Hey all,
A question on EPDM roofing. I am stripping the alum. siding off my house and taking a PaintShaver to it. I’m now above the porch, and noticed the clapboards going up a few rows above the porch roof were rotten, so I need to replace them. Seems like a good time to also replace the old metal porch roof, as it does leak during heavy rains / snow melts. The roof is approx. 12′ x 16′, and has a built in gutter around the perimeter sloped to one drain hole. The roof drains generally o.k., in that there never is a huge pool of water anywhere except the odd time in the gutters. Any suggestions on how to:
a) finish the EPDM along the two sides of the house (i.e. how high up to flash, termination bar, etc.)
b) how to create a properly sloped, leakproof integral gutter like what is installed now.
c) confirmation on my assumption that the old roofing needs to come off and new decking (what type??) put down.
d) size, type of roofing to use considering I’ve never put a EPDM roof on before, and hope to on rare occasions, use this roof as a deck (i.e. to use as a lookout / snipers nest if my daughter’s boyfriend brings her home late)
e) I need to put a hand rail up, so what is the best way to fasten this down at the outside corner and not create a place for leaks. I’m thinking along the lines of a boot similar to what are used on roof vents, just for a 4×4 square post shape.
Thanks.
Replies
Greetings junk,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
I put an EPDM roof on when I built my garage, but I wouldn't call myself a roofer.
The common way to put a deck above an EPDM roof is to put down 2x4 or 4x4 "sleepers" and glue a strip of EPDM to the bottom surface, which then sits on the roof EPDM. Friction is sufficient to hold it in place.
What I did was the sleeper approach. I then built the deck on the sleepers, and attached the railing to the deck. The other think I did was to attach the back "joist" of the deck to the house, above the termination strip for the EPDM. Everyone said it was unnecessary, that friction would hold it in place, but given the size of the deck (20' x 30') I feel more comfortable having a little mechanical attachment.
EPDM will take a moderate amount of foot traffic - I'm assuming we are talking 060 here, not the 040 stuff. You can also put gravel on it to hold it in place and protect it - that's often done in commercial building.