I don't need no stinkin' rubbers

Earlier this week I did some work on a roof that last year I installed an epdm roof on a skylight detail. The skylight is over 20' wide and drains to only one side and I had a leftover piece that would work on the top side, so I used it.

I was there for another issue and the rubber stopped the skylight leak, but I was amazed at the amount of odor that the rubber was still emitting. I used the same rubber for a cistern cover at my place that was installed about the same time and the odor on it is barely noticeable.

I suppose that the weather conditions (quickly warming as the sun hit the rubber) might have increased the amount of smell given off. It was strong enough that I worried that they might even smell it inside the house. You guys that use rubber all the time, does it continue to have less odor or does it dissipate over time? How long?

We put down some 60 mil today and I guess that they don't put the talc on it anymore. Sh--t! It sticks like crazy to itself in the roll, it won't lay nice and flat and it is hard to broom the bubbles out of it. We use the water based adhesive and normally it is an easy procedure to make it smooth. I guess that people were not cleaning the seams and they were getting leaks, so instead of making the installers do the right thing, they took away the talc so everyone suffers. I am pissed!

Yep, nothing worse than the smell of used rubber! :laugh: