Restoring Aged EPDM Roof Assemblies by Ron Goodman, MBA All photos courtesy Carlisle SynTec Systems WHEN REPLACING A ROOF, IT HAS GENERALLY BEEN GOOD PRACTICE TO TEAR OFF THE EXISTING ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT WITH NEW MATERIAL. HOWEVER, THIS IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE. SIMPLY GETTING RID OF AN OLDER ROOF MAY NOT BE THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE BUILDING OWNER OR THE ENVIRONMENT. Sustainability is fueling the desire of building owners to decrease resource consumption and reduce landfill use. The advent of several forensic diagnostic tools is consistent with the trend of minimizing waste and extending the life of existing materials. Now, more than ever, building owners have multiple options to consider when roof systems need repairing. To determine the best option for replacing an aged roof, the following technologies are useful: • infrared and nuclear moisture scans; • moisture meters; • fastener pull-out equipment; • insulation density tests; and • Global Positioning System (GPS) tools. When these are used in conjunction with thorough energy analyses and lifecycle costing, the best replacement approach becomes clear. With these technologies, building owners can make informed decisions based on both logic and economics. These testing methods and technologies could not have come at a better time. Over the past 50 years, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) single-ply roofs have considerably grown in market share. As a result, there are 46 the construction specifier | february 2013 CS_Feb2013.indd 46 1/17/13 11:09:41 AM