2026 marks a major milestone for RubberCover™, as the established EPDM roofing system celebrates 20 years in the UK and Ireland – and 20 years of Rubberseal distributing and supporting the system.
For two decades, Rubberseal has worked alongside Elevate to bring RubberCover to the UK and Irish roofing markets, supporting contractors with product supply, technical knowledge, installer training and project support.
During that time, RubberCover has become a familiar name within residential flat roofing, used across projects ranging from extensions and garages to garden rooms, dormers and refurbishment projects.
Twenty years on, the principles behind the system remain much the same: providing installers with a durable, straightforward and reliable waterproofing solution specifically designed for residential flat roofing.
20 Years of RubberCover and Rubberseal
Rubberseal has been distributing RubberCover in the UK and Ireland since its introduction to the market 20 years ago.
Throughout that time, Rubberseal has worked closely with the manufacturer – originally under the Firestone Building Products name and now Elevate – to develop awareness of the system and provide contractors with the products, knowledge and support required for successful EPDM installations.
The relationship goes beyond simply supplying membrane and accessories.
Rubberseal works alongside Elevate to support contractors through installer training, technical advice and system guidance, helping ensure RubberCover is installed correctly and in accordance with system requirements.
This long-standing partnership means that as RubberCover celebrates its 20th anniversary in the UK and Ireland, Rubberseal is also celebrating 20 years of distributing and supporting the system.
Two Decades of EPDM Roofing
At the heart of RubberCover is a fully cured EPDM synthetic rubber membrane, a material recognised for its resistance to UV radiation, ozone and extremes of temperature.
Its flexibility allows the membrane to accommodate normal building movement and temperature changes, while the inherent durability of EPDM makes it particularly suited to long-term waterproofing applications.
Independent research into EPDM roofing membranes has demonstrated a life expectancy exceeding 70 years under normal exposure conditions, helping explain why EPDM has become such an established waterproofing technology.
But the success of RubberCover in the UK and Ireland has been about more than membrane performance alone.
A Complete Roofing System
One of the key strengths of RubberCover is that it has developed as a complete roofing system rather than simply a sheet of EPDM.
The membrane is supported by compatible adhesives, primers, tapes, flashing products and detailing accessories, allowing installers to approach the roof as a complete waterproofing installation.
The system is cold applied, removing the requirement for roofing torches during installation. Large membrane sizes can also allow many residential roofs to be waterproofed using a single sheet, reducing the number of field seams required.
These practical advantages have helped make RubberCover particularly well suited to residential flat roofing, where straightforward installation and reliable detailing are important considerations.
Supporting Installers Across the UK & Ireland
A major part of Rubberseal’s work with RubberCover over the past 20 years has been supporting the contractors who install it.
Rubberseal provides practical installer training designed to give roofing professionals the knowledge and hands-on experience required to install the system correctly.
Training covers the principles of membrane installation alongside important details such as corners, perimeters, outlets, penetrations and upstands.
This is backed by ongoing technical and project support, helping contractors from initial product selection through to installation on site.
Through its continued relationship with Elevate, Rubberseal can combine manufacturer expertise with practical knowledge of the UK and Irish roofing markets.
From Firestone to Elevate
Many long-standing contractors will remember the system as Firestone RubberCover.
Following Holcim’s acquisition of Firestone Building Products, the roofing and building envelope business transitioned to the Elevate brand. RubberCover continued as part of the product portfolio, building on the experience established under the Firestone name.
For Rubberseal, this has meant continuing a relationship that stretches back to RubberCover’s introduction to the UK and Ireland – working alongside Elevate today just as it worked with the system throughout its earlier years.
Looking Back at 20 Years – and Ahead to the Future
The roofing industry has changed considerably since RubberCover arrived in the UK and Ireland in 2006.
Expectations around installation efficiency, health and safety, sustainability and long-term building performance have continued to evolve. At the same time, contractors have increasingly looked for systems that combine proven performance with straightforward installation and strong technical support.
Yet many of the qualities that helped establish RubberCover remain just as relevant today: durable EPDM technology, flame-free installation, straightforward application and a complete system approach.
For Rubberseal, the 20-year anniversary is also an opportunity to recognise the contractors, customers and industry partners who have been part of the RubberCover journey.
2026 marks 20 years of RubberCover in the UK and Ireland, 20 years of Rubberseal distributing the system and two decades of working alongside the manufacturer to support the roofing industry.
As Rubberseal continues to work alongside Elevate, the focus now turns to the next chapter – supporting existing RubberCover installers, introducing new contractors to the system and continuing to build on 20 years of EPDM experience across the UK and Ireland.
