Seams
Laps are joined with seam tape and is checked before closeout.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Boonton, NJ
A Boonton roofer who installs EPDM can put a new rubber roof on a flat or low slope section of almost any home, with as few seams as possible. Dial (862) 420-3040 to talk with a local roofer about a new rubber roof.
A true rubber roof is EPDM, a synthetic rubber membrane used on flat and low slope roofs for decades. 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. Unlike TPO and PVC, its seams are taped rather than heat welded.
Attachment method shapes the rest of the installation. Fully adhered roofs bond the whole sheet to the cover board with adhesive, mechanically attached roofs use plates and fasteners along the seams and ballasted roofs hold a loose sheet down with river stone. Residential roofs are most often fully adhered.
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. The transition to a steeper roof or a wall is planned with the same care, since that is where low roofs most often leak.
Many rubber roof installation calls in Boonton also turn up a need for rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Looking for Boonton rubber roof installation? Call (862) 420-3040 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How rubber roof installation works
Here is how a roofer typically installs an EPDM roof.
Prepare the deck
The roofer checks the deck for rot, gaps and loose sheets and confirms the roof has enough slope to drain. A tear-off comes first on existing roofs.
Add the cover board
Polyiso insulation and a cover board create a flat, firm base for the rubber. Tapered boards add slope where needed.
Sheet layout
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
Contact adhesive goes on the board and the membrane, and once it is tacky, the sheet is laid down and brushed. Each half gets the same treatment in turn. Any trapped air is worked out so the sheet lies flat and does not blister.
Seaming
Seam areas are cleaned and primed, then seam tape is applied and rolled firmly with a seam roller. Exposed edges get lap sealant.
Flashing
Walls and curbs get membrane flashing held by termination bar, pipes get pre-molded boots and corners get uncured flashing. Termination bar and counter flashing seal the wall edge. The last step is probing each seam and patch for gaps.
What is included
What rubber roof installation covers
EPDM membrane
The rubber membrane is adhered or fastened in black or white.
Flashing
Every penetration and edge is sealed to keep water out.
Cover board
Rigid insulation and a cover board form the base under the rubber.
Tear-off
Decking is inspected and replaced where needed for a sound start.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Boonton, NJ
The quality of an EPDM installation shows up years later in the seams and edges. A flat, dry base, properly timed adhesive and carefully primed seams are what make EPDM last. Dry, mild days give the best bond. Some installers use water-based adhesive for the field of the roof and solvent-based adhesive at walls and curbs, where the grip has to be strongest.
For a Boonton 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 how the roofer secures the perimeter.
Local help
Rubber Roof Installation Near Me
Around Boonton, homeowners often choose EPDM for flat roof sections because it is durable and easy to repair. Across Boonton and nearby towns like Lake Hiawatha, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany and Towaco, 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.
Need rubber roof installation around Boonton? Call (862) 420-3040 for a Boonton roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Boonton
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, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Boonton, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Boonton
Roofers in Boonton know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Rubber Roof Installation questions
What color EPDM is best?
The choice depends on the climate and the space below. White helps in sunny climates, and black is common where winters are long. A roofer can recommend what fits your home.
How long does a new rubber roof last?
A properly installed EPDM roof commonly lasts 20 to 30 years or more. Regular inspections help it reach its full life. Repairs are simple when needed.
What is the difference between EPDM and TPO?
EPDM is synthetic rubber, while TPO is a thermoplastic membrane. 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.
Which EPDM thickness should I choose?
The common choices are 45 mil and 60 mil. Sixty mil resists punctures better and lasts longer, which helps on roofs with foot traffic or hail. Heavy duty options exist too.
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. Otherwise, a tear-off is needed. The roofer tests the old roof for moisture before recommending a recover.
More questions? Call (862) 420-3040
Often needed together
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
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 more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Boonton roofer about rubber roof installation
Call (862) 420-3040 for a local roofer in Boonton and nearby towns.