How to Patch Membrane Roofing

Patching a flat roof may not seem like much fun and you may be tempted to call in the experts. There are several roofing companies that only do flat roofs because of the lower amount of work involved. But you can patch your own membrane roof if you have the right tools and a little knowledge. Here are the basics for patching a membrane roof.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Broom
• Rags
• Household cleaner
• Stiff bristled scrub brush
• Xylene
• EPDM repair tape
• Hand roller

1. Determine the type of roofing material you currently have in place. EPDM, for example, comes in 10 or 12-foot wide rolls and is installed with EPDM seaming tape, which is 12 inches wide.

2. Check to see if the roof sheathing is water-damaged. To do this, go into your attic with a flashlight and look for water marks on the wood. If the sheathing is wet, you don't need to patch your roof. Your best bet is to call a contractor and replace the roof, along with the water-damaged sheathing.

3. Sweep the debris off the area of the roof to be patched. Wipe off the repair area with a wet rag and scrub with a regular household cleaner and scrub brush, then rinse with just enough water to remove the cleaner then dry the area. Clean it again with xylene. You need a clean area around the patch for the repair tape to adhere to.

4. Apply EPDM repair tape, which comes in 6-inch widths, centered on the roof seam to be patched, or centered over the puncture. This can be purchased at specialty roofing supply stores.

5. Roll the patched area with a hand roller. This is to insure the roof patch will adhere to the existing roof.

Tips & Warnings

• Never mix chemicals for cleaning.