Rubber sheet
Wide sheets of EPDM cover the roof with as few seams as possible.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Hawthorne, NJ
A Hawthorne roofer who installs EPDM can put a new rubber roof on a flat or low slope section of almost any home, so the roof handles sun, cold and storms for decades. Call (862) 434-1182 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. Its seams are joined with primer and tape instead of hot air.
Attachment method shapes the rest of the installation. 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. Residential roofs are most often fully adhered.
Two more decisions round out the plan. Thicker 60 mil membrane stands up better to foot traffic and hail. 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.
Rubber Roof Installation is often paired with rubber roof repair and flat roof installation, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Hawthorne, NJ right now? Call (862) 434-1182 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Hawthorne.
Call nowThe process
The rubber roof installation process
Each layer is set up to give the membrane a smooth, solid base.
Deck prep
Damaged decking is replaced and drainage is confirmed before any insulation goes down. Old roofing is removed if the roof is being replaced.
Add the cover board
Insulation boards go down for energy savings and slope, topped by a smooth cover board. Slope can be built in at this stage.
Roll out the membrane
The membrane is unrolled, aligned and allowed to settle before bonding. Seam layout follows the direction of drainage.
Apply adhesive
Contact adhesive goes on the board and the membrane, and once it is tacky, the sheet is laid down and brushed. 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. Lap sealant goes along exposed tape edges.
Flash the details
Perimeter edge metal, wall flashing and pipe boots complete the roof. The top edge is sealed and covered. Before the crew leaves, seams are probed for any loose spots.
What is included
Parts of a new EPDM roof
Cover board
Rigid insulation and a cover board form the base under the rubber.
Seams
Seams are primed, taped and rolled with lap sealant at the edges.
Deck preparation
Old roofing is removed and the deck is repaired before new layers go down.
Flashing
Termination bar, pipe boots and edge metal are installed to keep water out.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Hawthorne, NJ
Installing EPDM well comes down to preparation, seams and flashing. 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 Hawthorne installer also plans for movement. Securing the membrane at the edges and flashing corners correctly prevents later tears. Ask about edge securement before work starts.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Rubber roofs in Hawthorne are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. Homes in Hawthorne and nearby places including Glen Rock, Haledon, Fair Lawn and Midland Park benefit from rubber roofing because it flexes with the seasons, which is why the seams and flashing deserve careful attention.
Searching for rubber roof installation near me from Hawthorne or Glen Rock, Haledon, Fair Lawn and Midland Park? Call (862) 434-1182 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
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 Hawthorne, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Hawthorne know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Rubber Roof Installation FAQ
What is the difference between EPDM and TPO?
They are related but not the same. Black EPDM is taped and stretchy, and white TPO is welded and reflective. A roofer can help you choose.
How thick should a rubber roof be?
Most residential EPDM is 45 or 60 mil. The thicker sheet holds up better to traffic and weather. Thicker 90 mil membrane exists for heavy use.
What is the lifespan of a new EPDM roof?
EPDM can last 25 years or longer. Good seams, drainage and occasional checks make the difference. Patching EPDM is straightforward.
Is it possible to install EPDM over the old roof?
EPDM can sometimes go over an existing roof. The old roof must be a single dry layer, with a recover board over it. Otherwise, a tear-off is needed. Core samples or a moisture scan show whether the old roof is dry enough.
Should my rubber roof be black or white?
Black and white each have their place. White helps in sunny climates, and black is common where winters are long. A roofer can recommend what fits your home.
More questions? Call (862) 434-1182
Often needed together
Rubber Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, punctures, shrinkage and split flashing on EPDM rubber roofs, so the membrane seals again without a tear-off.
Learn moreFlat Roof Installation
New flat roofs built with real slope, insulation, a cover board and a membrane suited to the building, with every wall, curb and penetration flashed properly.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
TPO membrane roofs installed over new insulation or in place of a worn flat roof, built around proper drainage, flashing and edge metal.
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 Hawthorne roofer about rubber roof installation
Call (862) 434-1182 to talk to a roofer serving Hawthorne, NJ.