EPDM Rubber Roofing in Wausau, WI
EPDM is the black rubber membrane on a large share of the flat roofs in northern states, and there is a reason for that. It stays flexible far below zero, it shrugs off the freeze and thaw that cracks stiffer materials, and a well-installed EPDM roof commonly lasts 20 to 30 years. When EPDM fails, it is almost always at the details: seams that were glued instead of taped and have let go, flashings that shrank away from the wall, field membrane cut by a shovel or a dropped tool, or old ballasted roofs where the rock has been swept into piles. We repair EPDM with compatible primers and tapes, and we install new EPDM roofs fully adhered, mechanically attached or ballasted depending on the building.
What's included
- New EPDM roofs: fully adhered, mechanically attached or ballasted
- Seam repair with primer and seam tape, not caulk
- Flashing at parapets, walls, curbs and pipes
- Shrinkage and bridging at edges and corners corrected
- Punctures and shovel cuts patched with cured cover tape
- Ballast moved, membrane repaired, rock redistributed
- EPDM on porches, garages and additions
- Tapered insulation under new EPDM to stop ponding
- Manufacturer warranty options explained in writing
Sound like your roof?
Not sure what is wrong or what it should cost? If any of these sound familiar, tell us about the roof. We'll tell you what it probably is, then confirm it on the roof and give you a written price before any work starts.
- Seams curling open at the edges of the rubber sheets
- Membrane pulled tight across a corner or away from the wall
- Cuts or punctures after snow removal
- Ballast rock piled up and bare membrane exposed
- Older glued seams leaking in several places
Leaking right now? Protect the inside first
Move inventory, files and electronics away from the drip, shut off power to any light fixture or panel that is getting wet, and put down buckets or plastic. Keep people out from under a ceiling that is sagging with water above it. Don't send staff onto the roof during a storm, in the dark, or when it is icy or snow-covered. Low-slope roofs have skylights, open edges and slick membranes. Then request service: an active leak can usually be dried in temporarily until a permanent repair is possible.
From the first call to a dry roof
Tell Us About the Roof
The building, the roof type if you know it, and what is happening: an active leak, a stain, ponding water, storm damage, or a roof that is just getting old. Active leaks go to the front of the line.
Roof Assessment
We walk the roof, trace the problem, check the drains and flashings, and take core samples or moisture readings where the insulation might be wet.
Written Options and Price
You get a written scope and price. When more than one approach makes sense, repair, coating and replacement are laid out side by side with what each one buys you.
Work Done and Documented
The work is done to the manufacturer's specification, and you get a photo report and any warranty paperwork for your files.
You may also need
TPO Roofing
New TPO roofs with hot-air welded seams, and repairs to existing TPO, for warehouses, plants, offices, retail centers, schools and apartment buildings.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Repairs for the flat and low-slope roofs on Wausau-area homes and small buildings: porch roofs, additions, attached garages, dormer decks, cabins and storefronts in rubber (EPDM), TPO, modified bitumen and roll roofing.
Learn moreReplacement & Installation
New EPDM, TPO, PVC and modified bitumen roofs for warehouses, plants, offices, retail, churches, schools and apartment buildings, as a full tear-off or a code-compliant recover, with drainage fixed while the roof is open.
Learn moreEPDM Rubber Roofing — FAQs
A well-installed EPDM roof commonly lasts 20 to 30 years. Cold doesn’t shorten that much, since EPDM stays flexible at very low temperatures. Drainage, foot traffic and seam quality matter more. See TPO vs. EPDM vs. PVC.
Usually, yes. Aged EPDM can be cleaned and primed so new seam tape and patches bond to it. If the membrane has shrunk badly or the insulation under it is wet across large areas, replacement is the better value.
Both work in Wisconsin. EPDM’s strengths are cold flexibility and a long track record; TPO’s are heat-welded seams and a white surface that cuts summer cooling. The choice depends on the building more than the climate.