Tapered insulation
New insulation where the roof is torn off so water reaches the drains.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Weehawken, NJ
A roofer in Weehawken can install, repair or replace a modified bitumen roof, the layered asphalt membrane often called torch-down, which holds up well to foot traffic and patches easily. Call (551) 373-3025 to reach a local roofer.
Modified bitumen, often shortened to mod bit, is the modern descendant of the old tar and gravel roof, with polymers added so the asphalt stays flexible. Sheets come in SBS, a rubber-modified type that handles cold well, and APP, a plastic-modified type made for torching. The layers give it toughness, which is why it holds up well on roofs that see foot traffic.
There are several ways to put down mod bit, and each suits different buildings. Torch-down uses an open flame to melt the back of the sheet onto the layer below, which makes strong laps but calls for strict fire safety near wood and insulation. Self-adhered peel-and-stick sheets and cold-applied adhesives skip the torch, which makes them common on houses.
Mod bit fails in predictable ways, which helps when you call. Note any blisters or bubbles, cracking in the cap sheet, bare spots where granules have washed off and laps that are lifting at the edges. Mention whether the roof has been coated or patched with roofing cement, since that changes how new material will stick.
Modified Bitumen Roofing is often paired with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair, depending on the cause.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Weehawken? Call (551) 373-3025 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Weehawken.
Call nowThe process
The modified bitumen process
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Start with the deck
The roofer checks the deck, counts existing layers and looks for wet insulation, often with a core cut. That decides between a tear-off and laying new plies over a sound, dry existing roof.
Tear off old roofing
The deck is stripped, repaired and cleaned so the new layers lie flat. Where the roof ponds, tapered insulation is added to move water off.
Lay the base sheet
A base sheet is fastened to wood decks or adhered to insulation and cover board. Its laps are staggered from the cap sheet laps to avoid weak lines.
Install the cap
A cap sheet with mineral granules is applied over the base sheet. Lap edges are checked for a continuous seal, and loose granules are pressed into any bleed-out.
Detail the edges
Parapets and curbs are flashed with mod bit plies, then capped or counterflashed with metal. 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
What a mod bit roof includes
Base sheet
A smooth reinforced base sheet that gives the roof its first line of defense.
Base flashing
Reinforced plies at every wall and curb fastened at the top.
Drain flashing
Metal edges and flashed drain bowls so water leaves the roof where it should.
Granulated cap
A top ply surfaced with mineral granules with fully sealed laps.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Weehawken, NJ
On a torch-down roof, most repairs involve resealing laps, cutting out blisters and adding new plies over damaged areas. Blisters are cut open, dried, resealed and covered with a patch of new cap sheet that laps well beyond the cut. Granules are pressed into any exposed asphalt so the patch is protected from sun.
Repairs near walls, vents or wood trim in Weehawken call for careful torch handling. Where a flame could reach wood or insulation, a self-adhered patch is the safer choice. After torching, a watch period for smoldering material is standard practice.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Weehawken, 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.
For Weehawken buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. When a built up roof reaches the end of its life, its weight and the gravel usually mean a tear-off before the new roof goes on. Common replacements include modified bitumen and single-ply membranes.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Around Weehawken, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. From Weehawken out to Union City, West New York, Hoboken and Secaucus, roofs range from aging two-ply systems with worn granules to newer self-adhered roofs on additions, so a check of laps and flashings every year or two catches small trouble early.
For modified bitumen roofing in Weehawken, NJ or nearby towns like Union City, West New York, Hoboken and Secaucus, call (551) 373-3025 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Weehawken
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 Weehawken, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Weehawken
Roofers in Weehawken know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Modified Bitumen Roofing FAQ
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
Fire risk with torch-down comes from the flame during installation, not the finished roof. Safe practice includes not torching directly on wood, keeping extinguishers on the roof and watching for smoldering after the flame is off. Self-adhered sheets give the same kind of roof without a torch.
What is the difference between modified bitumen and built up roofing?
The two are related, with key differences in material and installation. Built up roofing uses many plies of felt mopped with hot asphalt or coal tar and is topped with gravel, while modified bitumen uses fewer, thicker polymer-modified sheets with a granulated cap. 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. Roofs that drain well and keep their granules last longest. A reflective coating applied before the cap sheet wears out can extend its life.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
What is already up there sets the answer. One dry existing roof can often stay in place under a cover board. If there are already two roofs, blistering throughout or wet insulation, a tear-off is the right move.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
A coating can extend a modified bitumen roof that is aging but still dry and sound. The roof is cleaned, repaired and often primed so asphalt oils do not stain the coating. A white coating also lowers roof surface temperatures in summer.
More questions? Call (551) 373-3025
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Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
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Commercial roof replacement phased around tenants and business hours, with nightly tie-ins to keep the building dry.
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Call (551) 373-3025 for a local roofer in Weehawken and nearby towns.