Edge metal
Termination bar, pipe boots and edge metal are installed with materials made for EPDM.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Installation Cranford, NJ
A Cranford 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. Call (908) 562-6887 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.
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. On most homes, fully adhered EPDM is the usual choice because it handles wind well and stays smooth.
Then comes thickness and color. Sixty mil EPDM costs a little more than 45 mil but resists punctures better and lasts longer. Black EPDM absorbs heat, which helps in cold climates, while white EPDM reflects sun and keeps rooms below cooler. 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 Cranford also turn up a need for rubber roof repair or flat roof installation.
Looking for Cranford rubber roof installation? Call (908) 562-6887 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The rubber roof installation process
A rubber roof is built in layers, with the seams and flashing as the critical details.
Check the base
The deck is repaired and checked for slope, ideally a quarter inch per foot toward drains or gutters. Old roofing is removed if the roof is being replaced.
Install insulation
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 membrane is unrolled, aligned and allowed to settle before bonding. Laps are arranged so water flows over them.
Adhering
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. Brooming from the middle outward pushes trapped air to the edges.
Seaming
Primer and seam tape join the sheets, with T-joints covered by extra patches. Exposed edges get lap sealant.
Finish the edges
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
Parts of a new EPDM roof
Rubber sheet
A 45 or 60 mil EPDM sheet is installed with as few seams as possible.
Cover board
Rigid insulation and a cover board form the base for a smooth surface.
Seam tape
Laps are joined with seam tape with lap sealant at the edges.
Tear-off
Old roofing is removed and the deck is repaired before new layers go down.
Related service
EPDM Roof Installation Cranford, NJ
EPDM roof installation is straightforward in concept and demanding in the details. Rushing the adhesive, skipping primer or leaving wrinkles under the sheet are the common mistakes. Weather matters too, since adhesives and primers need dry conditions. Different adhesives may be used in the field and at the flashings, each matched to the job it does.
In Cranford, an experienced EPDM installer leaves room for the membrane to move and age. 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
Rubber roofs in Cranford are common on porches, garages, additions and flat sections of older homes. Homes in Cranford and nearby places including Garwood, Westfield, Kenilworth and Roselle Park benefit from rubber roofing because it flexes with the seasons, which is why the seams and flashing deserve careful attention.
For rubber roof installation in Cranford, NJ or nearby towns like Garwood, Westfield, Kenilworth and Roselle Park, call (908) 562-6887 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Cranford
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, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Cranford, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Cranford
Roofers in Cranford know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about rubber roof installation
How long does a new rubber roof last?
Rubber roofs often last decades. Thickness, seam quality and maintenance all affect its life. Repairs are simple when needed.
Which EPDM thickness should I choose?
The common choices are 45 mil and 60 mil. The thicker sheet holds up better to traffic and weather. Heavy duty options exist too.
Can a rubber roof go over an existing roof?
A recover is possible only under certain conditions. The old roof must be a single dry layer, with a recover board over it. Otherwise, a tear-off is needed. A moisture check of the old roof settles the question before any work is planned.
What color EPDM is best?
Color affects heat gain. Black EPDM absorbs heat, which can help in cold climates, while white EPDM reflects sunlight and keeps the rooms below cooler. Ask about both options.
What is the difference between EPDM and TPO?
They are related but not the same. EPDM uses taped seams and stays flexible in cold, and TPO uses welded seams and reflects heat. Both are common on flat roofs.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6887
Often needed together
Rubber Roof Repair
EPDM rubber roof repairs done with primer, cover tape and lap sealant made for rubber, so the membrane seals again without a tear-off.
Learn moreFlat Roof Installation
New flat roofs built with real slope, insulation, a cover board and a membrane suited to the building, planned around how the roof will be used.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
TPO membrane roofs installed over new insulation or in place of a worn flat roof, 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, and new flashing at every wall, curb and drain.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed rubber roof installation in Cranford, NJ?
Call (908) 562-6887 to talk to a roofer serving Cranford, NJ.