Cover board
A cover board protects the insulation under the rubber.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Maplewood, NJ
A roofer in Maplewood can install a rubber roof by laying EPDM membrane in wide sheets over insulation and a cover board, bonding or fastening it down and sealing every seam with primer and tape, so the roof handles sun, cold and storms for decades. Call (973) 858-1830 to reach a local roofer.
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. Unlike TPO and PVC, its seams are taped rather than heat welded.
EPDM can be attached in three main ways. Fully adhered roofs bond the whole sheet to the cover board with adhesive, mechanically attached roofs use plates and fasteners along the seams and ballasted roofs hold a loose sheet down with river stone. For homes, adhered EPDM is the most common choice.
Two more decisions round out the plan. Thicker 60 mil membrane stands up better to foot traffic and hail. Black EPDM absorbs heat, which helps in cold climates, while white EPDM reflects sun and keeps rooms below cooler. The transition to a steeper roof or a wall is planned with the same care, since that is where low roofs most often leak.
Depending on what the roofer finds, rubber roof installation in Maplewood, NJ can go hand in hand with rubber roof repair and flat roof installation.
Dealing with this in Maplewood, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-1830 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Maplewood.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a rubber roof installation
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.
Install 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 EPDM is unrolled, positioned and left to relax so wrinkles flatten before any adhesive goes on. 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. Then the other half is done the same way. Brooming from the middle outward pushes trapped air to the edges.
Seal the seams
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.
Finish the edges
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. Before the crew leaves, seams are probed for any loose spots.
What is included
What rubber roof installation covers
Rubber sheet
A 45 or 60 mil EPDM sheet is installed in black or white.
Seam tape
Every seam gets primer and tape with lap sealant at the edges.
Deck preparation
Decking is inspected and replaced where needed so the roof sits on solid wood.
Edge metal
Every penetration and edge is sealed for a finished roof.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Maplewood, NJ
The quality of an EPDM installation shows up years later in the seams and edges. A flat, dry base, properly timed adhesive and carefully primed seams are what make EPDM last. Installers work in dry weather so the bond holds. 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.
A good Maplewood installer also plans for movement. Securing the membrane at the edges and flashing corners correctly prevents later tears. Ask how the roofer secures the perimeter.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Rubber roofs in Maplewood are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. Homes in Maplewood and nearby places including Vauxhall, Union, Springfield and Short Hills benefit from rubber roofing because it flexes with the seasons, which is why the seams and flashing deserve careful attention.
Need rubber roof installation around Maplewood? Call (973) 858-1830 for a Maplewood roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Maplewood
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Maplewood, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Maplewood 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 questions
What color EPDM is best?
The choice depends on the climate and the space below. Black holds heat and white reflects it. A roofer can recommend what fits your home.
What is the lifespan of a new EPDM roof?
Rubber roofs often last decades. Good seams, drainage and occasional checks make the difference. Patching EPDM is straightforward.
Can a rubber roof go over an existing roof?
A recover is possible only under certain conditions. 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. Otherwise, a tear-off is needed. The roofer tests the old roof for moisture before recommending a recover.
Is a rubber roof the same as TPO?
The two are different materials. EPDM uses taped seams and stays flexible in cold, and TPO uses welded seams and reflects heat. Both are common on flat roofs.
How thick should a rubber roof be?
EPDM usually comes in 45 or 60 mil for homes. Thicker 60 mil is tougher and longer lasting. Thicker 90 mil membrane exists for heavy use.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1830
Other services that may help
Rubber Roof Repair
EPDM rubber roof repairs done with primer, cover tape and lap sealant made for rubber, 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, so water drains instead of ponding.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, with seams welded into one watertight sheet.
Learn moreFlat Roof Replacement
Replacing old built-up, torch-down, EPDM or TPO roofs with a new system built to drain, and new flashing at every wall, curb and drain.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Maplewood roofer about rubber roof installation
Call (973) 858-1830 for a local roofer in Maplewood and nearby towns.