An absolutely phenomenal video. Thank you Rob, this was helpful to a lowly associate attorney working on a construction case in South Carolina. Cheers!
Good video other things not mentioned is EPDM membrane shrinkage usually an indicator that the membrane is aging. You mentioned the perimeter membrane attachment but not a Russ strip. Membrane wall wrinkles or raking maybe caused by building movement. Make sure the membrane hasn’t split or damaged. Drains confirmed all drain bolts and other hardware is in place. I also didn’t see emergency overflow drains or scupper that maybe required by code. You might also mention that an asphalt base mastic is not compatible with the EPDM membrane and should be immediately removed and replaced with compatible materials.
On the Epdm, some advice: Not all ballasted rocks use river rocks. There are other methods implemented as well, river rock is just the most common ballast. Less than half of all EPDM is adhered according to the ERA. The 3 main attachment methods are Ballasted, Mechanically Attached, and Adhered. EPDM is not always direct to decking, in fact the roof that you're on shows signs of polyiso under the membrane based on the patterns shown in the membrane due to the adhesive. See the lines running the length of the 4x8 boards? Thats a pattern common with polyiso. If you cant find the "lot number" check prefabricated pipe boots, square flashings, and termination bar for manufacturing stamps. That asphalt sealant along the corners and seams is incompatible with epdm and can cause leaks. Wood blocks used to prop pipes should never come in direct contact with the membrane, and should have a slip sheet. Same with metal stands. I wouldnt call the seams solvent "welded" as this implies they arent still two seperate pieces. When you weld pvc you fuse them together permanently, epdm is usually either glued/adhered or has a double sided tape. Its much less durable than what most people associate with the term "weld", as to "weld" is to join them together into a single piece/effective whole. Black lap sealant is used on new epdm during installation per manufacturing specifications all the time, and has been for decades. Miscolored sealant like that is not, but black lap sealant made for epdm is. You are right that is a repair but to say all sealant is means youre not familiar with epdm construction or mispoke. You should mention reinforced underlayment securement strip/RUSS/Fastening angle changes. This is essential every epdm roof to prevent bridging and tearing. Actually, before the band butyl should be placed between the boot and the pipe, then the pipe, then band, then sealant. Not mastic or adhesive, black lap sealant. Though many allow urethane as an alternative. Pitch pans should have the insulation trimmed back around the line sets and the lines spread with at least a ¼" gap between each wire/pipe before sealing. Had to get back to work ill finish video comment after
Thank you for such an in-depth comment. It sounds like you have extensive experience with roofing materials. I look forward to hearing what else you have to offer.
On the wood stands I forgot to mention if it is arsenic treated wood it can contaminate the membrane but you either need a lot of wood or you need ponding water that is collecting Runoff. Outside corners on flashing such as rooftop units can actually indicate the intended installation life. Typically curbs that only have a single layer of outside corner are a 15 or 20 year, add most manufacturers now require a two-layer Corner either a small Corner underneath a large corner or two large Corners that partially overlap. These will typically be for your 20 to 30 year applications. Wrinkles on the parapet wall either indicate installation issues or bridging. But it can also indicate are getting up underneath that coping due to an improper flashing which overtime can cause are under the system itself which can delaminate an adhered system. If someone sees a lot of wrinkles, it can be good to have a roof specialist up there to confirm it's not indicative of something much worse. Something I've seen come up from your guys before is that they're not quite familiar with coping that has double clip. So no exposed Fasteners, and it often gets flashed as needing fastened. So both the inside and outside facing wall has clip. Ideally, if it's a newer building, anytime you have a drain you should have a secondary overflow drain or Scupper that will catch any water that would build up above 2 inches should the initial drain clog. But this is AHJ dependent. I would also always check every scupper for sealant on the outside and every drain for clogging, loose bolts, or Josam Clamps. Along the drainage path of those crickets they have stands obstructing flow. Moving those 2' could improve drainage in some cases. Gas pipe should be coated safety yellow. Not just yellow. I love what they did up there, that's how they all should look. I know a lot of commercial roofers that are starting to sell that as part of their package for a new roof. I'd love to say it's to get it up to code and make it good but it's really just good $$$ and it prevents people tripping. Overall fantastic video. I just think we could expand a little more 👍
An absolutely phenomenal video. Thank you Rob, this was helpful to a lowly associate attorney working on a construction case in South Carolina. Cheers!
