Seams
Laps are joined with seam tape and is checked before closeout.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Bergenfield, NJ
A Bergenfield roofer who installs EPDM can put a new rubber roof on a flat or low slope section of almost any home, and explain each choice before the sheet is rolled out. Dial (551) 374-2021 to talk with a local roofer about a new rubber roof.
Rubber roofing usually means EPDM, though some people use the term for any single-ply membrane. The membrane is thick, stretchy rubber that tolerates temperature swings and resists hail and sunlight well. Unlike TPO and PVC, its seams are taped rather than heat welded.
Attachment method shapes the rest of the installation. Fully adhered roofs bond the whole sheet to the cover board with adhesive, mechanically attached roofs use plates and fasteners along the seams and ballasted roofs hold a loose sheet down with river stone. On most homes, fully adhered EPDM is the usual choice because it handles wind well and stays smooth.
Thickness and color are the next choices. Sixty mil EPDM costs a little more than 45 mil but resists punctures better and lasts longer. Black is standard and holds heat, while white reflects it. The installer also plans how the membrane laps under shingles above it and up the wall beside it, where leaks tend to start.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Bergenfield roofer may also recommend rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Looking for Bergenfield rubber roof installation? Call (551) 374-2021 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The rubber roof installation process
Each layer is set up to give the membrane a smooth, solid base.
Check the base
Damaged decking is replaced and drainage is confirmed before any insulation goes down. Old roofing is removed if the roof is being replaced.
Add the cover board
Polyiso insulation and a cover board create a flat, firm base for the rubber. Low spots can be corrected with tapered insulation.
Sheet layout
The membrane is unrolled, aligned and allowed to settle before bonding. Seam layout follows the direction of drainage.
Apply adhesive
Bonding adhesive is rolled onto both the cover board and the underside of the rubber, then the sheet is folded back down and broomed smooth. The process repeats for the second half. Any trapped air is worked out so the sheet lies flat and does not blister.
Seaming
Primer and seam tape join the sheets, with T-joints covered by extra patches. Exposed edges get lap sealant.
Flash the details
Walls and curbs get membrane flashing held by termination bar, pipes get pre-molded boots and corners get uncured flashing. The top edge is sealed and covered. The last step is probing each seam and patch for gaps.
What is included
Parts of a new EPDM roof
EPDM membrane
A 45 or 60 mil EPDM sheet is installed in black or white.
Cover board
A cover board protects the insulation under the rubber.
Tear-off
Decking is inspected and replaced where needed before new layers go down.
Flashing
Every penetration and edge is sealed with materials made for EPDM.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Bergenfield, NJ
The quality of an EPDM installation shows up years later in the seams and edges. A flat, dry base, properly timed adhesive and carefully primed seams are what make EPDM last. Weather matters too, since adhesives and primers need dry conditions. Some installers use water-based adhesive for the field of the roof and solvent-based adhesive at walls and curbs, where the grip has to be strongest.
A good Bergenfield installer also plans for movement. Securing the membrane at the edges and flashing corners correctly prevents later tears. Ask how the roofer secures the perimeter.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Rubber roofs in Bergenfield are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. Homes in Bergenfield and nearby places including New Milford, Dumont, River Edge and Cresskill benefit from rubber roofing because it flexes with the seasons, which is why the seams and flashing deserve careful attention.
For rubber roof installation in Bergenfield, NJ or nearby towns like New Milford, Dumont, River Edge and Cresskill, call (551) 374-2021 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Bergenfield
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Bergenfield is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Bergenfield and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Rubber Roof Installation questions
Is a rubber roof the same as TPO?
EPDM is synthetic rubber, while TPO is a thermoplastic membrane. EPDM is usually black, very flexible and seamed with tape, while TPO is usually white, more reflective and heat welded at the seams. A roofer can help you choose.
Which EPDM thickness should I choose?
Most residential EPDM is 45 or 60 mil. Sixty mil resists punctures better and lasts longer, which helps on roofs with foot traffic or hail. Even thicker sheets are available for demanding roofs.
What color EPDM is best?
The choice depends on the climate and the space below. Black holds heat and white reflects it. Ask about both options.
Can a rubber roof go over an existing roof?
EPDM can sometimes go over an existing roof. The old roof must be a single dry layer, with a recover board over it. Wet insulation or multiple layers mean a tear-off. The roofer tests the old roof for moisture before recommending a recover.
What is the lifespan of a new EPDM roof?
Rubber roofs often last decades. Thickness, seam quality and maintenance all affect its life. Repairs are simple when needed.
More questions? Call (551) 374-2021
Often needed together
Rubber Roof Repair
Repairs for leaking rubber roofs, from peeling seams to pulled flashing at walls and curbs, so the membrane seals again without a tear-off.
Learn moreFlat Roof Installation
Installing TPO, PVC, EPDM or modified bitumen roofs on additions, garages, porches and flat-roof homes, planned around how the roof will be used.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, built around proper drainage, flashing and edge metal.
Learn moreFlat Roof Replacement
Tearing off or recovering a worn flat roof and installing a new membrane, insulation and edge metal, so ponding and repeat leaks end for good.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet rubber roof installation help in Bergenfield
Call now for Bergenfield rubber roof installation and help in the towns around it.