Tapered insulation
Rigid boards with tapered crickets built to current code levels.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Leonia, NJ
A local roofing contractor in Leonia can handle modified bitumen, whether the sheets are torched, self-adhered or set in cold adhesive, and match the method to the building and its fire risk. One call to (551) 348-8956 reaches a nearby flat roof pro.
Modified bitumen is asphalt with rubber or plastic polymers mixed in, made into reinforced rolls that go down in two or more layers. 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.
How the sheets are applied matters as much as which sheets are used. Torching gives tight, fused laps, but the flame is a fire risk near wood decks, parapets and anything combustible. 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. Look for blisters, splits, granule loss and seams that curl up at the edge, and note where water stands after rain. Say whether the roof has been coated or patched before, because old coatings and mastic affect repairs.
Modified Bitumen Roofing is often paired with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair, depending on the cause.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Leonia? Call (551) 348-8956 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What a mod bit roof job involves
A mod bit roof goes on in layers, starting with a sound base.
Inspect the roof
A core cut and a walk of the roof show how many layers exist and whether moisture is trapped. Those findings decide whether the old roof must come off.
Ready the substrate
On a tear-off, everything comes down to the deck and damaged plywood or planks are replaced. Insulation or a cover board is added, with tapered sections where water needs help reaching the drains.
Lay the base sheet
The first ply is nailed or mechanically fastened on wood, or set in adhesive over insulation. Laps are offset so seams in the cap sheet do not land on seams below.
Install the cap
The granulated cap sheet is torched, set in cold adhesive or self-adhered over the base. On torched laps, a steady bleed-out of asphalt at the edge shows a good seal.
Detail the edges
Walls, curbs and penetrations get reinforced flashing plies that run up and are capped with metal. New drip edge or gravel stop and properly set drain flashings finish the edges.
Walk the finished roof
After torch work, a fire watch confirms no hidden heat remains in insulation or wood. The roofer also confirms that drains are clear and the roof sheds water.
What is included
Parts of a modified bitumen roof
Base ply
A smooth reinforced base sheet laid with laps offset from the cap.
Wall flashing
Two-ply flashing up walls and parapets where most flat roof leaks start.
Drain flashing
Gravel stop or drip edge at the perimeter so water leaves the roof where it should.
Cap sheet
A granulated cap sheet in white or a dark color that takes foot traffic well.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Leonia, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. For blisters and splits, the damaged section is opened up, dried and covered with a larger patch. Loose granules are embedded in the bleed-out so the patch does not weather quickly.
Torch work on an occupied home in Leonia needs extra care, especially near wood fascia, siding and attic vents. Near combustible materials, a cold-process or peel-and-stick patch can replace torching. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Leonia, NJ
Built up roofing, often called tar and gravel, is the older cousin of modified bitumen: alternating layers of roofing felt and hot asphalt or coal tar, topped with gravel. When the gravel thins out, the asphalt below dries, cracks and blisters. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
Repairs on a built up roof in Leonia usually involve scraping back the gravel, patching with felt and bitumen or modified bitumen, and replacing the gravel. 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
In Leonia, modified bitumen is common on low-slope roofs that see foot traffic or need a tough surface. Homes and buildings in Leonia and around Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park and Englewood face summer sun, heavy rain and the occasional strong storm, all of which wear on cap sheets and laps, so the right method depends on what is up there now.
For modified bitumen roofing in Leonia, NJ or nearby towns like Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park and Englewood, call (551) 348-8956 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
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, 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 Leonia, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Leonia know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Modified bitumen takes coatings well when the cap sheet is sound and the roof drains. Before coating, the roofer repairs blisters and laps and may use a bleed-blocking primer. Reflective coatings keep the roof cooler and slow granule loss.
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. Safe practice includes not torching directly on wood, keeping extinguishers on the roof and watching for smoldering after the flame is off. Where flame is a concern, peel-and-stick sheets are a common alternative.
Can modified bitumen be installed over an existing roof?
The existing roof decides that. One dry existing roof can often stay in place under a cover board. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
What is the difference between modified bitumen and built up roofing?
Both are asphalt roofs built in layers, but they are made differently. Mod bit replaces the many felts of a built up roof with a few thick polymer sheets, and it skips the gravel. 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?
Most mod bit roofs last somewhere between 15 and 25 years with reasonable care. Drainage and the condition of the cap sheet granules make the biggest difference. Coating an aging but sound roof can add years.
More questions? Call (551) 348-8956
Other services that may help
Flat 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 moreFlat Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, blisters, splits, ponding and failed flashing on flat and low slope roofs, so the roof sheds water again without a full replacement.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, built around proper drainage, flashing and edge metal.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Commercial roof replacement phased around tenants and business hours, with nightly tie-ins to keep the building dry.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Leonia, NJ?
Call (551) 348-8956 to talk to a roofer serving Leonia, NJ.