Coating
An aged but sound roof can be primed and coated to add years to the roof.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Kenilworth, NJ
A roofer in Kenilworth can repair a rubber roof by cleaning and priming the EPDM, then sealing open seams, punctures and torn flashing with rubber cover tape and lap sealant, once the actual leak point is located. Call (908) 613-5001 to reach a local roofer.
Rubber roofs fail in a few predictable places. The seams fail first on many older rubber roofs, because the original seam adhesive loses its grip after years of sun. After that, punctures and torn flashing at walls and penetrations cause most leaks.
EPDM also shrinks as it ages. 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. The fix is releasing the tension and adding new flashing, not just caulking the gap.
Avoid one common shortcut before the roofer arrives. Tar and asphalt products damage EPDM and leave a surface that proper patches cannot stick to. Instead, catch drips inside, stay off the roof when it is wet and note where stains appear.
Many rubber roof repair calls in Kenilworth also turn up a need for rubber roof installation or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Kenilworth, NJ right now? Call (908) 613-5001 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a rubber roof repair
Here is how a roofer usually handles a rubber roof repair.
Inspect the roof
Seams, perimeter flashing and penetrations are checked first, since that is where most rubber roofs leak. If insulation is wet, it is cut out and replaced before patching.
Clean the rubber
The repair area is cleaned thoroughly, because dirt and chalky residue keep patches from bonding. Earlier tar repairs are cut away.
Priming
EPDM primer is scrubbed into the surface and allowed to flash off until it is tacky but not wet. Skipping primer is the most common reason patches peel.
Seal the damage
A rubber patch extends well past the damage, gets rounded corners and is rolled to remove air. Corners and penetrations use flexible uncured flashing.
Seam repair
Peeling seams are stripped clean and sealed again with primer and tape. Lap sealant protects the edges.
Wall flashing
Where the rubber has pulled away, the roofer relieves the tension, adds new flashing up the wall and secures it with termination bar. A termination bar holds the new flashing in place.
What is included
Common EPDM repairs
Seam repair
Peeling seams are cleaned, primed and taped with lap sealant at the edges.
Tear repair
Punctures get a primed rubber patch with rounded corners.
Pipe boots
Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing are replaced with pre-molded boots or uncured flashing.
Shrinkage repair
Membrane pulling from walls is released and reflashed to stop tears at the perimeter.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Kenilworth, NJ
Repairing EPDM is simple in concept but unforgiving of shortcuts. Dirt, moisture or skipped primer are the usual reasons an EPDM patch fails. Lap sealant finishes the edges.
In Kenilworth, rubber roof repairs are best done on dry days when the membrane is not too cold. If a leak cannot wait, a temporary fix holds until a permanent repair is possible. The permanent repair should still follow the full process.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Kenilworth, NJ
There comes a point where patching an EPDM roof stops being worth it. Widespread seam failure, heavy shrinkage, cracking rubber or soaked insulation are signs replacement is due. Testing the insulation helps make the call.
Some owners stay with EPDM, while others move to a white membrane. If the existing roof is a single layer with dry insulation, a recover may be possible, but wet insulation means a tear-off. Ask the Kenilworth roofer to compare repair and replacement for your roof.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
Around Kenilworth, rubber roofing is found on additions, carports and flat roofs that have been in place for years. Across Kenilworth and nearby towns like Roselle Park, Union, Cranford and Roselle, older rubber roofs most often need seam and shrinkage repairs, while newer ones mainly need puncture and flashing fixes, so a check after big storms is worth it.
Need rubber roof repair around Kenilworth? Call (908) 613-5001 for a Kenilworth 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, 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 Kenilworth, 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.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Kenilworth know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Rubber Roof Repair FAQ
How long does a rubber roof last?
Rubber roofs often last two to three decades. Roofs with good drainage and maintained seams last longest. Repairs keep it on track.
What causes EPDM to pull away from the edges?
EPDM shrinks slowly as it ages. As it shrinks, it pulls on the flashing, stretches across inside corners and can tear at the wall. Repairs release the strain and reflash the wall.
How is a rubber roof patched?
The process is clean, prime, patch and roll. Cover tape with rounded corners goes over primed rubber and is rolled for a full bond. The edges get lap sealant.
Should I coat my EPDM roof?
A coating can extend the life of aging EPDM. Seams and leaks must be fixed, and the right primer is essential. A coating is not a fix for an active leak.
Can I use roofing tar on a rubber roof?
Roofing tar and roof cement are not compatible with EPDM. They attack the membrane and make future repairs much harder. The right fix is a primed EPDM patch.
More questions? Call (908) 613-5001
Other services that may help
Rubber Roof Installation
Installing rubber roofing on flat and low slope roofs, from adhesive and seam tape to wall flashing and edge metal, planned around the slope and the building.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, blisters, splits, ponding and failed flashing on flat and low slope roofs, 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, when the roof underneath is still dry and solid.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet rubber roof repair help in Kenilworth
Call (908) 613-5001 for a local roofer in Kenilworth and nearby towns.