Copper flashing does hold up really well—I've seen it used on a few green roofs, and honestly, it ages beautifully. Pricey for sure, but if you're going long-term, might be worth the investment. EPDM can definitely be hit or miss depending on installation quality. I've noticed that when it's paired with proper drainage layers and vegetation mats, it holds up way better against extreme weather. Plus, the plants themselves help buffer temperature swings and UV exposure, giving the membrane underneath a longer lifespan. Curious though... has anyone had experience combining copper flashing with living roof setups? Wondering if there's any issue with runoff affecting plant health or soil chemistry over time.
We just bought our first home last year and decided to go with an EPDM green roof setup—mostly because copper flashing was way out of our budget, haha. I totally agree installation quality makes or breaks EPDM. We spent extra time making sure the drainage layer and vegetation mats were done right, step-by-step, and so far it's survived a pretty nasty storm season without any leaks or issues.
About copper runoff though, I did some digging back when we were researching options. From what I read, copper runoff can sometimes affect sensitive plants or mess with soil pH over time. But it seems like if you choose hardy plants that tolerate slightly acidic conditions and have decent drainage, it's usually not a huge deal. Might be worth testing your soil periodically just to be safe...especially if you're investing in pricier plants. Hope that helps a bit!
Sounds like you did your homework—good call on the EPDM. I've inspected plenty of roofs, and honestly, when installed right, EPDM holds up surprisingly well even in rough weather. Copper runoff concerns are valid, but in practice, I've rarely seen it cause major issues unless you're growing something super sensitive. Still, regular soil checks are smart...better safe than sorry when you've invested that much effort into your green roof. Glad it's working out for you so far.
Agreed, EPDM is solid stuff. Had mine installed about 8 years ago and it's held up through some nasty storms—hail, wind gusts, you name it. One thing I'd add is to keep an eye on seams and edges every couple years. Had a minor leak once where the adhesive started to lift slightly, easy fix but could've been worse if I hadn't caught it early. Copper runoff hasn't been an issue for me either, but yeah, regular checks never hurt.
Yeah, EPDM's pretty reliable overall. Had a building I managed a while back with EPDM roofing that took a beating from a freak windstorm—branches flying everywhere, looked like a warzone afterward. Roof held up great, but funny enough, the satellite dish didn't make it (RIP cable TV for tenants...that was a fun weekend). Agree about checking seams though; caught some lifting edges early once and saved myself from tenant drama later on. Regular checks are definitely worth the hassle.
