How To Prepare Your EPDM Roof For Autumn & Winter

With the Autumn well and truly upon us, and winter fast approaching, it is essential that as a homeowner, you ensure that your EPDM roof is watertight and prepped to endure the great British winter. Even the smallest issue that may not seem like a priority in the summer, may develop into more serious issues with a risk of major and expensive damage during the winter.  In this blog post, we are going to be giving you some up to date tips and tricks on how to prepare your epdm roof for the autumn/winter season. 

Clean any debris from the roofs surface

During the winter months, strong winds will move all kinds of dirt and debris around your flat roof’s surface. It is important to keep on top of a regular sweep, as if this is left to build up over the coming months, your roof can fall victim to blockages of roof gutters and downspouts. Stagnant water can gather in blocked gutters, which over time can cause your roof to rot. Leaking through to the interior can also be caused by added weight on the roof by debris and water so it is important to check and clear the surface regularly. 

Make sure your roof is insulated

Ensure your roof or attic is properly insulated in the summer or autumn to ensure ultimate warmth during the colder months. Making sure the inside of your roof is well insulated can help stop any ice damage or condensation issues through heat loss. When your roof is colder or even frozen, you are more likely to experience mould, leaks and cracks. 

Be vigilant of when your roof needs to be repaired

Summer in the UK is usually around 3-4 hot days and then it's done. However, this year the country seemed to be blessed with heatwave after heatwave. During the hottest days, your roof is blasted with UV rays that over time, can risk weakening your roof's surface if it is not fitted with an EPDM membrane. EPDM has a lifespan of 50 years, so is the perfect choice when looking for it to last as it is not susceptible to weather damage. However if any unexpected issues occur it is imperative to have it replaced or repaired as soon as possible. 

Trim surrounding trees

Similar to the debris, broken or fallen tree branches can cause damage to your roof and may cause moderate to severe damage to your roof. This is especially likely to happen during the autumn time when the leaves are shedding and the UK experiences high winds. 

As long as the tips above are followed, your roof, whether EPDM or not, should survive whatever weather the UK throws at us. To shop our range of EPDM membranes and rubber roof tools, head over to our website.