Rubber sheet
The rubber membrane is adhered or fastened in black or white.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Whippany, NJ
Installing a rubber roof in Whippany means choosing the EPDM thickness and attachment method, then flashing walls, curbs and edges so the membrane can move without tearing, so the roof handles sun, cold and storms for decades. Dial (862) 693-4362 to talk with a local roofer about a new rubber roof.
Rubber roofing usually means EPDM, though some people use the term for any single-ply membrane. It comes in large, flexible sheets, most often black, in 45 or 60 mil thickness, and its biggest strength is that it stays flexible in heat and cold without cracking. Its seams are joined with primer and tape instead of hot air.
The first decision is how the membrane is held down. The sheet can be glued to the substrate, fastened with plates at the seams or laid loose under a layer of stone. Residential roofs are most often fully adhered.
Two more decisions round out the plan. A 60 mil sheet is tougher than 45 mil for roofs that see foot traffic. Black EPDM absorbs heat, which helps in cold climates, while white EPDM reflects sun and keeps rooms below cooler. Where the rubber meets a shingled roof or the house wall, the tie-in detail matters as much as any of these choices.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Whippany roofer may also recommend rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Looking for Whippany rubber roof installation? Call (862) 693-4362 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a rubber roof installation
Here is how a roofer typically installs an EPDM roof.
Check the base
Damaged decking is replaced and drainage is confirmed before any insulation goes down. On a replacement, old layers come off first.
Add the cover board
Rigid insulation, often polyiso, is fastened with plates and screws, then a cover board goes on top. Low spots can be corrected with tapered insulation.
Sheet layout
The membrane is unrolled, aligned and allowed to settle before bonding. Laps are arranged so water flows over them.
Apply adhesive
Half the sheet is folded back, adhesive is applied to both surfaces and the rubber is pressed into place. The process repeats for the second half. Air pockets left under the sheet can turn into blisters later, so the crew works the rubber flat from the center out.
Seal the seams
Primer and seam tape join the sheets, with T-joints covered by extra patches. Tape edges are finished with lap sealant.
Finish the edges
Perimeter edge metal, wall flashing and pipe boots complete the roof. Counter flashing covers the top of wall flashing. Before the crew leaves, seams are probed for any loose spots.
What is included
Parts of a new EPDM roof
Edge metal
Walls, curbs, pipes and edges are flashed with materials made for EPDM.
Tear-off
Decking is inspected and replaced where needed so the roof sits on solid wood.
Seam tape
Every seam gets primer and tape and is checked before closeout.
Insulation
Insulation adds energy savings and slope for a smooth surface.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Whippany, NJ
Installing EPDM well comes down to preparation, seams and flashing. The membrane has to lie flat on a clean, dry cover board, the adhesive has to reach the right tack before the sheet is laid and every seam has to be primed and rolled with care. Dry, mild days give the best bond. Different adhesives may be used in the field and at the flashings, each matched to the job it does.
For a Whippany home, the installer thinks ahead to how the roof will behave over the years. Perimeter securement and proper flashing help prevent the shrinkage problems older rubber roofs show. Ask about edge securement before work starts.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Rubber roofs in Whippany are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. Across Whippany and nearby towns like Cedar Knolls, Parsippany, Morris Plains and Florham Park, EPDM handles storms, sun and cold well when it is installed with good seams and drainage, which is why the seams and flashing deserve careful attention.
For rubber roof installation in Whippany, NJ or nearby towns like Cedar Knolls, Parsippany, Morris Plains and Florham Park, call (862) 693-4362 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
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, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Whippany, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Whippany
Roofers in Whippany know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Rubber Roof Installation questions
Which EPDM thickness should I choose?
EPDM usually comes in 45 or 60 mil for homes. The thicker sheet holds up better to traffic and weather. Even thicker sheets are available for demanding roofs.
What is the difference between EPDM and TPO?
They are related but not the same. EPDM is usually black, very flexible and seamed with tape, while TPO is usually white, more reflective and heat welded at the seams. Both are common on flat roofs.
What color EPDM is best?
Black and white each have their place. White helps in sunny climates, and black is common where winters are long. Ask about both options.
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. Wet insulation or multiple layers mean a tear-off. A moisture check of the old roof settles the question before any work is planned.
How long does a new rubber roof last?
Rubber roofs often last decades. Good seams, drainage and occasional checks make the difference. Patching EPDM is straightforward.
More questions? Call (862) 693-4362
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, with every wall, curb and penetration flashed properly.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
Learn moreFlat Roof Replacement
Replacing old built-up, torch-down, EPDM or TPO roofs with a new system built to drain, so ponding and repeat leaks end for good.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Whippany roofer about rubber roof installation
Call (862) 693-4362 to talk to a roofer serving Whippany, NJ.