LESLIE: Keith in New York is calling in with a roofing question. How can we help you today?
KEITH: I have a problem with a flat roof on a building and …
TOM: Well, you’re not alone. (Leslie and Tom chuckle)
KEITH: OK. Well, this one I can’t change.
TOM: OK.
KEITH: It’s eight inches of steel, reinforced concrete.
TOM: OK.
KEITH: And after about 50 years – which I haven’t been part of it but going back a long time – the edges are starting to erode away.
TOM: OK.
KEITH: When I was down in Florida, I noticed some people were putting roof-overs on a lot of their trailers there.
TOM: OK.
KEITH: On the original ones.
TOM: Yes.
KEITH: And these were a rubberized type or synthetic membrane of which they put Styrofoam over the top and then put this wonderful stuff and wrapped it all around and it’s UV-protected and all that kind of stuff and I …
TOM: Yeah, they’re probably EPDM roofs; they’re like sort of a rubber membrane.
KEITH: EPDM. I …
TOM: Yes.
KEITH: Somebody had told me once of Firestone.
TOM: Well, Firestone is one of the manufacturers. They’re out in …
LESLIE: Of that type.
TOM: They’re based in Indianapolis. But there are a number of manufacturers.
KEITH: And I’m trying to find out who I have to contact.
TOM: Keith, the best way to find a commercial roofing supplier in the city is to simply Google it. There are a number of them that we’re aware of. One that seems to be somewhat prominent is Allied – Allied Commercial Roofing. They are in New York but they serve New York, New Jersey and they specialize in all sorts of commercial products: flat roofing, tear-offs, metal roofs and so on. And they also happen to be the distributor of Firestone.
KEITH: Well, that – you have answered my question. What does EPDM stand for?
TOM: Ah, you’re asking the tough questions now. (Leslie chuckles)
KEITH: (chuckling) Sorry.
TOM: This is like the home improvement expert of the SAT question, Leslie. Well, it actually – believe it or not – I do know what it stands for.
LESLIE: Well, the “E” has got to be like ethylene or something.
TOM: Yeah, well, actually you’re right; it’s ethylene, propylene, diene monomer. It’s basically a very high-density rubber used for roofing products.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. And it’s got to be professionally installed; I mean, this isn’t something you can buy, you know, at the local home center.
TOM: Not a DIY project and, in fact, I’m not surprised he’s having problems with a leaky roof – leaky flat roofs – because flat roofs, that’s what they do; they all eventually leak and they leak a lot more frequently than sloped roofs and I think that an EPDM product is the solution for you.
KEITH: OK. Thank you very much.
TOM: You’re welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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