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EPDM roofing in Burke, VA: who decides a ballasted roof, and what the ballast asks of the building
A ballasted EPDM roof is held down by weight, not glue. That makes the decision about it a decision about the deck, the drains and the people who share the building. This guide starts with Census counts of who lives in which kind of Burke and Burke Centre home, then reads the ballast rules in the Virginia building code and a federal roofing standard.
- 52.7% of Burke Centre homes in 5 to 19 unit buildings are rented
- 10 to 12 lbs per sq ft: ballast weight in a federal roofing standard
- Stone ballast must meet ASTM D448 or D7655 in the code
Who decides an EPDM roof, by building type
The Census table on tenure by units in the building (B25032, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 estimates) counts occupied homes, split by whether the occupant owns or rents. It does not record roof type, so it cannot say where an EPDM roof exists. It does say who is likely to be at the table when a building-wide roof is discussed.
| Building type (occupied homes) | Burke Centre homes | Rented, Burke Centre | Rented, Burke place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | 2,283 | 5.4% | 7.1% |
| Attached house or townhouse | 2,791 | 17.9% | 15.5% |
| 5 to 19 units in the building | 774 | 52.7% | 49.1% |
| 20 or more units | 115 | 100% (115 renters, no owner estimate) | 100% (23 renters) |
Shares computed here from Census estimates, which carry margins of error. Burke Centre has 5,977 occupied homes; the Burke place has 13,753. Buildings with 2 to 4 units are left out because the counts are tiny.
Where one owner decides
On a detached house, the occupant is the owner in nearly every home in these counts. A low-slope EPDM section over an addition or porch is that owner's decision, after the Conservancy and county steps in the Burke roofing guide.
Where a body decides
In the 5 to 19 unit and 20 or more unit buildings, about half or more of the homes are rented. A flat roof there is more likely to be decided by an association or a landlord. The condominium documents, not the Census, say who owns the roof.
What ballast is, and what it weighs
The Department of Defense roofing criteria (UFC 3-110-03, change 5 of June 2020, public release) describe a loose-laid membrane as one anchored only at the edges and at penetrations, then held down against wind by aggregate or pavers. Its glossary lists ballast as loose aggregate, concrete pavers or other material that prevents wind uplift or flotation.
The same document lists the trade-off. Ballasted EPDM uses larger sheets with factory-made seams, which it calls superior to field seams. The downside it names is the need for stone or pavers and the "increased difficulty in detecting sources of leaks". It also says the ballast is relatively heavy at 10 to 12 pounds per square foot and may affect the structural system.
Coverboard is a rigid board placed under a membrane. The criteria require it in all assemblies except single-ply ballasted ones, which shows how differently a ballasted roof is built from the others.
What the Virginia code says about ballasted roofs
Chapter 15 of the 2021 Virginia code, read on UpCodes (a third-party copy, so check the state text), contains the ballast rules. They sit in the commercial building code. Which code governs a given Burke building, house or multifamily, is a question for Fairfax County Land Development Services.
- Section 1504.5
- Ballasted low-slope single-ply roofs, slope under 2:12, installed under section 1507.12, are designed in accordance with ANSI/SPRI RP-4. That standard was not opened.
- Section 1507.12.3
- Ballasted low-slope roofs follow that section and 1504.5. Stone used as ballast complies with ASTM D448 or ASTM D7655.
- Section 1507.12.1
- Single-ply membrane roofs have a design slope of not less than one quarter unit vertical in 12, a 2 percent slope, for drainage. EPDM is listed in the material table under ASTM D4637.
- Section 1504.4
- The contrast case: coverings that are mechanically attached or adhered are designed to resist component and cladding wind pressures under section 1609.5.2. Nothing in that sentence mentions weight.
Chapter 16 adds a load rule for rooftop solar. The weight of panels, supports and ballast counts as dead load, and roofs carrying ballasted panels are checked for deflection and ponding. The code does not state a pounds-per-foot figure for roof stone itself in the sections read.
