Granulated cap
The finished top layer with protective granules with fully sealed laps.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Vernon, NJ
A local roofing contractor in Vernon can handle modified bitumen, whether the sheets are torched, self-adhered or set in cold adhesive, which holds up well to foot traffic and patches easily. Dial (973) 858-1840 to talk through modified bitumen with a local roofer.
Modified bitumen is asphalt with rubber or plastic polymers mixed in, made into reinforced rolls that go down in two or more layers. The two main types are SBS, which is rubbery and flexible in cold weather, and APP, which is more plastic-like and is usually torched. With two or three plies, the finished roof is thick and puncture resistant.
The application method is one of the first decisions on a modified bitumen job. Torching gives tight, fused laps, but the flame is a fire risk near wood decks, parapets and anything combustible. Self-adhered peel-and-stick sheets and cold-applied adhesives skip the torch, which makes them common on houses.
Knowing the signs makes the first conversation more useful. Watch for raised blisters, alligator cracking, bare patches and open laps, especially near walls and drains. Also mention any past coatings or cement patches, which the roofer will need to deal with.
Modified Bitumen Roofing is often paired with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for Vernon modified bitumen roofing? Call (973) 858-1840 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Vernon.
Call nowThe process
The modified bitumen process
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Start with the deck
A core cut and a walk of the roof show how many layers exist and whether moisture is trapped. Those findings decide whether the old roof must come off.
Tear off old roofing
The deck is stripped, repaired and cleaned so the new layers lie flat. Where the roof ponds, tapered insulation is added to move water off.
Put down the first layer
The first ply is nailed or mechanically fastened on wood, or set in adhesive over insulation. Its laps are staggered from the cap sheet laps to avoid weak lines.
Install the cap
A cap sheet with mineral granules is applied over the base sheet. At torched laps, a small bead of melted asphalt should show along the edge, a sign the seam has fused.
Flash the walls
Base flashing runs up walls and parapets in two plies and is fastened at the top under metal counterflashing or a termination bar. Edge metal, drain flashing and pipe flashings complete the system.
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 flashing
Reinforced plies at every wall and curb so wall joints stay dry.
Drain flashing
Metal edges and flashed drain bowls set into the membrane plies.
Base sheet
The first ply of polymer-modified asphalt laid with laps offset from the cap.
Insulation
New insulation where the roof is torn off built to current code levels.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Vernon, NJ
On a torch-down roof, most repairs involve resealing laps, cutting out blisters and adding new plies over damaged areas. For blisters and splits, the damaged section is opened up, dried and covered with a larger patch. Fresh granules over the hot asphalt help protect the repair.
Repairs near walls, vents or wood trim in Vernon call for careful torch handling. Near combustible materials, a cold-process or peel-and-stick patch can replace torching. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Vernon, 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. When the gravel thins out, the asphalt below dries, cracks and blisters. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
For Vernon buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. Because these roofs are heavy, recovering over one can strain the structure, and many owners choose a tear-off when the time comes. Many are replaced with modified bitumen, TPO or another single-ply system.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Around Vernon, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. From Vernon out to Hamburg, Highland Lakes, Franklin and Oak Ridge, roofs range from aging two-ply systems with worn granules to newer self-adhered roofs on additions, so the right method depends on what is up there now.
For modified bitumen roofing in Vernon, NJ or nearby towns like Hamburg, Highland Lakes, Franklin and Oak Ridge, call (973) 858-1840 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Vernon
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the 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. That is why roof repair in Vernon is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Vernon and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Modified Bitumen Roofing questions
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. 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. On homes, self-adhered or cold-applied modified bitumen avoids the flame entirely.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
What is already up there sets the answer. If there is a single, dry, sound roof, a recovery board and new mod bit may go over it. Trapped moisture or two existing layers mean the old roofing comes off.
How long does a modified bitumen roof last?
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.
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.
Should I coat my modified bitumen roof?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. Before coating, the roofer repairs blisters and laps and may use a bleed-blocking primer. A white coating also lowers roof surface temperatures in summer.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1840
Related services
Flat Roof Replacement
Replacing old built-up, torch-down, EPDM or TPO roofs with a new system built to drain, with tapered insulation where water used to sit.
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 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 moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Tear-off or recover of aging commercial roofs with new insulation and drainage, planned around rooftop units and drains.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Vernon, NJ?
Call (973) 858-1840 for a local roofer in Vernon and nearby towns.