Permaroof UK Ltd

Grow Your Business Fast with EPDM Training

As the demand for high-performance roofing systems grows, businesses in the flat roofing sector need to stay ahead by offering top-notch installation and maintenance services. One of the best ways to set your business apart is by mastering EPDM roofing systems—and our specialised EPDM training program can help you do just that.

Why EPDM Roofing?

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a highly durable, synthetic rubber roofing membrane widely used in low-slope buildings. It has gained popularity for its longevity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. As more property owners seek out durable, energy-efficient roofing solutions, being proficient in EPDM can position your business as an expert in the field.

How EPDM Training Can Grow Your Business

1. Expertise that clients trust

Clients value expertise and reliability when it comes to roofing projects. EPDM training will equip you and your team with the skills to confidently install, repair, and maintain these systems. This expertise translates into fewer installation errors, faster project completion, and higher customer satisfaction, which are all crucial to growing your reputation.

2. Stay ahead of the competition

While EPDM is a popular material, many contractors have yet to develop a deep understanding of its proper application. By investing in EPDM training, your business can fill that gap in the market and become the go-to specialist for EPDM installations. Offering specialised services is a powerful way to stand out from the competition and attract more clients.

3. Expand your service portfolio

With EPDM knowledge, you’ll be able to take on a broader range of projects, from commercial buildings to residential flat roofs. This can significantly expand your client base. Whether it’s full installations or minor repairs, the ability to offer a wider array of services will drive more business and increase profitability.

4. Boost efficiency and reduce costs

Our EPDM training will not only teach the technical aspects of working with this material but also help improve your overall efficiency. Learning best practices for EPDM installation means fewer mistakes, less material waste, and reduced labour time—all of which lead to cost savings. This enhanced efficiency allows you to take on more projects and grow your revenue faster.

5. Stay up-to-date with industry standards

Roofing technologies and standards are always evolving, and keeping your team trained ensures that you’re compliant with the latest guidelines. Our training covers current installation standards, safety protocols, and innovative techniques that will keep your business competitive and up to date.

Why choose PermaRoof EPDM training?

We offer industry-leading EPDM training at PermaRoof UK headquarters in our purpose-built training centre. Approved by Elevate, our certified training courses cover all aspects of installation of its’ high performance RubberCover system.

Further trade opportunities are available following successful completion of the course and we offer team training for contractors fulfilling industry obligations. Talk to the team or visit our EPDM training page and the PermaRoof Registered Installer Scheme page to find out more.

Ready to grow?

Investing in EPDM training is a smart move for any roofing business looking to grow quickly. With our comprehensive training program, your team will gain the skills and confidence to take on more projects, deliver exceptional service, and establish your business as an EPDM specialist. Contact us today to learn more about our EPDM training options and get started on the path to success.

What is an Upstand on a Flat Roof?

This is a common question posed regularly to the PermaRoof UK expert team. The answer is not standard and depends on the type of project you’re working on. We’re here to help and in this article, we’ll look at what an upstand is, how you deal with them and what the UK building regs say.

Why do you need an upstand on a flat roof?

Upstands on flat roofing are a part of the British building standards and are needed to ensure that walls, windows and doors are properly protected from water ingress. In short, where there are adjoining walls, skylights and any other types of abutments within the scope of your project, you’ll need to consider your upstands.

Upstands are needed because without them, water can easily track into the property. This can quickly lead to damage – first to timbers and exposed brickwork and eventually interiors and the goods stored inside.

The minimum requirements for upstands

According to current UK building regulations, upstands a minimum of 150mm above the finished roof surface are required at abutments, roof windows and parapets. This minimum height also covers rainwater splashback against exposed brickwork, which causes erosion of the courses in addition to the risk of water ingress.

UK Regs to refer to:

BS 6229:2018 specifies that at all abutments, the waterproof layer should be turned up to a level not less than 150mm above the adjacent finished roof system.

