Firestone RubberGard™
WaterproofLab: Why You Should Use Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM
Waterproofing is an essential technique of making a structure or construction watertight in all ways possible. With waterproofing, there won’t be any water leakage, moisture build-up, dampness, mold, or mildew in that structure for a longer period of time.
However, there’s not just a single waterproofing technique that a waterproofing company may employ. Countless waterproofing methods have emerged in the past decades, and whilst the choices are abundant, our go-to waterproofing solution remains the resilient Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM.
Let us walk you through the reasoning on why our EPDM is considered a superb choice, its advantages, and how it compares to other waterproofing solutions.
However, there’s not just a single waterproofing technique that a waterproofing company may employ. Countless waterproofing methods have emerged in the past decades, and whilst the choices are abundant, our go-to waterproofing solution remains the resilient Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM.
Let us walk you through the reasoning on why our EPDM is considered a superb choice, its advantages, and how it compares to other waterproofing solutions.
Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM vs Other Waterproofing Solutions
Our waterproofing company works with a class M rubber that’s made out of a perfect combination of ethylene, propylene, and a diene comonomer. There are many instances on why we recommend our absolutely elastic and durable companion – EPDM. First and foremost, unlike the torch-on bitumen method, the EPDM that we use is absolutely resistant to UV rays. So, South Africans can rest assured that those nasty sun rays won’t even tickle the EPDM membrane.
Because the EPDM membrane is applied through the cold application process, there’s no need for additional torches and flames like the bitumen torch-on method. In regards to liquid waterproofing, EPDM is closer to the water-based liquid waterproofing method. However, as an honest-to-god waterproofing company, we can guarantee that EPDM has a much higher life expectancy than water-based liquid waterproofing – 50 years to be exact!
Sometimes, a waterproofing company may apply the solvent-based waterproofing method, which isn’t at all great in terms of toxicity because of those solvents. As for our cold applied EPDM, the danger of toxic gasses to employees, facilities, and surroundings is eliminated.
Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM gives assurance since it’s built to order in our facility under excellent working circumstances with constant quality supervision. We work with a water containment seal system through EPDM that’s perfect for reservoirs, ponds, and even covering bigger lakes since it requires few seams during installation.
Moreover, the fact that the EPDM our waterproofing company applies is single-ply means that it doesn’t require 2 or more membrane sheets. So, the job will be done a lot more quickly and efficiently.
Because the EPDM membrane is applied through the cold application process, there’s no need for additional torches and flames like the bitumen torch-on method. In regards to liquid waterproofing, EPDM is closer to the water-based liquid waterproofing method. However, as an honest-to-god waterproofing company, we can guarantee that EPDM has a much higher life expectancy than water-based liquid waterproofing – 50 years to be exact!
Sometimes, a waterproofing company may apply the solvent-based waterproofing method, which isn’t at all great in terms of toxicity because of those solvents. As for our cold applied EPDM, the danger of toxic gasses to employees, facilities, and surroundings is eliminated.
Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM gives assurance since it’s built to order in our facility under excellent working circumstances with constant quality supervision. We work with a water containment seal system through EPDM that’s perfect for reservoirs, ponds, and even covering bigger lakes since it requires few seams during installation.
Moreover, the fact that the EPDM our waterproofing company applies is single-ply means that it doesn’t require 2 or more membrane sheets. So, the job will be done a lot more quickly and efficiently.
Advantages of Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM
At Waterprooflab, we utilize our EPDM for all kinds of waterproofing solutions, and we and our customers have seen the flawless benefits of our EPDM membrane. From flat and moderately sloped roofs, balconies, foundations, parking decks, to slate and solar roofs, roof gardens, and even asbestos – our EPDM waterproofs and shines for every solution!
Take a look at how the EPDM from our waterproofing company compares to other waterproofing products and solutions below.
Take a look at how the EPDM from our waterproofing company compares to other waterproofing products and solutions below.
Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM - How it Compares
| Specifications |
Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM |
Bitumen torch-on |
Solvent-based Liquid Waterproofing |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Toxicity |
Non-toxic |
Toxic |
Toxic |
|
Environmentally friendly |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
The breathability of the membrane |
Permits the substrate below to breathe |
Doesn’t permit the substrate below to breathe |
May or May not permit the substrate to breathe |
|
Application process |
No need for torch application, applied with bonding adhesives or loose laid with ballast to weigh down the membrane |
Needs torch application |
No need for torch application, spray-on liquid waterproofing application |
|
Labor Intensive |
Not labor intensives, since it’s a single-ply membrane |
Labor intensive since it mostly requires more than one sheet of membrane |
Not labor intensives but requires special application suit |
|
Application Speed |
Super-fast single-ply EPDM membrane application |
Slow application speed requiring mostly 2 or 3 sheets of Bitumen membrane and plenty of seaming with torch on process |
Medium-fast application speed since it’s liquid waterproofing |
|
VOC (Volatile organic compounds) |
No volatile compounds |
Has volatile compounds |
Has volatile compounds |
|
Anti-root protection |
Has superb anti-root protection |
Does not have good anti-root protectionDoes not have good anti-root protection |
Does not have good anti-root protection |
|
UV resistance |
High UV Resistance in itself
Especially in South Africa’s harsh sun
|
Demands aluminum silver paint for UV resistance |
Demands an upper layer of paint for UV resistance |
|
Elasticity percentage |
Excess of 300% of base length |
Around 25% |
Around 300% of base spray length |
|
Life-expectancy |
May have a life expectancy of 50 years |
12 to 15 years life-expectancy |
15 to 20 years life-expectancy |
|
Special protective gear |
Does not require special protective gear |
Requires special protective gear |
Requires special protective gear |
|
Seamless Sheets or coating |
Yes because the sheets are 6m wide and 30m long (we have bigger too) |
No seams are usually at 1m intervals |
Yes |
Waterproof Lab Waterproofing Company - EPDM Usage & Stats
Our Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM can be used for many commercial, residential, and even industrial structures. Its extra-resilient nature gives it many advantages over classic bitumen membrane layout, and even liquid waterproofing and TPO waterproofing.
As the waterproofing sector appears to be on track, so are the customers’ demands on what they want to be waterproofed. Commercial waterproofing, residential and moderately-sloped roofs are people’s top choices for waterproofing and all of these are expected to have a successful year.
Interestingly enough, liquid waterproofing has risen on demand, and that’s partly because it’s one of the lower-cost waterproofing solutions, but not because of its durability and resilience. However, EPDM is estimated to have a far superior life expectancy than any liquid waterproof coating you’ll get. Waterproof Lab’s EPDM is also factory cured eliminating the risks associated with onsite application ie wind, dust, humidity etc. Get this wrong with liquid application and this can prove disastrous
EPDM, TPO, Bitumen, and PVC sheets accounted for a whopping 45% of the overall material deployed.
As the waterproofing sector appears to be on track, so are the customers’ demands on what they want to be waterproofed. Commercial waterproofing, residential and moderately-sloped roofs are people’s top choices for waterproofing and all of these are expected to have a successful year.
Interestingly enough, liquid waterproofing has risen on demand, and that’s partly because it’s one of the lower-cost waterproofing solutions, but not because of its durability and resilience. However, EPDM is estimated to have a far superior life expectancy than any liquid waterproof coating you’ll get. Waterproof Lab’s EPDM is also factory cured eliminating the risks associated with onsite application ie wind, dust, humidity etc. Get this wrong with liquid application and this can prove disastrous
EPDM, TPO, Bitumen, and PVC sheets accounted for a whopping 45% of the overall material deployed.
As we can see from this pie chart, EPDM is included in 45% of waterproofing membrane sheets. Our customers mostly want to use our waterproofing company EPDM for roofing, especially sloped roofs, as well as flat roofs. Next up, its EPDM membranes are widely accepted for wall waterproofing, mainly to prevent rising dampness so the structure won’t have bad repercussions and eventually start to crumble and even collapse.
The Takeaway
There are many instances why our EPDM has a good name built up for itself. The chief reasoning behind the remarkable request for our waterproofing company’s EPDM is because it’s resilient, it’s UV resistant, fire retardant, and temperature-change resistant.
The flexible crack bridging qualities of our EPDM, anti-root protection for green roofs, life expectancy, and the manner of easiness and security of installation are also among the awesome advantages that this waterproofing solution presents. There’s no going wrong with choosing Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM, and if there’s any way we can help waterproof your construction – don’t hesitate to contact us!
The flexible crack bridging qualities of our EPDM, anti-root protection for green roofs, life expectancy, and the manner of easiness and security of installation are also among the awesome advantages that this waterproofing solution presents. There’s no going wrong with choosing Firestone RubberGard™ EPDM, and if there’s any way we can help waterproof your construction – don’t hesitate to contact us!
