Single-ply rubber roofs were first introduced to the United States in the 1950's. The first single-ply systems were based on synthetic rubbers, mainly neoprene, butyls, or polyisobutylene (P.I.B.). By the 1960's, chlorosulphonatedpolyethylene (DuPont's Hypalon) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were being used to produce single-ply sheet rubber roofing systems. In the 1970's, ethylene propylene diene monomer (E.P.D.M.) systems first appeared on the market and, by the early 1980's, had become the most widely sold single-ply sheet rubber roof system.

The application techniques have varied as more companies have introduced systems to the market. At the height of the single-ply rubber roofing sales era in 1985, there were over 120 companies manufacturing rubber systems. Many of these companies marketed materials and accessories that they private labeled from a contract manufacturer and so had little control over product development and quality control. Other companies designed systems that, while appearing feasible during development, did not function properly in practice.

Through the 1980's and 1990's, the number of companies selling single-ply rubber roofing systems declined dramatically as failures mounted. Today, only companies with field proven systems remain in business. This high failure rate in the rubber roof manufacturing business has left millions of square feet of single-ply rubber roofing installed with no manufacturer or contractor to provide warranty and maintenance support. Therefore, the need for single-ply roof restoration was born.