EPDM is the rubber lining that keeps water inside a hidden gutter, and a good one can last for decades. Even so, it ages, and the difference between a small repair and a full replacement often comes down to catching the wear early. We repair and replace EPDM lining in hidden gutter systems, and we’ll tell you honestly which one your gutters need.
EPDM is a synthetic rubber that comes in flexible sheets, and it’s built to shrug off rain and sun. A hidden gutter is part of the roof structure, so it needs a continuous waterproof lining rather than separate metal sections, and EPDM does that job well.
No material lasts forever, though. Over the years the sun dries the rubber and standing water works on its seams. The lining often shows its age at the edges and corners first.
Several patterns account for most of the lining problems we come across:
As EPDM ages, it can slowly lose flexibility and shrink. That tugs the lining away from the edges and corners of the trough, where water then finds a way behind it.
Years of sun can dry the rubber until fine cracks appear on its surface, a bit like an old tire. Cracking means the lining has lost its elasticity, and it tends to spread.
A dropped tool or a sharp piece of debris can cut the lining. Small tears are easy to patch when they’re caught early, but once a tear starts, it can keep spreading.
EPDM doesn’t tolerate grease or petroleum-based solvents well, so spills and the wrong cleaning products can break the rubber down.
Most EPDM problems are localized, and a localized problem usually calls for a repair. A patch, a reseal, or a drainage fix can bring a sound lining back to full service, and it typically costs less than starting over.
Replacement makes sense when the lining itself has given out: widespread cracking, or repeated failures in the same area despite earlier repairs.
We’d rather tell you a repair will do than sell you a replacement you don’t need. A free inspection and written report show exactly where your lining stands, so you can decide with the facts in front of you.
The work we carry out on EPDM lining includes:
Every job begins with a close look at the whole lining, rather than only the spot that’s leaking, since damage seldom stays in one place.
A replacement starts with removing the old lining, which lets us see the condition of the trough and the wood beneath it. Any damaged wood is repaired first, and the new EPDM then goes in with properly sealed seams.
Few companies take on EPDM work, so it’s worth knowing what comes with ours:
Deep experience with hidden gutters and EPDM
Five years of coverage on every EPDM and resealing job
A complimentary inspection with a written report
Liability protection, plus WorkSafeBC (WCB) coverage
A Better Business Bureau accredited business
A crew with more than ten years of combined experience
A little care extends the life of a lining. Keeping the trough clear stops debris from holding moisture against the rubber, and fixing small damage promptly keeps it small. Keep solvents and oils away from it, and keep foot traffic off the gutter line.
EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer, a durable synthetic rubber used to line hidden gutters.
A properly installed lining can last for decades, but the real number depends on the quality of the installation, how well the gutter drains, sun exposure, and how well it’s maintained. An inspection will show where your lining stands.
Yes, as long as the rubber around the tear is sound. We patch it with matching EPDM and look into why it tore, so the same problem doesn’t come back.
Usually not. Leaking seams can often be resealed and drainage corrected while the lining itself is still in good shape.
Yes. Every EPDM job and every resealing job we complete carries a five-year warranty.
About RMJ Property Services: RMJ Property Services provides comprehensive gutter and exterior services—hidden gutters, gutter vacuuming, moss removal, etc.—to customers throughout Greater Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, and the Fraser Valley. All of our services are performed by our highly trained professionals who will put your needs first.
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