Surface renewal
Compatible coatings can extend the life of weathered EPDM once all leaks are fixed.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Livingston, NJ
A Livingston roofer who works on EPDM can fix peeling seams, punctures, blisters and membrane shrinkage at walls and curbs, so the roof stays watertight for more seasons. Dial (973) 858-1821 to talk with a local roofer about the leak.
Most EPDM leaks come from a short list of problems. The seams fail first on many older rubber roofs, because the original seam adhesive loses its grip after years of sun. Punctures and failed flashing at walls, curbs and vents round out the usual causes.
EPDM also shrinks as it ages. The membrane pulls away from walls and corners as it shrinks, stretching the flashing until it splits. Repairing shrinkage means relieving the strain and reflashing, not smearing sealant on the split.
Avoid one common shortcut before the roofer arrives. Tar and asphalt products damage EPDM and leave a surface that proper patches cannot stick to. In the meantime, catch drips in a bucket and keep off a wet, slippery roof.
Rubber Roof Repair is often paired with rubber roof installation and flat roof repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Livingston, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-1821 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The rubber roof repair process
Here is how a roofer usually handles a rubber roof repair.
Inspect the roof
Seams, perimeter flashing and penetrations are checked first, since that is where most rubber roofs leak. The roofer also checks whether water has soaked the insulation underneath.
Surface prep
Old rubber is washed and scrubbed until the surface is clean and dry. Any old tar or asphalt patch is removed first.
Apply primer
EPDM primer is scrubbed into the surface and allowed to flash off until it is tacky but not wet. This step is what lets the patch bond chemically to aged rubber.
Apply the patch
A rubber patch extends well past the damage, gets rounded corners and is rolled to remove air. Odd shapes like pipe bases and inside corners get uncured flashing.
Reseal the seams
Failed laps are reopened, cleaned and resealed with modern seam tape. Edges of every patch and seam get a bead of lap sealant.
Fix shrinkage
Where the rubber has pulled away, the roofer relieves the tension, adds new flashing up the wall and secures it with termination bar. A termination bar holds the new flashing in place.
What is included
Repairs a rubber roofer can handle
Pipe boots
Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing are replaced with pre-molded boots or uncured flashing.
Perimeter repair
Stretched corners are cut free and patched to stop tears at the perimeter.
Seam repair
Peeling seams are cleaned, primed and taped so they stay closed.
Tear repair
Punctures get a primed rubber patch rolled for a full bond.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Livingston, NJ
EPDM roof repair follows a strict sequence: clean, prime, patch, roll and seal. The rubber must be clean and dry, the primer must be scrubbed in and allowed to flash off and the patch must be rolled firmly so it bonds across its whole surface. Lap sealant finishes the edges.
Weather matters for EPDM repairs in Livingston, since primers and adhesives need dry conditions and mild temperatures to bond. Short-term fixes can protect the house until the weather cooperates. Temporary seals are not a substitute for a primed patch.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Livingston, NJ
There comes a point where patching an EPDM roof stops being worth it. Seams failing all over, shrinkage pulling at every wall, a brittle and crazed surface or wet insulation across large areas all point toward a new roof. A moisture survey helps decide.
A new rubber roof can go back on as EPDM, or the roof can switch to TPO or PVC. Recovering may be an option over one dry layer, while wet areas require removal. For a Livingston home, an honest assessment saves money in the long run.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
Around Livingston, rubber roofing is found on additions, carports and flat roofs that have been in place for years. Across Livingston and nearby towns like Roseland, Short Hills, Florham Park and Caldwell, older rubber roofs most often need seam and shrinkage repairs, while newer ones mainly need puncture and flashing fixes, which keeps small leaks from becoming big ones.
For rubber roof repair in Livingston, NJ or nearby towns like Roseland, Short Hills, Florham Park and Caldwell, call (973) 858-1821 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Livingston
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 Livingston, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Livingston know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about rubber roof repair
What causes EPDM to pull away from the edges?
EPDM shrinks slowly as it ages. As it shrinks, it pulls on the flashing, stretches across inside corners and can tear at the wall. The fix is relieving the tension and adding new flashing.
Can I use roofing tar on a rubber roof?
Tar and asphalt roof cement should never go on EPDM. Their solvents soften and swell the rubber, and they leave a surface that proper EPDM patches cannot bond to. The right fix is a primed EPDM patch.
Should I coat my EPDM roof?
Coatings can work on rubber roofs with proper prep. Seams and leaks must be fixed, and the right primer is essential. A coating is not a fix for an active leak.
How long does a rubber roof last?
EPDM can last 20 years or more, sometimes much longer. Thickness, installation and maintenance all affect its life. Timely repairs to seams and flashing help it get there.
What is the right way to patch EPDM?
The process is clean, prime, patch and roll. Cover tape with rounded corners goes over primed rubber and is rolled for a full bond. Edges are sealed with lap sealant.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1821
Often needed together
Rubber Roof Installation
EPDM rubber roof installation with the right thickness, attachment method and flashing details, so the roof stays flexible and watertight for decades.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Flat roof repairs matched to the membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen or built-up, so the roof sheds water again without a full replacement.
Learn moreRoof Coating
Silicone, acrylic and other liquid coatings that renew aging flat, low-slope and metal roofs, after the seams and blisters are repaired.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Livingston roofer about rubber roof repair
Call (973) 858-1821 for a local roofer in Livingston and nearby towns.