Cover board
Rigid insulation and a cover board form the base for a smooth surface.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Springfield, NJ
Installing a rubber roof in Springfield means choosing the EPDM thickness and attachment method, then flashing walls, curbs and edges so the membrane can move without tearing, so the roof handles sun, cold and storms for decades. One call to (908) 562-6898 reaches a nearby rubber roof installer.
Rubber roofing usually means EPDM, though some people use the term for any single-ply membrane. The membrane is thick, stretchy rubber that tolerates temperature swings and resists hail and sunlight well. Its seams are joined with primer and tape instead of hot air.
Attachment method shapes the rest of the installation. Adhered, fastened and ballasted systems each suit different buildings and wind conditions. Residential roofs are most often fully adhered.
Two more decisions round out the plan. Sixty mil EPDM costs a little more than 45 mil but resists punctures better and lasts longer. 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 Springfield also turn up a need for rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Dealing with this in Springfield, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6898 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Springfield.
Call nowThe process
How rubber roof installation works
Here is how a roofer typically installs an EPDM roof.
Check the base
The deck is repaired and checked for slope, ideally a quarter inch per foot toward drains or gutters. On a replacement, old layers come off first.
Add the cover board
Insulation boards go down for energy savings and slope, topped by a smooth cover board. Low spots can be corrected with tapered insulation.
Sheet layout
Wide sheets are laid out to cover the roof with as few seams as possible, then allowed to relax. Seams are planned so they run with the slope.
Bond the membrane
Half the sheet is folded back, adhesive is applied to both surfaces and the rubber is pressed into place. The process repeats for the second half. Any trapped air is worked out so the sheet lies flat and does not blister.
Seal the seams
Seam areas are cleaned and primed, then seam tape is applied and rolled firmly with a seam roller. Tape edges are finished with lap sealant.
Flash the details
Flashing goes up walls and around curbs, with boots at pipes and new edge metal at the perimeter. The top edge is sealed and covered. Before the crew leaves, seams are probed for any loose spots.
What is included
What goes into a rubber roof
Edge metal
Termination bar, pipe boots and edge metal are installed for a finished roof.
Seams
Seams are primed, taped and rolled and is checked before closeout.
Tear-off
Old roofing is removed and the deck is repaired before new layers go down.
Rubber sheet
A 45 or 60 mil EPDM sheet is installed over a clean, dry base.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Springfield, NJ
EPDM roof installation is straightforward in concept and demanding in the details. Rushing the adhesive, skipping primer or leaving wrinkles under the sheet are the common mistakes. Weather matters too, since adhesives and primers need dry conditions. Different adhesives may be used in the field and at the flashings, each matched to the job it does.
In Springfield, 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 about edge securement before work starts.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Around Springfield, homeowners often choose EPDM for flat roof sections because it is durable and easy to repair. From Springfield to neighboring communities such as Vauxhall, Kenilworth, Union and Short Hills, rubber roofs that drain properly and have well sealed flashing last the longest, which is why the seams and flashing deserve careful attention.
Need rubber roof installation around Springfield? Call (908) 562-6898 for a Springfield roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
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, 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 Springfield, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Springfield
Roofers in Springfield know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Rubber Roof Installation questions
Should my rubber roof be black or white?
Color affects heat gain. Black EPDM absorbs heat, which can help in cold climates, while white EPDM reflects sunlight and keeps the rooms below cooler. Talk through the choice with a roofer.
Which EPDM thickness should I choose?
Most residential EPDM is 45 or 60 mil. The thicker sheet holds up better to traffic and weather. Heavy duty options exist too.
What is the lifespan of a new EPDM roof?
A properly installed EPDM roof commonly lasts 20 to 30 years or more. Thickness, seam quality and maintenance all affect its life. Repairs are simple when needed.
Is a rubber roof the same as TPO?
EPDM is synthetic rubber, while TPO is a thermoplastic membrane. EPDM is usually black, very flexible and seamed with tape, while TPO is usually white, more reflective and heat welded at the seams. Both are common on flat roofs.
Is it possible to install EPDM over the old roof?
EPDM can sometimes go over an existing roof. There should be only one existing layer, the insulation must be dry and a cover board or recover board goes between the old roof and the rubber. 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 (908) 562-6898
Often needed together
Rubber Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, punctures, shrinkage and split flashing on EPDM rubber roofs, after the real leak point is found.
Learn moreFlat Roof Installation
Installing TPO, PVC, EPDM or modified bitumen roofs on additions, garages, porches and flat-roof homes, planned around how the roof will be used.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, built around proper drainage, flashing and edge metal.
Learn moreFlat Roof Replacement
Tearing off or recovering a worn flat roof and installing a new membrane, insulation and edge metal, so ponding and repeat leaks end for good.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet rubber roof installation help in Springfield
Call (908) 562-6898 to talk to a roofer serving Springfield, NJ.