I’ve seen it both ways—some membranes (like TPO) seem a bit more forgiving if you mess up a seam, but honestly, even the “easier” ones will fail if the prep’s sloppy. One job I was on, the crew left dust on the deck and the adhesive never really bonded. Looked fine for a month, then the first big rain hit and water found every weak spot. Doesn’t matter what material you use if shortcuts get taken. I’d say the installer’s attention to detail matters way more than the brand or type.
Doesn’t matter what material you use if shortcuts get taken. I’d say the installer’s attention to detail matters way more than the brand or type.
That hits home. I went with a “budget-friendly” crew for my garage roof (flat, rubber membrane, nothing fancy) and figured, hey, how hard can it be? Turns out, pretty hard if you don’t sweep up first. They left so much grit and sawdust under there, I could’ve started a small sandbox. Looked fine until we had one of those sideways rainstorms—then suddenly I’m out there with buckets at 2am, cursing my life choices.
If anyone else is trying to keep costs down but not end up with an indoor swimming pool, here’s what I wish I’d done:
1. Watch the prep like a hawk. Seriously. If you see them skipping the broom or slapping adhesive on top of dust, speak up. It’s awkward but cheaper than fixing leaks later.
2. Ask about their process for seams. Some guys just eyeball it; others actually use rollers and heat welders like they mean it.
3. Don’t get too hung up on the brand unless you’re going super high-end. My neighbor paid double for a “premium” TPO and still had issues because the crew rushed through it.
4. If you’re DIY-ing (brave soul), take your time with cleaning and priming. The actual membrane part is almost the easy bit.
Flat roofs aren’t doomed by default, but they do seem to attract trouble if you cut corners (or costs). I’m all for saving money, but not if it means waking up to puddles in the living room... again.
Anyone else have luck with coatings as a backup? I tried one of those white elastomeric things last year—helped a bit but didn’t fix my main problem spots. Maybe better as prevention than cure?
I get where you’re coming from about prep and install being the big deal, but I’d push back a bit on the “brand doesn’t matter” part. Some of those cheaper membranes just don’t hold up, even if you do everything right. I tried a bargain EPDM on my shed—prepped like crazy, rolled every seam, followed all the steps—and it still started cracking after three winters (I’m in upstate NY, so lots of freeze/thaw). Swapped to a better-known brand for my porch roof and it’s been solid for five years now with the same install process.
- Prep is huge, no argument there.
- But material quality does make a difference long-term, especially with UV and temp swings.
- Coatings are hit or miss for me too. They help slow things down but won’t fix bad seams or underlying issues.
If you’re in a spot with wild weather, I’d say don’t go bottom-shelf on materials. You can do everything else right and still end up patching leaks if the membrane itself is junk. Just my two cents from messing around with too many flat roofs over the years...
If you’re in a spot with wild weather, I’d say don’t go bottom-shelf on materials. You can do everything else right and still end up patching leaks if the membrane itself is junk.
That lines up with what I’ve seen too. I tried to save money on a roll of off-brand TPO for my garage, and even though the prep was solid, it started bubbling after two summers (central PA here, so not as harsh as NY but still gets plenty of freeze/thaw). Curious—have you ever tried adding extra insulation or a reflective layer to help with temp swings? Wondering if that actually helps membranes last longer or if it’s just marketing.
Curious—have you ever tried adding extra insulation or a reflective layer to help with temp swings? Wondering if that actually helps membranes last longer or if it’s just marketing.
I put down a white reflective coating (not the spray, but the roll-on kind) over my EPDM a couple years back. Didn’t totally fix the heat/cold stress, but I swear the membrane doesn’t shrink and crack as fast now. Could be placebo... but my neighbor skipped it and he’s patched twice already. Maybe it’s not magic, but I figure every little bit helps with these wild temp swings.
