 8.55, 9.15, 12.20 and 15.24m |
| Maximum single sheet | 15.24m wide × 30m long — supplied in one piece, no site joining |
| Price basis | Per square metre, identical rate across every width. Length billed in whole metres. Width billed at the stock width supplied. VAT included. |
| Certification | BBA certified. Fire performance tested to BS 476 and EN 13501. We can email the full pack — BBA certificate, data sheet, declaration of performance, both fire ratings and the installation manual — for building control or your insurer. |
| Life expectancy | Up to 50 years |
| Temperature range | Remains flexible from −40°C to +120°C |
| Standing water | Unaffected by ponding water |
| UV and ozone | Stable — will not crack, peel, split or need re-coating |
| Suitable decks | OSB3, WBP plywood and other sound timber decking |
| Recommended fall | Flat and low-pitch roofs; minimum fall of 1:80 recommended |
| Fixing method | Fully bonded, cold applied — no heat or naked flame |
What else you will need
Membrane on its own does not make a roof. For a typical fully bonded job you also need:
- Water-based deck adhesive for the field of the roof, and contact adhesive for the perimeter and any upstands — the adhesives guide explains which goes where and how far a tin goes
- Drip trim for the gutter edge and kerb trim elsewhere, with a moulded corner at every turn — see all trims
- Lap sealant for finishing bonded edges
- Seam tape and primer only if the roof is bigger than a single sheet or you are joining to existing membrane
- An EPDM pipe boot for any flue, soil pipe or cable that passes through
- A DIY installation kit if you do not already own a seam roller, scissors and brush
Five mistakes that ruin an EPDM roof
- Ordering the exact deck size. Without the 150mm allowance on every side there is nothing to dress over the edge, and the sheet is scrap. Measure, then add.
- Bonding onto a damp or dusty deck. Adhesive needs a dry, swept, sound surface at 5°C or above. Sweep it twice and check the forecast before you open a tin.
- Using deck adhesive at the edges. Water-based adhesive is for the flat field only. Anything vertical or turned over an edge needs contact adhesive on both faces, left until touch-dry.
- Trapping air. Lay the sheet from the centre outwards and broom it flat as you go. Air trapped under the membrane shows as ripples and pulls at the bond.
- Skipping the corners. Moulded external and internal corners exist because folded rubber at a corner is where roofs leak. Order one for every turn.
Free downloads — no email address needed
Our own installation manual and a one-page checklist for the roof.
Delivery, dispatch and returns
- Free delivery to UK mainland addresses on every order, whatever the size — no carriage charge added at checkout.
- Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2pm on a working day.
- 1–3 working days on a tracked courier once dispatched.
- Membrane is cut to order, so once it has been cut it cannot be returned. Unopened, uncut stock items can be returned within 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
How is the membrane priced?
By the square metre, at the same rate for every width. Choose your width, set the length in metres, and the price shown is what you pay — VAT included, delivery free, no cutting charge.
Is the length rounded up?
Yes. Length is billed in whole metres, so a 5.3m order is charged as 6m. The price box shows the billed size before you add to the basket, so there is no surprise at checkout. Width is billed at the stock width supplied — the one you pick from the list, or the next one up if you enter a width in between.
What size should I order?
Your deck size plus 150mm on each of the four sides. Take the next width up from the list and round the length to whole metres. A 3.5m × 5m deck needs roughly 3.8m × 5.3m, so order the 4.04m width at 6 metres.
Do I need to allow extra for upstands or a kerb?
Yes. The 150mm allowance covers turning the edge on a simple roof. If the membrane has to climb an upstand, kerb or wall, add that height on top on that side.
Will there be a join or a seam?
No. Every order is supplied as one continuous sheet at the size you specify, up to 15.24m wide and 30m long. There is nothing to tape and no seam that can fail later.
What is the biggest single sheet you can supply?
15.24m wide by 30m long. Very few domestic roofs come close, which is why almost every job is seamless. For anything longer we supply two sheets and the seam tape to join them.
Is this the same membrane a builders' merchant sells?
Yes — the same BBA-certified EPDM. The difference is that a merchant sells fixed widths by the linear metre or a full roll, usually with a cutting charge and delivery on top. We cut to your length at a stock width, at the same rate per m² for every width, delivered free.
What thickness do I need?
1.2mm suits most roofs — extensions, garages, garden rooms, dormers. Use 1.0mm for sheds and small outbuildings, and 1.5mm for commercial spans or roofs that get walked on.
