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New insulation where the roof is torn off so water reaches the drains.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Ridgewood, NJ
A roofer in Ridgewood can install, repair or replace a modified bitumen roof, the layered asphalt membrane often called torch-down, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. One call to (551) 370-0363 reaches a nearby flat roof pro.
Modified bitumen is asphalt with rubber or plastic polymers mixed in, made into reinforced rolls that go down in two or more layers. 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-applied sheets fuse tightly at the laps, though the open flame demands care around wood framing, insulation and roof edges. For homes and buildings where open flame is a concern, self-adhered or cold-process sheets are the usual answer.
A few details help the roofer plan. Note any blisters or bubbles, cracking in the cap sheet, bare spots where granules have washed off and laps that are lifting at the edges. Also mention any past coatings or cement patches, which the roofer will need to deal with.
Many modified bitumen roofing calls in Ridgewood also turn up a need for flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Looking for Ridgewood modified bitumen roofing? Call (551) 370-0363 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
How a modified bitumen roof is installed
A mod bit roof goes on in layers, starting with a sound base.
Survey the existing roof
The roofer checks the deck, counts existing layers and looks for wet insulation, often with a core cut. With two roofs already in place or wet insulation present, a tear-off is the norm.
Prep the base
The deck is stripped, repaired and cleaned so the new layers lie flat. Insulation or a cover board is added, with tapered sections where water needs help reaching the drains.
Put down the first layer
The first ply is nailed or mechanically fastened on wood, or set in adhesive over insulation. The roofer offsets the laps so no seam sits directly over another.
Apply the cap sheet
The top ply goes on with the chosen method, granules facing up for sun protection. Lap edges are checked for a continuous seal, and loose granules are pressed into any bleed-out.
Detail the edges
Parapets and curbs are flashed with mod bit plies, then capped or counterflashed with metal. New drip edge or gravel stop and properly set drain flashings finish the edges.
Walk the finished roof
If any torching was done, the crew stays on watch after the flame goes off to make sure nothing is smoldering. A final walk checks laps, flashings and drainage.
What is included
Parts of a modified bitumen roof
Base sheet
The first ply of polymer-modified asphalt that gives the roof its first line of defense.
Edge metal
Gravel stop or drip edge at the perimeter set into the membrane plies.
Wall flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal fastened at the top.
Granulated cap
The finished top layer with protective granules to shield the asphalt from sun.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Ridgewood, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. 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.
Repairs near walls, vents or wood trim in Ridgewood call for careful torch handling. Many roofers switch to self-adhered or cold-applied patches in tight spots where an open flame is a risk. Either way, the roofer should stay on fire watch after any flame work.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Ridgewood, NJ
A built up roof is made of several plies of felt mopped together with hot asphalt or coal tar pitch, then flood-coated and covered with gravel. The gravel protects the bitumen from sun and foot traffic, so bare spots where it has blown or washed away are a common source of trouble. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
For Ridgewood buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. 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. Many are replaced with modified bitumen, TPO or another single-ply system.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Modified bitumen roofs in Ridgewood cover everything from older homes with flat sections to strip centers and churches. Homes and buildings in Ridgewood and around Glen Rock, Midland Park, Waldwick and Hawthorne face summer sun, heavy rain and the occasional strong storm, all of which wear on cap sheets and laps, so the right method depends on what is up there now.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Ridgewood? Call (551) 370-0363 for a Ridgewood roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
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 Ridgewood is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Ridgewood and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Modified Bitumen Roofing FAQ
How does mod bit compare to tar and gravel?
Both use asphalt, but the plies and surfacing differ. Built up roofs stack felts and hot bitumen with gravel on top, and mod bit uses two or three factory-made sheets with granules. The polymer sheets stay flexible in cold and are easier to repair.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. Loose granules are cleaned off, blisters and open laps are repaired and a primer may be needed to keep asphalt from bleeding through. A white coating also lowers roof surface temperatures in summer.
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
Torching uses an open flame, so it carries a real fire risk that has to be managed. Experienced roofers avoid torching directly on wood decks or near combustible edges, fasten the base sheet over wood instead of torching it, and keep a fire watch after the work. 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. Coating an aging but sound roof can add years.
Can modified bitumen be installed over an existing roof?
The existing roof decides that. 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.
More questions? Call (551) 370-0363
Related services
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
Commercial roof replacement phased around tenants and business hours, planned around rooftop units and drains.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet modified bitumen roofing help in Ridgewood
Call (551) 370-0363 for a local roofer in Ridgewood and nearby towns.