How Rubber Roofs Work

by Rosalind Jackson

Care of Rubber Roofs

One of the biggest advantages of installing a rubber roof on your home is that it will last for a long time with much less maintenance required than with a traditional asphalt or slate roof. Depending on the quality of the rubber roofing system you have installed on your home, your rubber roof may require a very limited amount of maintenance -- some roofing systems claim that they will never crack or leak if installed properly [source: The Home N' Garden Center].

­However, if there is a problem with your rubber roof -- whether as a result of faulty installation or a breakdown in the rubber, it's usually a quick and simple fix. Like any roofing material, rubber expands and contracts as temperatures fluctuate. For leaks and cracks in the rubber, simply cover them with a latex tape or sealant. If a portion of your roof is especially wrought with cracks, you may want to consider patching it with new rubber shingles or with a smaller roll of rubber roofing.

To be safe, many homeowners with rubber roofs opt to coat the entire rubber roof system in liquid rubber or a similar liquid sealant to prevent upkeep and maintenance down the road [source: Gupta].

Now you are equipped with the basic knowledge of how to install and care for rubber roofs. For more complex rubber-roofing systems, it's probably wise to hire a certified contractor to install it for you; however, flat roof and other simple roof designs can easily be installed on your own.

To read about other home improvement topics, check out the links on the following page.

Ficus Elastica

Rubber is made from latex, the white sap of the rubber tree ficus elastica. The tree is native to Southeast Asia and South America and has been harvested in plantations for the production of rubber for more than 200 years. In 1839, Charles Goodyear developed a vulcanizing process for rubber manufacturing that created the stronger, more elastic and longer lasting rubber we use today [source: InfoPlease].

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Sources

  • ChikyMiky. "Installation of Your Rubber Roof." (Accessed 12/14/2008)http://www.chikymiky.com/roofing/roofing-information-articles.aspx?id=38
  • Firestone. "Over 1,000,000,000 sqm of proven performance." (Accessed 12/14/2008)http://www.firestonebpe.com/roofing/rubbergard/_en/
  • Gupta, Rachna. "Benefits of Rubber Roofing Systems and Rubber Shingles." (Accessed on 12/14/2008)http://www.buzzle.com/articles/benefits-of-rubber-roofing-systems-and-rubber-shingles.html
  • The Home N' Garden Center. "Rubber Roofing: A Top Alternative." (Accessed on 12/14/2008)http://www.home-n-garden-center.com/rubber_roofing.html
  • InfoPlease. "Goodyear, Charles." (Accessed 12/14/08)http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0821278.html
  • KidCyber. "Rubber From Trees." (Accessed 12/14/2008)http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/rubber.htm
  • Keon, Philip. "Self Installed Rubber Roofing: Proper Prepping Is Essential." (Accessed 12/14/2008http://ezinearticles.com/?Self-Installed-Rubber-Roofing---Proper-Prepping-is-Essential&id=1466590
  • Old House Web. "Roofing: Rubber Roofs." (Accessed 12/14/2008)http://www.oldhouseweb.com/product-showcase/roofing-rubber-roofs.shtml
  • The Roofery. "Rubber Roofing Shingles." (Accessed 12/14/2008)http://www.roofery.com/shingles/rubber.html