Penetration flashing
Damaged collars around penetrations are renewed sealed at the base.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Cranford, NJ
A Cranford roofer who works on EPDM can fix peeling seams, punctures, blisters and membrane shrinkage at walls and curbs, once the actual leak point is located. Dial (908) 562-6887 to talk with a local roofer about the leak.
Most EPDM leaks come from a short list of problems. Seams lead the list, since older EPDM roofs were often seamed with liquid adhesive that breaks down over time. Next come punctures from foot traffic, branches or dropped tools, and flashing that tears where the membrane meets walls, curbs and pipes.
Shrinkage is a problem specific to rubber roofs. As the sheet contracts, it pulls on the flashing at walls and edges, lifts the membrane off inside corners and can tear the rubber where it bridges between the roof and the wall. Lasting repairs relieve the stretch and add fresh flashing material.
One mistake makes rubber roof repair much harder. Asphalt roof cement, tar and many general purpose sealants contain solvents that soften and swell EPDM, and nothing made for rubber will bond over them later. For now, protect the inside, avoid the roof in wet weather and write down when the leak shows up.
Many rubber roof repair calls in Cranford also turn up a need for rubber roof installation or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Cranford, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6887 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a rubber roof repair
A rubber patch is only as good as the cleaning and priming under it.
Inspect the roof
The inspection traces the leak from the stain back to seams, flashing and penetrations. The roofer also checks whether water has soaked the insulation underneath.
Prepare the surface
The repair area is cleaned thoroughly, because dirt and chalky residue keep patches from bonding. Earlier tar repairs are cut away.
Prime the area
Primer goes on in a thin, even coat over the cleaned area. Skipping primer is the most common reason patches peel.
Patching
Peel-and-stick EPDM cover tape or a cured patch is cut with rounded corners, pressed down and rolled firmly with a seam roller. Uncured flashing is used around pipes and corners because it stretches to fit.
Seam repair
Open seams are cleaned, primed and covered with seam tape or a cover strip along their full length. Edges of every patch and seam get a bead of lap sealant.
Fix shrinkage
Bridged corners are cut free and new flashing is installed to relieve stress. The top of the flashing is fastened and sealed.
What is included
Repairs a rubber roofer can handle
Perimeter repair
Shrunk edges get new flashing with termination bar where needed.
Tear repair
Holes and tears are patched with EPDM cover tape with rounded corners.
Seam repair
Failed seams get a new cover strip so they stay closed.
Coating
A rubber-compatible coating can follow repairs once all leaks are fixed.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Cranford, NJ
Repairing EPDM is simple in concept but unforgiving of shortcuts. Dirt, moisture or skipped primer are the usual reasons an EPDM patch fails. A bead of lap sealant seals the patch edges.
A Cranford roofer will time EPDM repairs for dry weather, because moisture ruins the bond. Short-term fixes can protect the house until the weather cooperates. A proper patch should follow as soon as possible.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Cranford, NJ
There comes a point where patching an EPDM roof stops being worth it. Seams failing all over, shrinkage pulling at every wall, a brittle and crazed surface or wet insulation across large areas all point toward a new roof. A moisture scan shows how much is still dry.
Replacement options include new EPDM or a heat-welded membrane like TPO. Recovering may be an option over one dry layer, while wet areas require removal. In Cranford, ask for both options so you can compare.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
In Cranford, EPDM is one of the most common membranes on low slope sections of homes. Homes in Cranford and nearby places including Garwood, Westfield, Kenilworth and Roselle Park get the most from an EPDM roof when seams and flashing are checked every year or two, and early repairs keep the insulation dry.
Need rubber roof repair around Cranford? Call (908) 562-6887 for a Cranford roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Cranford 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 Repair FAQ
What is the right way to patch EPDM?
A proper EPDM patch is a cleaned, primed and rolled repair. The roofer scrubs the area with membrane cleaner, applies primer, lets it flash off, then presses down a patch with rounded corners and rolls it firmly. The edges get lap sealant.
Should I coat my EPDM roof?
A coating can extend the life of aging EPDM. Repairs and a compatible primer come first, then the coating. A coating is not a fix for an active leak.
What is the lifespan of an EPDM roof?
EPDM can last 20 years or more, sometimes much longer. Roofs with good drainage and maintained seams last longest. Timely repairs to seams and flashing help it get there.
Why is my rubber roof pulling away from the wall?
Shrinkage is the usual cause. Tension builds at walls and edges, and the flashing eventually tears. The fix is relieving the tension and adding new flashing.
Can I use roofing tar on a rubber roof?
Roofing tar and roof cement are not compatible with EPDM. The petroleum in them breaks down rubber and blocks real patches from sticking. Use primer, EPDM cover tape and lap sealant instead.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6887
Other services that may help
Rubber Roof Installation
EPDM rubber roof installation with the right thickness, attachment method and flashing details, so the roof stays flexible and watertight for decades.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Repairs for leaking flat roofs, from punctures and seams to clogged drains and wet insulation, so the roof sheds water again without a full replacement.
Learn moreRoof Coating
Silicone, acrylic and other liquid coatings that renew aging flat, low-slope and metal roofs, as an option before a full tear-off.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Cranford roofer about rubber roof repair
Call (908) 562-6887 to talk to a roofer serving Cranford, NJ.