Does a thicker membrane make the roof more waterproof?
No, and we would rather say so. All three thicknesses are the same rubber and equally waterproof. Thickness buys resistance to punctures and foot traffic. Leaks come from poor bonding and poor detailing, not from the sheet.
What colour is it?
Slate grey. It weathers to a slightly matt finish and does not fade to a different colour.
What else do I need to buy?
At minimum: water-based deck adhesive for the field and contact adhesive for the perimeter and upstands. Most roofs also want edge trims with corners, and lap sealant to finish the bonded edges. Pipe boots, seam tape and primer are only needed if your roof has penetrations or a join.
Which adhesive goes where?
Water-based deck adhesive bonds the big flat field — it is rollered on and the membrane laid into it wet. Contact adhesive bonds anything vertical or at an edge: it goes on both faces, is left until touch-dry, then grabs instantly. Never swap them.
How much adhesive will I need?
As a rough guide, a 5-litre tin of water-based deck adhesive covers around 20 m² of deck. Our calculator works out exact quantities including the perimeter contact adhesive, or ask us with your dimensions.
Do I need a primer?
Not for bonding to sound timber decking. Primer is for detail work — bonding tape, flashings or patches to the membrane surface.
Can I lay it over my existing felt roof?
Sometimes, but stripping is better. Overlaying only works if the old felt is fully stuck down, flat, dry and free of mineral chippings. Stripping back to the deck lets you find and replace soft boards before you cover them for fifty years.
What can the membrane be bonded to?
Sound timber decking — OSB3, WBP plywood or planed board. Concrete, metal and insulation boards are all possible but need different preparation, so ask us first.
Does the roof need a fall?
A minimum of 1:80 towards the drainage edge is recommended, which is 25mm of drop for every 2m of run. EPDM tolerates standing water, but a roof that drains dries faster, stays cleaner and lasts longer.
Does it cope with ponding water?
Yes. EPDM is unaffected by standing water, unlike felt, which is why it suits older roofs where the falls are less than perfect.
Is it safe to walk on an EPDM roof?
For occasional maintenance in soft-soled shoes, yes. It is not intended as a walking surface for regular traffic — add walkway pads if the roof will be used. Never walk on it wet or frosty; it becomes very slippery.
Can it be laid in cold or wet weather?
The membrane itself is unaffected, but the adhesives are not. You need a dry deck, a dry day and 5°C or above, with no rain forecast until the adhesive has cured.
Which side of the membrane goes up?
Membrane of this type is the same on both sides, so there is no wrong way up. Just keep the face that touches the deck clean and dust free.
How long does one roof take to lay?
A competent pair on a typical garden room or extension deck will strip, prepare, bond and trim in a day. The slow parts are deck preparation and the edge details, not rolling out the rubber.
How do I join two pieces if my roof is bigger than one sheet?
Overlap the pieces by 75mm, prime both faces of the overlap and join them with seam tape, rolled hard from the centre outwards. Plan the seam across the fall and never through a detail. Our installation guide covers it step by step.
How long does it last, and is it guaranteed?
A life expectancy of up to 50 years, with a manufacturer product guarantee. Felt on the same roof would typically need replacing five or more times over that period.
Is the membrane certified?
Yes — BBA certified, and fire-tested to BS 476 and EN 13501. Email us and we will send the full document pack: BBA certificate, data sheet, declaration of performance, both fire ratings and the installation manual.
How is it cut — will the edges be straight?
It is cut square from the roll to the width and length shown in your order before it is packed. Small variations of a few millimetres are normal on rubber, which is one more reason for the 150mm allowance.
Can you cut an L-shape or work from a template?
We supply rectangles. For an L-shaped roof, order the smallest rectangle that encloses the whole shape and cut the notch on site — our calculator does that sizing for you and prices the trims for each edge.
Can I return it if I order the wrong size?
Cut-to-size membrane cannot be returned once cut, which is exactly why we would rather check your measurements with you first. Send the dimensions and a photo before you order.
How is it delivered and how long does it take?
Rolled and wrapped on a tracked courier, free to UK mainland addresses. Order before 2pm on a working day and it is dispatched the same day, arriving in 1–3 working days.
Guides that go with this membrane
- How to install EPDM roofing — the full method, start to finish
- Thickness guide — 1.0mm, 1.2mm and 1.5mm compared
- Adhesives and primers guide — coverage rates and flash-off times
- Fitting edge trims
- The full EPDM Learning Centre
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.