Flashing
Walls, curbs, pipes and edges are flashed to keep water out.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Madison, NJ
A Madison roofer who installs EPDM can put a new rubber roof on a flat or low slope section of almost any home, and explain each choice before the sheet is rolled out. Call (862) 431-0046 to reach a local roofer.
Rubber roofing usually means EPDM, though some people use the term for any single-ply membrane. EPDM is sold in wide rolls, typically 45 or 60 mil thick, and it stretches and recovers as the roof moves through hot and cold seasons. Unlike TPO and PVC, its seams are taped rather than heat welded.
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. On most homes, fully adhered EPDM is the usual choice because it handles wind well and stays smooth.
Thickness and color are the next choices. Thicker 60 mil membrane stands up better to foot traffic and hail. Black is standard and holds heat, while white reflects it. 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 Madison roofer may also recommend rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Dealing with this in Madison, NJ right now? Call (862) 431-0046 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Madison.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a rubber roof installation
Here is how a roofer typically installs an EPDM roof.
Deck prep
The roofer checks the deck for rot, gaps and loose sheets and confirms the roof has enough slope to drain. On a replacement, old layers come off first.
Add the cover board
Polyiso insulation and a cover board create a flat, firm base for the rubber. Slope can be built in at this stage.
Roll out the membrane
The EPDM is unrolled, positioned and left to relax so wrinkles flatten before any adhesive goes on. 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. Each half gets the same treatment in turn. 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. Lap sealant goes along exposed tape edges.
Finish the edges
Perimeter edge metal, wall flashing and pipe boots complete the roof. Counter flashing covers the top of wall flashing. A final walk checks every seam with a probe before the job is closed out.
What is included
Parts of a new EPDM roof
Seams
Seams are primed, taped and rolled and is checked before closeout.
Tear-off
The base is cleared and checked before new layers go down.
Insulation
Rigid insulation and a cover board form the base for a smooth surface.
EPDM membrane
The rubber membrane is adhered or fastened over a clean, dry base.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Madison, NJ
EPDM roof installation is straightforward in concept and demanding in the details. 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. The field and the flashings may get different adhesives, since vertical surfaces need a stronger grip.
In Madison, an experienced EPDM installer leaves room for the membrane to move and age. Securing the membrane at the edges and flashing corners correctly prevents later tears. It is worth asking how the edges will be secured.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Rubber roofs in Madison are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. Homes in Madison and nearby places including Florham Park, Chatham, Summit and Morristown benefit from rubber roofing because it flexes with the seasons, and the right installer makes a big difference.
Need rubber roof installation around Madison? Call (862) 431-0046 for a Madison roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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 Madison, 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.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Madison and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Rubber Roof Installation FAQ
Is it possible to install EPDM over the old 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. Core samples or a moisture scan show whether the old roof is dry enough.
How long does a new rubber roof last?
EPDM can last 25 years or longer. Regular inspections help it reach its full life. Small repairs are easy to make.
What color EPDM is best?
The choice depends on the climate and the space below. Black holds heat and white reflects it. A roofer can recommend what fits your home.
Which EPDM thickness should I choose?
Most residential EPDM is 45 or 60 mil. Sixty mil resists punctures better and lasts longer, which helps on roofs with foot traffic or hail. Even thicker sheets are available for demanding roofs.
Is a rubber roof the same as TPO?
EPDM is synthetic rubber, while TPO is a thermoplastic membrane. EPDM uses taped seams and stays flexible in cold, and TPO uses welded seams and reflects heat. Each suits different roofs.
More questions? Call (862) 431-0046
Other services that may help
Rubber Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, punctures, shrinkage and split flashing on EPDM rubber roofs, never with tar or asphalt cement that ruins the rubber.
Learn moreFlat Roof Installation
Installing TPO, PVC, EPDM or modified bitumen roofs on additions, garages, porches and flat-roof homes, planned around how the roof will be used.
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 moreFlat Roof Replacement
Full replacement of failing flat roofs, with a moisture survey deciding tear-off or recover, so ponding and repeat leaks end for good.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet rubber roof installation help in Madison
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