Rolled membrane with compression spacers

A method of rolling a membrane material into a roll for subsequent shipping, comprising:

• providing a core member;
• providing a membrane having a width defined by a first edge and a second edge, wherein the membrane includes a pre-applied seam tape affixed to the first edge having a substantially uniform thickness of less than about 0.035 inches;
• placing a first and second compression spacer substantially adjacent to the seam tape and the second edge, respectively;
• and
• rolling the membrane and compression spacers around the core member such that the pre-applied seam tape remains substantially uncompressed, wherein the compression spacers are compressed from a first thickness of about 0.050 inches to a second compressed thickness of about 0.045 inches.

A rolled roofing membrane, comprising:

• a core member;
• an EPDM membrane having a width defined by a first edge and a second edge, the membrane being rolled around the core member such that the first edge and the second edge are exposed;
• a pre-applied seam tape affixed to the first edge, wherein the seam tape has a substantially uniform thickness of about 0.032-0.035 inches;
• and
• three compression spacers removably affixed to the membrane, the first and second compression spacers being disposed proximate to the seam tape and second edge, respectively, and the third compression spacer being disposed approximately midway between the first and second compression spacers, the compression spacers being constructed from cardboard material having a flat side and a corrugated side and having a compressed thickness between from about 0.010 and 0.013 inches greater than the substantially uniform thickness of the pre-applied seam tape, the compression spacers being configured to allow the seam tape to remain in a substantially uncompressed state such that the membrane is rolled uniformly on the core member without telescoping and with a uniform cross-sectional diameter along the width of the rolled membrane.