Tapered insulation
Rigid boards with tapered crickets so water reaches the drains.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Haledon, NJ
A roofer in Haledon can install, repair or replace a modified bitumen roof, the layered asphalt membrane often called torch-down, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. Call (862) 434-1263 to reach a local roofer.
Modified bitumen is asphalt with rubber or plastic polymers mixed in, made into reinforced rolls that go down in two or more layers. The two main types are SBS, which is rubbery and flexible in cold weather, and APP, which is more plastic-like and is usually torched. Multiple plies make a tough roof that tolerates foot traffic better than many single-ply sheets.
The application method is one of the first decisions on a modified bitumen job. Torching gives tight, fused laps, but the flame is a fire risk near wood decks, parapets and anything combustible. Self-adhered peel-and-stick sheets and cold-applied adhesives skip the torch, which makes them common on houses.
A few details help the roofer plan. Watch for raised blisters, alligator cracking, bare patches and open laps, especially near walls and drains. Say whether the roof has been coated or patched before, because old coatings and mastic affect repairs.
Many modified bitumen roofing calls in Haledon also turn up a need for flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Haledon? Call (862) 434-1263 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What a mod bit roof job involves
Here is how a typical modified bitumen job runs.
Survey the existing roof
A core cut and a walk of the roof show how many layers exist and whether moisture is trapped. Those findings decide whether the old roof must come off.
Tear off old roofing
On a tear-off, everything comes down to the deck and damaged plywood or planks are replaced. Rigid insulation and tapered crickets go down next to improve drainage.
Put down the first layer
A base sheet is fastened to wood decks or adhered to insulation and cover board. Laps are offset so seams in the cap sheet do not land on seams below.
Apply the cap sheet
The top ply goes on with the chosen method, granules facing up for sun protection. Lap edges are checked for a continuous seal, and loose granules are pressed into any bleed-out.
Detail the edges
Walls, curbs and penetrations get reinforced flashing plies that run up and are capped with metal. Drains get new flashing, and the roof edge gets new metal.
Walk the finished roof
If any torching was done, the crew stays on watch after the flame goes off to make sure nothing is smoldering. A final walk checks laps, flashings and drainage.
What is included
What goes into a mod bit roof
Cap sheet
A granulated cap sheet in white or a dark color with fully sealed laps.
Drain flashing
Gravel stop or drip edge at the perimeter so water leaves the roof where it should.
Base ply
A smooth reinforced base sheet laid with laps offset from the cap.
Wall flashing
Two-ply flashing up walls and parapets so wall joints stay dry.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Haledon, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. Blisters are cut open, dried, resealed and covered with a patch of new cap sheet that laps well beyond the cut. Loose granules are embedded in the bleed-out so the patch does not weather quickly.
In Haledon, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Where a flame could reach wood or insulation, a self-adhered patch is the safer choice. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Haledon, NJ
Built up roofing stacks three or more plies of felt and bitumen into a thick, heavy membrane, finished with a layer of gravel. Bare patches without gravel age quickly in the sun and are often where leaks begin. With age, these roofs blister, crack at the flashings and open at the edges.
Most built up roof repairs in Haledon start by clearing the gravel, then patching with new plies and setting gravel back in place. Because these roofs are heavy, recovering over one can strain the structure, and many owners choose a tear-off when the time comes. Many are replaced with modified bitumen, TPO or another single-ply system.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Around Haledon, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. Homes and buildings in Haledon and around Paterson, Hawthorne, Totowa and Glen Rock face summer sun, heavy rain and the occasional strong storm, all of which wear on cap sheets and laps, and the first step is finding out how many layers are already on the deck.
For modified bitumen roofing in Haledon, NJ or nearby towns like Paterson, Hawthorne, Totowa and Glen Rock, call (862) 434-1263 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder 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. Most homeowners in Haledon, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Haledon and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Modified Bitumen Roofing FAQ
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. Safe practice includes not torching directly on wood, keeping extinguishers on the roof and watching for smoldering after the flame is off. Where flame is a concern, peel-and-stick sheets are a common alternative.
Should I coat my modified bitumen roof?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. Loose granules are cleaned off, blisters and open laps are repaired and a primer may be needed to keep asphalt from bleeding through. White coatings reflect sun, which helps the asphalt last.
Can modified bitumen be installed over an existing roof?
The core cut tells the roofer. A single existing roof that is dry and well attached can sometimes be recovered. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
How does mod bit compare to tar and gravel?
Both are asphalt roofs built in layers, but they are made differently. Built up roofs stack felts and hot bitumen with gravel on top, and mod bit uses two or three factory-made sheets with granules. Mod bit is lighter and more flexible, which is why it has replaced built up roofing on many buildings.
How long does a modified bitumen roof last?
Expect roughly 15 to 25 years from a well-installed modified bitumen roof. Good drainage, intact granules and sound flashings push it toward the long end. Some owners extend the roof with a coating once granules start to thin.
More questions? Call (862) 434-1263
Other services that may help
Flat Roof Replacement
Full replacement of failing flat roofs, with a moisture survey deciding tear-off or recover, and new flashing at every wall, curb and drain.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Flat roof repairs matched to the membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen or built-up, with the patch made from material that bonds to what is there.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, with seams welded into one watertight sheet.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Commercial roof replacement phased around tenants and business hours, with nightly tie-ins to keep the building dry.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Haledon, NJ?
Call (862) 434-1263 for a local roofer in Haledon and nearby towns.