Holcim Elevate Roofing Systems in Lancaster, PA

Elevate's EPDM Heritage on Care-Campus Recovers

Elevate, the roofing brand formerly known as Firestone Building Products, carries a rubber-membrane heritage that runs deep in this industry, and it's a manufacturer we lean on specifically for EPDM recover work on the continuing-care campuses around Willow Street and Lititz. This page covers what we submit from their line and where it fits against their newer TPO products.

RubberGard EPDM on Occupied Campus Buildings

RubberGard is Elevate's long-standing EPDM product line, and its track record on ballasted and fully adhered applications is a real factor when we're proposing a recover on a care-campus wing where the operator wants a system with a proven multi-decade service history rather than a newer product line. Elevate's manufacturing scale means consistent sheet quality and predictable lead times, which matters on phased campus projects where material for a later phase needs to match the sheet used in an earlier one.

We submit RubberGard specifically where matching an existing black or white EPDM roof section already on the campus is a priority, since tying a new phase into a prior one with the same base chemistry simplifies the transition detail compared to introducing a different membrane family mid-project.

Where Elevate's TPO Line Fits the County's Other Building Stock

Elevate also produces a TPO line for buildings where reflectivity and welded-seam speed matter more than EPDM's specific advantages, and we price it as an alternate against Carlisle, GAF, and other TPO manufacturers on warehouse and distribution bids the same way we would any other brand. Their published warranty structure follows the same general pattern as other major manufacturers: term length scales with thickness, attachment method, and cover board inclusion.

We don't default to Elevate across every project type. On a straightforward turnpike-corridor warehouse bid without a specific brand preference from the owner, we compare their TPO pricing and warranty terms against the other manufacturers we regularly submit rather than assuming their EPDM reputation carries over automatically to their thermoplastic line.

Ballasted System Considerations on Multi-Wing Campus Buildings

A meaningful share of the older EPDM roofs on Lancaster County care campuses were installed as ballasted systems, loose-laid membrane held down with stone rather than mechanically fastened or fully adhered, and Elevate's ballasted RubberGard assemblies remain a common recover choice where the existing structure was designed to carry that stone load. Before recommending a ballasted recover, we confirm the building's structural capacity can still support it, particularly on older campus wings where the original design didn't anticipate a heavier second layer stacked on top of the first.

Where structural capacity is a concern, we price a fully adhered or mechanically attached Elevate alternate that removes the ballast weight from the equation entirely, and we lay both options out for the campus's facilities committee with the cost and structural trade-offs stated plainly rather than defaulting to whichever system was there originally.

Ballast redistribution is also a recurring maintenance item on these roofs regardless of which attachment method is chosen at recover time. Wind and foot traffic from periodic maintenance calls can shift stone toward drains and away from high points over several years, and we recommend a redistribution check as part of the campus's regular inspection cycle rather than only addressing it when a heavy rain reveals a problem.

Phasing Material Orders Across a Multi-Year Campus Project

Continuing-care campus reroofs frequently span multiple budget years, and ordering RubberGard membrane for a phase two or three years after phase one requires confirming the manufacturer hasn't changed the sheet formulation or seam tape specification in the interim. We check current product data against what was used on the earlier phase before finalizing a later phase's order, and we flag any material change to the facility's engineering staff so it's documented rather than discovered during installation.

What we confirm before ordering Elevate material for a later phase of a multi-year project:

• Current product data sheet against what was specified in an earlier phase
• Seam tape or adhesive compatibility between phases installed years apart
• Warranty continuity across phases under the same manufacturer program
• Lead time confirmation against the campus's approved construction window
• Color and surface finish match where visible continuity across wings matters

What We Don't Claim

We install Elevate systems to their published specification and coordinate their standard inspection and warranty process. That's a factual account of our process, not a claim to a specific dealer tier, certification level, or exclusive relationship with the manufacturer, and we don't present it as one. An owner who needs our standing confirmed for a particular warranty program should ask directly about that project.

Questions on Elevate Roofing Systems

Is Elevate the same company as Firestone?

Elevate is the current name for the roofing business previously operated under the Firestone Building Products brand, following a change in corporate ownership. The RubberGard product line has continued under the new name.

Does RubberGard EPDM perform differently than other manufacturers' EPDM?

Base EPDM chemistry is broadly similar across manufacturers. Differences show up mainly in seam tape technology, sheet consistency, and warranty structure, which is why we compare Elevate against Carlisle and other EPDM suppliers case by case.

Can you match new Elevate membrane to an older RubberGard roof?

Often yes, since the product line has maintained continuity, but we confirm current formulation against older installed material before committing to a close visual match.

Does Elevate offer a no-dollar-limit warranty option?

Yes, at their higher warranty tiers, similar in structure to other major manufacturers' top-tier programs. We review the specific terms as part of any Elevate proposal.

Is Elevate TPO comparable in price to Carlisle or GAF TPO?

Pricing is generally competitive across major manufacturers for comparable specifications. We get current pricing from each manufacturer at bid time rather than relying on past project costs.