Insulation
Rigid boards with tapered crickets built to current code levels.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Clark, NJ
Modified bitumen roofing in Clark is a multi-ply asphalt roof, usually a base sheet and a granulated cap sheet, used on flat and low-slope roofs, and match the method to the building and its fire risk. Dial (908) 562-6899 to talk through modified bitumen with a local roofer.
A modified bitumen roof is built from rolls of polymer-modified asphalt, typically a smooth base sheet under a cap sheet surfaced with granules. Sheets come in SBS, a rubber-modified type that handles cold well, and APP, a plastic-modified type made for torching. Multiple plies make a tough roof that tolerates foot traffic better than many single-ply sheets.
How the sheets are applied matters as much as which sheets are used. 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. Look for blisters, splits, granule loss and seams that curl up at the edge, and note where water stands after rain. Say whether the roof has been coated or patched before, because old coatings and mastic affect repairs.
Depending on what the roofer finds, modified bitumen roofing in Clark, NJ can go hand in hand with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Clark, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6899 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The modified bitumen process
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Survey the existing roof
Before planning, the roofer cuts a small sample to see what is underneath and checks for soft decking. With two roofs already in place or wet insulation present, a tear-off is the norm.
Prep the base
Old roofing is removed where needed, rotted decking is replaced and the surface is swept clean. Insulation or a cover board is added, with tapered sections where water needs help reaching the drains.
Install the base ply
A smooth base sheet goes down first, fastened or adhered depending on the deck. The roofer offsets the laps so no seam sits directly over another.
Apply the cap sheet
The granulated cap sheet is torched, set in cold adhesive or self-adhered over the base. On torched laps, a steady bleed-out of asphalt at the edge shows a good seal.
Detail the edges
Base flashing runs up walls and parapets in two plies and is fastened at the top under metal counterflashing or a termination bar. Drains get new flashing, and the roof edge gets new metal.
Walk the finished roof
Once the roof is done, the crew checks every lap, cleans up and keeps a fire watch if torches were used. A final walk checks laps, flashings and drainage.
What is included
Parts of a modified bitumen roof
Edge metal
New edge metal and drain flashings so water leaves the roof where it should.
Cap sheet
A top ply surfaced with mineral granules to shield the asphalt from sun.
Base ply
The first ply of polymer-modified asphalt over a clean, sound deck.
Wall flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal so wall joints stay dry.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Clark, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. For blisters and splits, the damaged section is opened up, dried and covered with a larger patch. Loose granules are embedded in the bleed-out so the patch does not weather quickly.
In Clark, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Near combustible materials, a cold-process or peel-and-stick patch can replace torching. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Clark, NJ
A built up roof is made of several plies of felt mopped together with hot asphalt or coal tar pitch, then flood-coated and covered with gravel. The gravel protects the bitumen from sun and foot traffic, so bare spots where it has blown or washed away are a common source of trouble. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
Repairs on a built up roof in Clark usually involve scraping back the gravel, patching with felt and bitumen or modified bitumen, and replacing the gravel. Replacement often means a tear-off, since the gravel and the weight make recovering difficult. The replacement is often a mod bit or single-ply roof that is lighter and easier to maintain.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Around Clark, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. From Clark out to Rahway, Colonia, Garwood and Cranford, roofs range from aging two-ply systems with worn granules to newer self-adhered roofs on additions, so the right method depends on what is up there now.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Clark? Call (908) 562-6899 for a Clark roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Clark, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Clark
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Clark and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
The existing roof decides that. One dry existing roof can often stay in place under a cover board. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
Is torch-down roofing safe?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. Experienced roofers avoid torching directly on wood decks or near combustible edges, fasten the base sheet over wood instead of torching it, and keep a fire watch after the work. On homes, self-adhered or cold-applied modified bitumen avoids the flame entirely.
How long does a modified bitumen roof last?
A two-ply modified bitumen roof commonly lasts around 15 to 25 years. Good drainage, intact granules and sound flashings push it toward the long end. A reflective coating applied before the cap sheet wears out can extend its life.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Modified bitumen takes coatings well when the cap sheet is sound and the roof drains. Before coating, the roofer repairs blisters and laps and may use a bleed-blocking primer. Reflective coatings keep the roof cooler and slow granule loss.
How does mod bit compare to tar and gravel?
Both use asphalt, but the plies and surfacing differ. 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.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6899
Other services that may help
Flat Roof Replacement
Replacing old built-up, torch-down, EPDM or TPO roofs with a new system built to drain, so ponding and repeat leaks end for good.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, blisters, splits, ponding and failed flashing on flat and low slope roofs, so the roof sheds water again without a full replacement.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, with seams welded into one watertight sheet.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Full replacement of membrane, built-up and metal roofs on commercial buildings, from core cuts to closeout.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Clark, NJ?
Call (908) 562-6899 to talk to a roofer serving Clark, NJ.