There are dozens of potential roofing materials to choose for the roof of any given property. Many are made from similar materials, such as modified bitumen’s similarity to built-up roofing as well as asphalt shingles. However, rubber modified roofing products present some of the most interesting and exciting roof materials available in present times.

What are Rubber Modified Roofing Products?

Most roofing materials are constructed with several different raw materials. Over time, rubber-based materials have proven to be extremely effective as a waterproofing material used in roofing applications.

Rubber Modified Roof Materials

Some of the best rubber modified roof materials available today are:

• Rubber-modified shingles

  Some of the best asphalt shingles available today are actually barely asphalt at all, they’re half rubber. Many manufacturers include rubber in the recipe to improve durability and earn a class IV impact resistance rating. The Owens Corning Duration Flex line of shingles is an example of a great rubber-modified class IV impact resistant shingle. Some shingle manufacturers, like Malarkey, use recycled tires as part of their rubber-modified shingle manufacturing process.

• Rubber-modified tiles

  There are also some relatively new products that use rubber from recycled tires in their product. These roofing products are designed to appear like premium slate roofs. They are known to be very durable roof materials thanks to the recycled rubber being included in the manufacturing process.

Rubber Commercial Roofing Materials

The use of rubber is not only growing in steep-slope products like shingles and tiles. Rubber is also a major component of some of the most widely used commercial roofing products.

Some rubber commercial roofing materials used today are:

• EPDM roofing membrane

  EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is an extremely durable waterproofing membrane used primarily in commercial flat roof construction. EPDM rubber roofs are some of the longest lasting commercial roof membranes available, and can last up to 30 years when properly maintained. EPDM membranes can be adhered (glued), mechanically fastened with roofing screws, or ballasted with stone or paver systems to secure the rubber membrane to the roof structure.

• Rubberized roof coatings

  Coating restorations applied in liquid form over an existing roof are some of the most popular roofing types applied in modern times. A professionally installed roof coating can extend the life of your existing roof by several decades with a leak-proof warranty for a fraction of the cost of a full roof replacement. Liquid rubber coatings are one great coating option out of many types of coatings available, each with their own ideal uses.

Rubber Roofing Material in Colorado

Rubber-modified roofing products are a great option for Colorado properties for several reasons. The durability of rubber helps strengthen roofing systems to protect against the threat of hail. With the amount of hailstorms we receive along the Front Range, the durability of rubber is a great benefit.

The benefits of rubber roofing apply to commercial properties as well as residences. On Denver commercial roofs, EPDM membrane is a trusted and proven material that is known to keep buildings safe and dry for decades. And on residential roofs, rubber-modified shingles and tiles offer beautiful design and unbeatable durability for protection against severe weather.

Sustainable Roofing

With advancements in rubber recycling into new roofing products, sustainable roofing practices continue to improve. Product innovations, such as including recycled tire material in the manufacturing of roofing shingles, enable property owners to choose “green” roofing now more than ever. And the practice is likely to continue increasing even more, as the Sol Vista Roofing team recently discussed in our interview with American Recycler newspaper.

Similarly, roof coatings, such as liquid rubber coating material for flat roofs, allow commercial roofing contractors to keep unnecessary construction waste out of landfills. Some statistics estimate that 30% of landfill space is taken by construction waste, which then leeches into groundwater and contaminates fresh air. By coating existing flat roofs to a leak-free condition, we can extend a roof’s life by up to 50 years without tearing off the roof system and hauling the debris to the landfill.

Is a rubberized roofing product right for your property? The team at Sol Vista Roofing can help you decide.