Why Vancouver Island Roofers Still Swear by EPDM After 50 Years of Storms

If you’ve ever worked a roof through sideways rain, you learn real quick what materials you can trust and which ones will leave you cursing from the ladder.

Here on Vancouver Island, the weather doesn’t “change.” It switches moods. Sun at 9, hail at noon, fog by dinner. That’s why, after decades of patching, sealing, and re-roofing through every kind of coastal chaos, one system still gets the nod from pros who’ve seen it all: EPDM.

What It Is and Why It Works

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, if you want the science) is a tough, flexible rubber membrane.It’s been around for over half a century — not a trend, not a gimmick. Just a proven workhorse.

What makes it special is how it moves with the weather.While other roofs crack, curl, or go brittle under UV and salt air, EPDM stretches, flexes, and stays watertight.It’s like the difference between leather and plastic — one gets old with grace, the other just gives up.

Built for Island Weather

Let’s be honest — roofs here have it rough. Constant rain, salty wind, freeze-thaw cycles, and moss that grows faster than you can say “ladder.”EPDM doesn’t blink.We’ve seen roofs in Nanaimo, Parksville, and Duncan still holding strong after 30+ years — original membranes, no leaks, no drama.

That’s not marketing talk. That’s boots-on-the-roof experience.

Low Maintenance, Real Savings

Once it’s down, EPDM barely asks for attention.A quick inspection once or twice a year, maybe rinse off the moss, and it just keeps doing its job.If something does go wrong — puncture, seam lift — the repair is simple and local. You don’t rip up half the roof to fix a hand-sized problem.

When you stack that against a full tear-off every 20 years, the math starts to look pretty good.

Smart and Sustainable

Another reason we keep backing EPDM: it’s one of the cleaner roofing materials out there.Recyclable, energy-efficient, and now available in light colors that reflect heat instead of trapping it.That means cooler interiors in summer and less strain on air conditioning — good for your energy bill, and for the planet.

The Sierra Standard

At Pacific Sierra, we’re not a giant outfit.We’re a local crew that’s climbed more ladders in the rain than we can count.We’ve tried other systems — some good, some not so much — but when it comes to coastal reliability, EPDM earns our trust every time.

Because a roof here isn’t just about keeping water out.It’s about peace of mind when the wind picks up and the forecast says “storm warning again.”

Thinking About Your Roof?

If your building’s due for a new system or you’re tired of patching the same leaks, let’s talk.We’ll walk you through your options — straight talk, no jargon.

📞 1-250-327-3868 Pacific Sierra Roofing — Built to Last Through Island Weather.

"We don’t sell roofs. We install peace of mind, one storm at a time."