Base flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal so wall joints stay dry.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Closter, NJ
A local roofing contractor in Closter can handle modified bitumen, whether the sheets are torched, self-adhered or set in cold adhesive, which holds up well to foot traffic and patches easily. One call to (551) 395-0646 reaches a nearby flat roof pro.
A modified bitumen roof is built from rolls of polymer-modified asphalt, typically a smooth base sheet under a cap sheet surfaced with granules. Sheets come in SBS, a rubber-modified type that handles cold well, and APP, a plastic-modified type made for torching. Multiple plies make a tough roof that tolerates foot traffic better than many single-ply sheets.
There are several ways to put down mod bit, and each suits different buildings. Torching gives tight, fused laps, but the flame is a fire risk near wood decks, parapets and anything combustible. For homes and buildings where open flame is a concern, self-adhered or cold-process sheets are the usual answer.
Knowing the signs makes the first conversation more useful. Note any blisters or bubbles, cracking in the cap sheet, bare spots where granules have washed off and laps that are lifting at the edges. Mention whether the roof has been coated or patched with roofing cement, since that changes how new material will stick.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Closter roofer may also recommend flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Closter? Call (551) 395-0646 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Closter.
Call nowThe process
What a mod bit roof job involves
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Start with the deck
The roofer checks the deck, counts existing layers and looks for wet insulation, often with a core cut. Those findings decide whether the old roof must come off.
Tear off old roofing
The deck is stripped, repaired and cleaned so the new layers lie flat. Rigid insulation and tapered crickets go down next to improve drainage.
Install the base ply
The first ply is nailed or mechanically fastened on wood, or set in adhesive over insulation. The roofer offsets the laps so no seam sits directly over another.
Apply the cap sheet
The granulated cap sheet is torched, set in cold adhesive or self-adhered over the base. At torched laps, a small bead of melted asphalt should show along the edge, a sign the seam has fused.
Flash the walls
Parapets and curbs are flashed with mod bit plies, then capped or counterflashed with metal. Drains get new flashing, and the roof edge gets new metal.
Keep a fire watch
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
What a mod bit roof includes
Insulation
New insulation where the roof is torn off built to current code levels.
Cap sheet
The finished top layer with protective granules with fully sealed laps.
Base sheet
A fastened or adhered base layer laid with laps offset from the cap.
Drain flashing
Metal edges and flashed drain bowls so water leaves the roof where it should.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Closter, NJ
On a torch-down roof, most repairs involve resealing laps, cutting out blisters and adding new plies over damaged areas. A blister is cut in an X or cut out, the area is dried and sealed, and a new piece of cap sheet goes over it. Granules are pressed into any exposed asphalt so the patch is protected from sun.
In Closter, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Near combustible materials, a cold-process or peel-and-stick patch can replace torching. Either way, the roofer should stay on fire watch after any flame work.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Closter, 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. Bare patches without gravel age quickly in the sun and are often where leaks begin. These roofs can last a long time, but blisters, splits and failed flashings show up as they age.
For Closter buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. Replacement often means a tear-off, since the gravel and the weight make recovering difficult. The replacement is often a mod bit or single-ply roof that is lighter and easier to maintain.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
In Closter, modified bitumen is common on low-slope roofs that see foot traffic or need a tough surface. Homes and buildings in Closter and around Demarest, Norwood, Harrington Park and Haworth face summer sun, heavy rain and the occasional strong storm, all of which wear on cap sheets and laps, so a check of laps and flashings every year or two catches small trouble early.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Closter? Call (551) 395-0646 for a Closter roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Closter, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Closter know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
What is the difference between modified bitumen and built up roofing?
Both use asphalt, but the plies and surfacing differ. Mod bit replaces the many felts of a built up roof with a few thick polymer sheets, and it skips the gravel. The polymer sheets stay flexible in cold and are easier to repair.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
The existing roof decides that. A single existing roof that is dry and well attached can sometimes be recovered. Trapped moisture or two existing layers mean the old roofing comes off.
Is torch-down roofing safe?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. Good crews fasten the base sheet on wood decks, keep the flame away from edges and gaps and stay on fire watch afterward. Where flame is a concern, peel-and-stick sheets are a common alternative.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. Loose granules are cleaned off, blisters and open laps are repaired and a primer may be needed to keep asphalt from bleeding through. Reflective coatings keep the roof cooler and slow granule loss.
How long does a modified bitumen roof last?
Most mod bit roofs last somewhere between 15 and 25 years with reasonable care. Roofs that drain well and keep their granules last longest. Coating an aging but sound roof can add years.
More questions? Call (551) 395-0646
Other services that may help
Flat 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 moreFlat Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, blisters, splits, ponding and failed flashing on flat and low slope roofs, with the patch made from material that bonds to what is there.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
White, heat-welded TPO single-ply roofing for low-slope homes and buildings, with seams welded into one watertight sheet.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Tear-off or recover of aging commercial roofs with new insulation and drainage, with nightly tie-ins to keep the building dry.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Closter roofer about modified bitumen roofing
Call (551) 395-0646 for a local roofer in Closter and nearby towns.