Drain flashing
Gravel stop or drip edge at the perimeter so water leaves the roof where it should.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Cresskill, NJ
Modified bitumen roofing in Cresskill is a multi-ply asphalt roof, usually a base sheet and a granulated cap sheet, used on flat and low-slope roofs, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. One call to (551) 395-0321 reaches a nearby flat roof pro.
Modified bitumen, often shortened to mod bit, is the modern descendant of the old tar and gravel roof, with polymers added so the asphalt stays flexible. 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.
How the sheets are applied matters as much as which sheets are used. Torch-down uses an open flame to melt the back of the sheet onto the layer below, which makes strong laps but calls for strict fire safety near wood and insulation. Self-adhered and cold-adhesive systems avoid the flame and are often chosen for homes and occupied buildings.
A few details help the roofer plan. 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.
Many modified bitumen roofing calls in Cresskill also turn up a need for flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Cresskill, NJ right now? Call (551) 395-0321 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What a mod bit roof job involves
Here is how a typical modified bitumen job runs.
Survey the existing roof
The roofer checks the deck, counts existing layers and looks for wet insulation, often with a core cut. That decides between a tear-off and laying new plies over a sound, dry existing roof.
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.
Lay the base sheet
A base sheet is fastened to wood decks or adhered to insulation and cover board. The roofer offsets the laps so no seam sits directly over another.
Install the cap
A cap sheet with mineral granules is applied over the base sheet. On torched laps, a steady bleed-out of asphalt at the edge shows a good seal.
Flash the details
Parapets and curbs are flashed with mod bit plies, then capped or counterflashed with metal. Edge metal, drain flashing and pipe flashings complete the system.
Keep a fire watch
Once the roof is done, the crew checks every lap, cleans up and keeps a fire watch if torches were used. A final walk checks laps, flashings and drainage.
What is included
Parts of a modified bitumen roof
Base ply
A smooth reinforced base sheet laid with laps offset from the cap.
Cap sheet
A top ply surfaced with mineral granules with fully sealed laps.
Tapered insulation
Rigid boards with tapered crickets built to current code levels.
Wall flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal fastened at the top.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Cresskill, NJ
Torch down roof repair fixes the leaks that develop in torch-applied modified bitumen: open laps, blisters, splits and failed wall flashing. 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. Fresh granules over the hot asphalt help protect the repair.
In Cresskill, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Many roofers switch to self-adhered or cold-applied patches in tight spots where an open flame is a risk. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Cresskill, NJ
Built up roofing stacks three or more plies of felt and bitumen into a thick, heavy membrane, finished with a layer of gravel. Bare patches without gravel age quickly in the sun and are often where leaks begin. With age, these roofs blister, crack at the flashings and open at the edges.
Repairs on a built up roof in Cresskill 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
Around Cresskill, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. Across Cresskill and nearby towns like Demarest, Tenafly, Dumont and Closter, older buildings may still have built-up roofs under a layer of mod bit, which is why the core cut matters, so a check of laps and flashings every year or two catches small trouble early.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Cresskill? Call (551) 395-0321 for a Cresskill roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Cresskill
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Cresskill is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Cresskill and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Modified Bitumen Roofing FAQ
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. Mod bit is often preferred today for its flexibility and lower weight.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
What is already up there sets the answer. A single existing roof that is dry and well attached can sometimes be recovered. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
Is torch-down roofing safe?
Fire risk with torch-down comes from the flame during installation, not the finished roof. Safe practice includes not torching directly on wood, keeping extinguishers on the roof and watching for smoldering after the flame is off. Self-adhered sheets give the same kind of roof without a torch.
What is the lifespan of a torch-down roof?
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. Some owners extend the roof with a coating once granules start to thin.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. The roof is cleaned, repaired and often primed so asphalt oils do not stain the coating. White coatings reflect sun, which helps the asphalt last.
More questions? Call (551) 395-0321
Often needed together
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, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Full replacement of membrane, built-up and metal roofs on commercial buildings, with nightly tie-ins to keep the building dry.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Cresskill, NJ?
Call now for Cresskill modified bitumen roofing and help in the towns around it.