The NHBC Standards 2025 define an upstand as perimeter waterproofing that provides continuity between a flat roof or deck and adjoining vertical wall construction, with a minimum upstand height normally of 150mm, unless serving an accessible threshold where this height may be reduced to 75mm.

Skylights, doors and thresholds

Skylights must have weatherproofed upstands at a height of 150mm. Some manufacturers include rain check kerbs that can sandwich and ‘trap’ membranes to ensure a watertight seal.

Doors and thresholds have a minimum upstand requirement of 75mm at the opening. However, this is only accepted for building regs if there is either a drainage channel or an extended waterproofing membrane and flashing installed instead.

These are the current minimum guidelines in the building regulations. However, it is worth considering the project type and scope before planning your upstands. This is because 150mm is measured above the finished roof level for exposed membrane installations. Projects such as biodiverse and green roofing will need a deeper upstand to avoid water damage and the risk of ingress.

A note about green roofing

If you’re planning a green roofing project, there is a specific set of considerations for upstands. Best practice includes measuring from the finished surface, rather than the base layer. This is important to understand, with several layers – waterproofing, insulating layers, drainage and planting materials – to consider.

Calculate the approximate height of the upstands in advance and allow for the additional height measurement to be on the safe side. Take this into consideration for all types of green roof, terracing and walkways that use the roofing as a base.

How to waterproof an upstand with rubber roofing

EPDM as a complete system means that handling upstands is fast and easy when it comes to waterproofing. We provide step-by-step installation guidance, with both video tutorials and downloadable PDF guide to show you how it’s done. Visit our resource library.

Many homeowners will have the flat roof deck and timbers installed professionally, but often tackle the waterproofing themselves. When it comes to covering a flat roof, EPDM roofing membrane is widely available and among the best flat roofing materials on the market today. It has a proven high performance over an exceptional life expectancy of more than 50 years, unmatched when compared to more traditional flat roofing materials.

Case Study: Drone Landing Strip for Hospital Blood Transportation

The brief

As part of its ongoing work with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, CK Group Services was tasked with creating a drone landing strip and storage area on the roof of the Cancer Centre at Guy’s. It is designed to facilitate urgent blood samples to be transported for analysis between the two hospitals to avoid traffic across London.

Having worked together for a number of years, CK Group Services enrolled PermaRoof to help with this ground-breaking project, which will see transfer travel times cut considerably. By road, transferring samples between Guy’s Hospital and the lab at St Thomas’ Hospital can take more than half an hour, but by drone samples can be delivered in under two minutes.

We discussed the best approach with the team, taking into account logistical challenges, ensuring we gave the most effective recommendation.

The solution

The nature of this project being in a working hospital meant our recommendation needed to be spot on, and the team needed to work quickly to ensure all agreed timelines were met. Working on the roof was often logistically challenging and the team faced testing weather conditions, so a reliable recommendation was needed to make the process as smooth as possible.

A portion of the green roof was cleared initially to ensure the existing roof covering was not compromised in any way, and Elevate EPDM 1.52mm was then laid on recovery boards. We recommended this product as not only is it fast and easy to apply, but is also ideal for a heavier duty installation and has a 50-year service life expectancy, guaranteeing high-performance waterproofing for years to come.

The project was then finished with an interlocking rubberised matting walkway pad to protect the waterproof membrane below. The waterproof membrane is an ideal alternative to felt and other traditional waterproofing materials that offers 100% waterproofing over a lifespan of more than 50 years.

The testimonial

Steve Price, managing director at CK Group Services, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with the commercial team at PermaRoof and have worked with them on a number of projects, so we knew we were in safe hands with their recommendations and advice.

“It was crucial that this project ran smoothly given the drone transportation will potentially save lives, so we needed to use products we knew we could trust, would be easy to install, and will stand the test of time. Despite some on-site and weather challenges, the team completed all works as per the agreed programme, which is a fantastic result for everyone involved.

“Knowing we can count on the recommendations provided by PermaRoof is a huge help and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with the team.”

Read more about our Elevate EPDM products.