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Rubber baby buggy bumpers. I’m rubber you’re glue, what you say bounces off me and sticks to you. Rubber ducky you’re the one. But could you fall in love with rubber roofing?  Rubber roofing? There’s no such thing as rubber roofing. Yes there is. Rubber rain coats keep rain off people, rubber shoes keep feet dry and warm, why not keep water and the elements out of a house as a roof?

First it’s time to dispel a rubber roofing myth. It’s perfectly fine to roll rubber roofing over an existing roof. After all, it saves time from removing the old roof and in areas where the old roof is intact there’s double protection. Wrong! Whatever the other reasons, no roofing manufacturer will honor a warranty of a roof that has not been installed on a completely clean surface. So get ready for that removal. It’s step one.

Rubber roofs can be easy to self install. Both rolls and shingles come in a variety of styles and colors. An ideal material for large flat roofs, rubber roofing will last for years, and won’t split or crack. Rubber roofing breathes and expands in response to weather changes, so it experiences less stress than other roofing materials. In fact the first rubber roof, which was installed in Wisconsin in 1980, is still in perfect condition after nearly three decades of service.

Both rolls and shingle rubber roofing is attached to the roof surface with adhesive. Ensure that the roof is as clean as possible with nothing protruding which could pierce the rubber. The surface must be dry and clean of oils or dirt. Use a blower or broom to clear away dirt and debris.

Once the base is clean, the rubber roof can be rolled out onto the area being covered and cut to fit over vents and pipes. It’s a mistake to apply adhesive before the rubber roofing is cut and shaped. Think about it, you’ll understand why. Once it has been fit then apply adhesive to about one half the roof at a time, rolling it back to apply the adhesive. Apply it evenly with a roller, then give it time to become tacky.

It is nearly impossible to lift the roofing once it’s stuck to the roof. So once the adhesive has set carefully roll the rubber roofing into place. The first half will have to dry for about an hour before the second half can be secured.

Now your rubber roof is in place. Wow.