Lap sealing
Open laps are resealed with seam tape with lap sealant at the edges.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Denville, NJ
A roofer in Denville can repair a rubber roof by cleaning and priming the EPDM, then sealing open seams, punctures and torn flashing with rubber cover tape and lap sealant, once the actual leak point is located. One call to (862) 421-0116 reaches a nearby rubber roof repair pro.
Rubber roofs fail in a few predictable places. The seams fail first on many older rubber roofs, because the original seam adhesive loses its grip after years of sun. After that, punctures and torn flashing at walls and penetrations cause most leaks.
Shrinkage is a problem specific to rubber roofs. Shrinking rubber pulls tight at the perimeter, tenting across corners and tearing at flashing seams. The fix is releasing the tension and adding new flashing, not just caulking the gap.
Avoid one common shortcut before the roofer arrives. Tar and asphalt products damage EPDM and leave a surface that proper patches cannot stick to. Instead, catch drips inside, stay off the roof when it is wet and note where stains appear.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Denville roofer may also recommend rubber roof installation or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Denville, NJ right now? Call (862) 421-0116 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Denville.
Call nowThe process
How rubber roof repair works
A rubber patch is only as good as the cleaning and priming under it.
Inspect the roof
The roofer checks every seam, flashing detail, pipe boot and the roof edge, probing laps for loose spots. The roofer also checks whether water has soaked the insulation underneath.
Prepare the surface
Old rubber is washed and scrubbed until the surface is clean and dry. Earlier tar repairs are cut away.
Prime the area
Primer goes on in a thin, even coat over the cleaned area. This step is what lets the patch bond chemically to aged rubber.
Apply the patch
The patch is laid over the primed area and rolled so it bonds completely. Corners and penetrations use flexible uncured flashing.
Reseal the seams
Open seams are cleaned, primed and covered with seam tape or a cover strip along their full length. Lap sealant protects the edges.
Wall flashing
Bridged corners are cut free and new flashing is installed to relieve stress. A termination bar holds the new flashing in place.
What is included
Common EPDM repairs
Shrinkage repair
Membrane pulling from walls is released and reflashed with termination bar where needed.
Surface renewal
Compatible coatings can extend the life of weathered EPDM after proper priming.
Tear repair
Damaged rubber is covered with new membrane with rounded corners.
Penetration flashing
Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing are replaced for a tight seal.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Denville, NJ
Repairing EPDM is simple in concept but unforgiving of shortcuts. Dirt, moisture or skipped primer are the usual reasons an EPDM patch fails. Edges then get lap sealant for extra protection.
A Denville roofer will time EPDM repairs for dry weather, because moisture ruins the bond. Short-term fixes can protect the house until the weather cooperates. A proper patch should follow as soon as possible.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Denville, NJ
Sometimes a rubber roof is too far gone to repair. Seams failing all over, shrinkage pulling at every wall, a brittle and crazed surface or wet insulation across large areas all point toward a new roof. A moisture survey helps decide.
A new rubber roof can go back on as EPDM, or the roof can switch to TPO or PVC. Recovering may be an option over one dry layer, while wet areas require removal. Ask the Denville roofer to compare repair and replacement for your roof.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
Around Denville, rubber roofing is found on additions, carports and flat roofs that have been in place for years. From Denville to neighboring communities such as Rockaway, Mountain Lakes, Morris Plains and Dover, storms and years of sun wear seams and flashing on rubber roofs, so a check after big storms is worth it.
Searching for rubber roof repair near me from Denville or Rockaway, Mountain Lakes, Morris Plains and Dover? Call (862) 421-0116 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Denville
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the 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 Denville, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Denville 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 Repair questions
Can I use roofing tar on a rubber roof?
Asphalt-based products damage rubber roofing. Their solvents soften and swell the rubber, and they leave a surface that proper EPDM patches cannot bond to. Use primer, EPDM cover tape and lap sealant instead.
Can a rubber roof be coated?
A coating can extend the life of aging EPDM. The roof must be repaired first, cleaned and primed with an EPDM-compatible primer before an acrylic or silicone coating goes on. A coating is not a fix for an active leak.
How long does a rubber roof last?
A well installed EPDM roof commonly lasts 20 to 30 years. Thickness, installation and maintenance all affect its life. Timely repairs to seams and flashing help it get there.
How is a rubber roof patched?
The surface is cleaned, primed and covered with rubber patch material. The roofer scrubs the area with membrane cleaner, applies primer, lets it flash off, then presses down a patch with rounded corners and rolls it firmly. The edges get lap sealant.
Why is my rubber roof pulling away from the wall?
EPDM shrinks slowly as it ages. The shrinking membrane tugs at the perimeter and bridges across corners. Repairs release the strain and reflash the wall.
More questions? Call (862) 421-0116
Often needed together
Rubber Roof Installation
EPDM rubber roof installation with the right thickness, attachment method and flashing details, with as few seams as the roof allows.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Flat roof repairs matched to the membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen or built-up, with the patch made from material that bonds to what is there.
Learn moreRoof Coating
Silicone, acrylic and other liquid coatings that renew aging flat, low-slope and metal roofs, after the seams and blisters are repaired.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Denville roofer about rubber roof repair
Call (862) 421-0116 for a local roofer in Denville and nearby towns.