Rubber sheet
The rubber membrane is adhered or fastened over a clean, dry base.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Livingston, NJ
A Livingston 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 (973) 858-1821 to talk with a local roofer about a new rubber roof.
EPDM is the material most people mean when they say rubber roof. EPDM is sold in wide rolls, typically 45 or 60 mil thick, and it stretches and recovers as the roof moves through hot and cold seasons. Its seams are joined with primer and tape instead of hot air.
The first decision is how the membrane is held down. Adhered, fastened and ballasted systems each suit different buildings and wind conditions. For homes, adhered EPDM is the most common choice.
Then comes thickness and color. Thicker 60 mil membrane stands up better to foot traffic and hail. 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.
Many rubber roof installation calls in Livingston also turn up a need for rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Dealing with this in Livingston, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-1821 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Livingston.
Call nowThe process
How rubber roof installation works
A rubber roof is built in layers, with the seams and flashing as the critical details.
Check the base
The roofer checks the deck for rot, gaps and loose sheets and confirms the roof has enough slope to drain. On a replacement, old layers come off first.
Insulation
Insulation boards go down for energy savings and slope, topped by a smooth cover board. Tapered boards add slope where needed.
Roll out the membrane
The membrane is unrolled, aligned and allowed to settle before bonding. Seam layout follows the direction of drainage.
Bond the membrane
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. Then the other half is done the same way. Brooming from the middle outward pushes trapped air to the edges.
Seaming
Seam areas are cleaned and primed, then seam tape is applied and rolled firmly with a seam roller. Lap sealant goes along exposed tape edges.
Flashing
Flashing goes up walls and around curbs, with boots at pipes and new edge metal at the perimeter. Termination bar and counter flashing seal the wall edge. The last step is probing each seam and patch for gaps.
What is included
What goes into a rubber roof
Flashing
Termination bar, pipe boots and edge metal are installed for a finished roof.
Deck preparation
Decking is inspected and replaced where needed for a sound start.
Insulation
Insulation adds energy savings and slope for a smooth surface.
Seam tape
Laps are joined with seam tape with lap sealant at the edges.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Livingston, NJ
EPDM roof installation is straightforward in concept and demanding in the details. The membrane has to lie flat on a clean, dry cover board, the adhesive has to reach the right tack before the sheet is laid and every seam has to be primed and rolled with care. 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.
In Livingston, an experienced EPDM installer leaves room for the membrane to move and age. Perimeter securement and proper flashing help prevent the shrinkage problems older rubber roofs show. Ask how the roofer secures the perimeter.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Rubber roofs in Livingston are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. From Livingston to neighboring communities such as Roseland, Short Hills, Florham Park and Caldwell, rubber roofs that drain properly and have well sealed flashing last the longest, so installation details matter as much as the material.
Need rubber roof installation around Livingston? Call (973) 858-1821 for a Livingston roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Livingston
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, building ice dams that push 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 Livingston is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Livingston
Roofers in Livingston know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Rubber Roof Installation FAQ
What is the lifespan of a new EPDM roof?
EPDM can last 25 years or longer. Regular inspections help it reach its full life. Small repairs are easy to make.
How thick should a rubber roof be?
The common choices are 45 mil and 60 mil. Thicker 60 mil is tougher and longer lasting. Heavy duty options exist too.
What color EPDM is best?
Color affects heat gain. White helps in sunny climates, and black is common where winters are long. A roofer can recommend what fits your home.
What is the difference between EPDM and TPO?
The two are different materials. EPDM is usually black, very flexible and seamed with tape, while TPO is usually white, more reflective and heat welded at the seams. Each suits different roofs.
Can a rubber roof go over an existing roof?
A recover is possible only under certain conditions. Codes generally allow one recover over a dry, sound roof. If the old roof is wet, it must come off. Core samples or a moisture scan show whether the old roof is dry enough.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1821
Related services
Rubber Roof Repair
Repairs for leaking rubber roofs, from peeling seams to pulled flashing at walls and curbs, never with tar or asphalt cement that ruins the rubber.
Learn moreFlat Roof Installation
Installing TPO, PVC, EPDM or modified bitumen roofs on additions, garages, porches and flat-roof homes, with every wall, curb and penetration flashed properly.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
Learn moreFlat 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 more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed rubber roof installation in Livingston, NJ?
Call (973) 858-1821 to talk to a roofer serving Livingston, NJ.