Good video other things not mentioned is EPDM membrane shrinkage usually an indicator that the membrane is aging. You mentioned the perimeter membrane attachment but not a Russ strip. Membrane wall wrinkles or raking maybe caused by building movement. Make sure the membrane hasn’t split or damaged. Drains confirmed all drain bolts and other hardware is in place. I also didn’t see emergency overflow drains or scupper that maybe required by code. You might also mention that an asphalt base mastic is not compatible with the EPDM membrane and should be immediately removed and replaced with compatible materials.
Those are excellent points. When we film another EPDM video we will make sure that we take them into our scripting considerations. Thank you.
On the Epdm, some advice:
Not all ballasted rocks use river rocks. There are other methods implemented as well, river rock is just the most common ballast.
Less than half of all EPDM is adhered according to the ERA. The 3 main attachment methods are Ballasted, Mechanically Attached, and Adhered.
EPDM is not always direct to decking, in fact the roof that you're on shows signs of polyiso under the membrane based on the patterns shown in the membrane due to the adhesive. See the lines running the length of the 4x8 boards? Thats a pattern common with polyiso.
If you cant find the "lot number" check prefabricated pipe boots, square flashings, and termination bar for manufacturing stamps.
That asphalt sealant along the corners and seams is incompatible with epdm and can cause leaks.
Wood blocks used to prop pipes should never come in direct contact with the membrane, and should have a slip sheet. Same with metal stands.
I wouldnt call the seams solvent "welded" as this implies they arent still two seperate pieces. When you weld pvc you fuse them together permanently, epdm is usually either glued/adhered or has a double sided tape. Its much less durable than what most people associate with the term "weld", as to "weld" is to join them together into a single piece/effective whole.
Black lap sealant is used on new epdm during installation per manufacturing specifications all the time, and has been for decades. Miscolored sealant like that is not, but black lap sealant made for epdm is. You are right that is a repair but to say all sealant is means youre not familiar with epdm construction or mispoke.
You should mention reinforced underlayment securement strip/RUSS/Fastening angle changes. This is essential every epdm roof to prevent bridging and tearing.
Actually, before the band butyl should be placed between the boot and the pipe, then the pipe, then band, then sealant. Not mastic or adhesive, black lap sealant. Though many allow urethane as an alternative.
Pitch pans should have the insulation trimmed back around the line sets and the lines spread with at least a ¼" gap between each wire/pipe before sealing.
Had to get back to work ill finish video comment after
Thank you for such an in-depth comment. It sounds like you have extensive experience with roofing materials. I look forward to hearing what else you have to offer.
On the wood stands I forgot to mention if it is arsenic treated wood it can contaminate the membrane but you either need a lot of wood or you need ponding water that is collecting Runoff.
Outside corners on flashing such as rooftop units can actually indicate the intended installation life. Typically curbs that only have a single layer of outside corner are a 15 or 20 year, add most manufacturers now require a two-layer Corner either a small Corner underneath a large corner or two large Corners that partially overlap. These will typically be for your 20 to 30 year applications.
Wrinkles on the parapet wall either indicate installation issues or bridging. But it can also indicate are getting up underneath that coping due to an improper flashing which overtime can cause are under the system itself which can delaminate an adhered system. If someone sees a lot of wrinkles, it can be good to have a roof specialist up there to confirm it's not indicative of something much worse.
Something I've seen come up from your guys before is that they're not quite familiar with coping that has double clip. So no exposed Fasteners, and it often gets flashed as needing fastened. So both the inside and outside facing wall has clip.
Ideally, if it's a newer building, anytime you have a drain you should have a secondary overflow drain or Scupper that will catch any water that would build up above 2 inches should the initial drain clog. But this is AHJ dependent. I would also always check every scupper for sealant on the outside and every drain for clogging, loose bolts, or Josam Clamps.
Along the drainage path of those crickets they have stands obstructing flow. Moving those 2' could improve drainage in some cases.
Gas pipe should be coated safety yellow. Not just yellow. I love what they did up there, that's how they all should look. I know a lot of commercial roofers that are starting to sell that as part of their package for a new roof. I'd love to say it's to get it up to code and make it good but it's really just good $$$ and it prevents people tripping.
Overall fantastic video. I just think we could expand a little more 👍
@@RoofingFacts Thank you. The goal of the video was to help commercial property inspectors better understand how to look at EPDM. roofs.
lots of great information Sir much appreciated. never had to deal with ice over here in texas but good to know.
Excellent video. Thanks!
Glad it helped!