Deck, drains and upkeep when a roof is ballasted
Because the stone is a load, a ballasted roof moves questions from the membrane to the building. Each item below ties to a line in the sources, and each ends in an ask-the-engineer step rather than an answer.
- Deck capacity. The federal criteria say ballast may affect the structural system. A written structural review of the existing deck is the document to request.
- Drains and overflow. The code calls for secondary drains or scuppers where perimeter construction could entrap water, with scupper openings of at least 4 inches, and design for rain load from the 100-year 15-minute rainfall.
- Standing water. The criteria define ponding as water remaining more than 48 hours after rain. Ask whether stone or pavers will sit in any low spots.
- Leak tracing. Stone hides the membrane, so ask who lifts it, where it is stored and how it is replaced after an inspection.
- Roof additions. A solar array or new equipment adds dead load, and the code asks for checks on ponding.
Questions before a vote or a quote
- Find out who owns the roof. For a condominium or association building, read the governing documents. The Burke guide lists the layers that may apply, from the county to a cluster standard.
- Ask which method is proposed. Ballasted, adhered and mechanically attached are separate code paths. See the EPDM roofing overview for the material itself.
- Request the structural and drainage review in writing. It should name the ballast type and the standard it meets.
- Ask the county. Land Development Services decides which permit and code path fits the scope.
- Compare with other options. The materials page and the flat roof guide set EPDM beside other membranes.
Book a phone consultation to talk through a Burke EPDM roof: have the building type, the association contact and any drawings ready. See also commercial roofing, roof replacement and services, or call (571) 397-6072.
Records and standards consulted
Each document was opened on October 20, 2026. ASTM D448, ASTM D7655 and ANSI/SPRI RP-4 were not opened, so nothing here describes their contents. The code copy is third-party.
Questions people ask
What does ballast mean on an EPDM roof?
A federal roofing standard defines ballast as loose aggregate, concrete pavers or other material that keeps a loose-laid roof from lifting in wind or floating. In a ballasted EPDM system the membrane is anchored only at edges and penetrations, and the weight does the rest of the holding.
How heavy is roof ballast?
The Department of Defense roofing criteria put ballast at 10 to 12 pounds per square foot and say it may affect the structural system. That is one source for one kind of ballast, so the real figure for a given roof belongs in an engineer's calculation.
Does the Virginia code say what size the stone must be?
The text read for this page says stone used as ballast must comply with ASTM D448 or ASTM D7655. Those standards hold the size classes and were not opened for this page, so ask the designer which one is specified.
Who decides on a ballasted EPDM roof in a Burke Centre condominium?
Census counts show about half or more of the homes in 5 to 19 unit buildings in Burke Centre are rented, so the owner of the roof may not live there. The condominium documents say who owns and pays for the roof. Ask the association, and ask Land Development Services which code applies to the building.
Can a ballasted roof hold ponded water?
The code sets a design slope of not less than a quarter unit in 12 for single-ply membranes and requires secondary drains or scuppers where water could be trapped. The federal criteria define ponding as water that stays more than 48 hours after rain stops. Ask where the drains and overflows are.
Does ballast make leaks harder to find?
The Department of Defense criteria name harder leak detection as a downside of ballasted systems, since stone or pavers cover the membrane. Ask how access for inspection would work before ballast is put back.
Does a solar array on a ballasted roof change the load?
The Virginia code treats the weight of photovoltaic panels, supports and their ballast as dead load, and checks ballasted solar roofs for ponding. Ask the engineer to add any planned array to the load review.
Is a ballasted roof the only way to install EPDM?
No. The code separates ballasted roofs from non-ballasted ones that are mechanically attached or adhered, and the federal criteria discuss fully adhered and ballasted EPDM as different methods. Which one suits a Burke building is a design question.
Talk through your roof with Roofers of Arlington
Share the address, what you are seeing on the roof and the decision you need to make. We will tell you what to expect before anything is scheduled.