RESTORATION

First Lynnhaven Baptist Church

EPDM restoration with reinforced seam sealant and coating

Project Overview

First Lynnhaven Baptist Church is at 2744 Robert Jackson Drive in Virginia Beach. Along with its pitched shingle roofs, the church has low-slope sections covered with black EPDM rubber, with HVAC units sitting on them.

The church wanted to get more life out of the EPDM roof instead of replacing it.

Job Photos

Black EPDM roof with visible seams and HVAC units before restoration (First Lynnhaven Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA) — Black EPDM roof with visible seams and HVAC units before restoration

Crew cleaning the EPDM membrane before applying sealant and coating (First Lynnhaven Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA) — Crew cleaning the EPDM membrane before applying sealant and coating

Yellow seam preparation along the EPDM seams before the reinforced sealant (First Lynnhaven Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA) — Yellow seam preparation along the EPDM seams before the reinforced sealant

Reinforced white sealant over every seam on the black EPDM membrane (First Lynnhaven Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA) — Reinforced white sealant over every seam on the black EPDM membrane

Coated roof around the rooftop HVAC units beside the church's shingle roof (First Lynnhaven Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA) — Coated roof around the rooftop HVAC units beside the church's shingle roof

Finished white coating across the low-slope roof section (First Lynnhaven Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA) — Finished white coating across the low-slope roof section

The Challenge

On an EPDM roof, the seams are usually the weak point. The sheets are joined with adhesive or seam tape, and over the years those seams can open or lift. Seam lines ran across the black membrane at regular intervals.

Black EPDM also absorbs a lot of heat in the Virginia Beach sun. The roof had to be cleaned well before any restoration product would bond to it.

Our Solution

We cleaned the EPDM membrane, applied reinforced sealant on every seam, and then coated the roof. Every seam was reinforced, leaving white stripes across the black membrane, before the full coating went on.

1We cleaned the full EPDM membrane to prepare it for the restoration products.
2We prepared each seam along its full length.
3We applied reinforced sealant over every seam.
4We coated the full roof surface.

Why This Approach

If an EPDM membrane is still in reasonable shape, restoring it costs far less than tearing it off and replacing it. Since the seams are where EPDM roofs usually fail, reinforcing every seam addresses the main weak point directly. The coating then covers the whole membrane and protects it from the sun. A white coating over black rubber also reflects much more sunlight, so the roof surface runs cooler.

Results

Full cleaning of the EPDM membrane
Reinforced sealant on every seam
Finished coating over the whole roof
White roof surface in place of black rubber

Common Questions

Can an EPDM rubber roof be coated?

Yes. EPDM can be restored with a coating made to bond to rubber, as long as the membrane is cleaned thoroughly and primed where the manufacturer calls for it. Seams and penetrations are reinforced first, then the coating is applied across the roof.

Why do EPDM roofs leak at the seams?

EPDM sheets are joined with adhesive or seam tape. Over time, heat, cold and movement can weaken those bonds and let the seams lift or open. That is why seam reinforcement is the first step in most EPDM restorations.