Edge metal
New edge metal and drain flashings set into the membrane plies.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Roselle, NJ
Modified bitumen roofing in Roselle is a multi-ply asphalt roof, usually a base sheet and a granulated cap sheet, used on flat and low-slope roofs, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. Call (908) 620-5317 to reach a local roofer.
A modified bitumen roof is built from rolls of polymer-modified asphalt, typically a smooth base sheet under a cap sheet surfaced with granules. Sheets come in SBS, a rubber-modified type that handles cold well, and APP, a plastic-modified type made for torching. Multiple plies make a tough roof that tolerates foot traffic better than many single-ply sheets.
The application method is one of the first decisions on a modified bitumen job. Torch-applied sheets fuse tightly at the laps, though the open flame demands care around wood framing, insulation and roof edges. Self-adhered and cold-adhesive systems avoid the flame and are often chosen for homes and occupied buildings.
Knowing the signs makes the first conversation more useful. Look for blisters, splits, granule loss and seams that curl up at the edge, and note where water stands after rain. Mention whether the roof has been coated or patched with roofing cement, since that changes how new material will stick.
Many modified bitumen roofing calls in Roselle also turn up a need for flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Roselle, NJ right now? Call (908) 620-5317 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Roselle.
Call nowThe process
How a modified bitumen roof is installed
A mod bit roof goes on in layers, starting with a sound base.
Inspect the roof
The roofer checks the deck, counts existing layers and looks for wet insulation, often with a core cut. With two roofs already in place or wet insulation present, a tear-off is the norm.
Prep the base
The deck is stripped, repaired and cleaned so the new layers lie flat. Insulation or a cover board is added, with tapered sections where water needs help reaching the drains.
Install the base ply
The first ply is nailed or mechanically fastened on wood, or set in adhesive over insulation. Laps are offset so seams in the cap sheet do not land on seams below.
Apply the cap sheet
The granulated cap sheet is torched, set in cold adhesive or self-adhered over the base. Lap edges are checked for a continuous seal, and loose granules are pressed into any bleed-out.
Detail the edges
Base flashing runs up walls and parapets in two plies and is fastened at the top under metal counterflashing or a termination bar. New drip edge or gravel stop and properly set drain flashings finish the edges.
Walk the finished roof
After torch work, a fire watch confirms no hidden heat remains in insulation or wood. The last step is a full walk to confirm laps and flashings are sealed.
What is included
What a mod bit roof includes
Base sheet
The first ply of polymer-modified asphalt that gives the roof its first line of defense.
Tapered insulation
Rigid boards with tapered crickets to improve drainage and efficiency.
Granulated cap
A granulated cap sheet in white or a dark color that takes foot traffic well.
Base flashing
Two-ply flashing up walls and parapets where most flat roof leaks start.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Roselle, NJ
Torch down roof repair fixes the leaks that develop in torch-applied modified bitumen: open laps, blisters, splits and failed wall flashing. For blisters and splits, the damaged section is opened up, dried and covered with a larger patch. Granules are pressed into any exposed asphalt so the patch is protected from sun.
In Roselle, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Where a flame could reach wood or insulation, a self-adhered patch is the safer choice. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Roselle, 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. With age, these roofs blister, crack at the flashings and open at the edges.
For Roselle buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. When a built up roof reaches the end of its life, its weight and the gravel usually mean a tear-off before the new roof goes on. Many are replaced with modified bitumen, TPO or another single-ply system.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Around Roselle, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. From Roselle out to Roselle Park, Linden, Kenilworth and Cranford, 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.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Roselle? Call (908) 620-5317 for a Roselle roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
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, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Roselle, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Roselle know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
What is the difference between modified bitumen and built up roofing?
Both use asphalt, but the plies and surfacing differ. Built up roofing uses many plies of felt mopped with hot asphalt or coal tar and is topped with gravel, while modified bitumen uses fewer, thicker polymer-modified sheets with a granulated cap. Mod bit is often preferred today for its flexibility and lower weight.
Should I coat my modified bitumen roof?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. Loose granules are cleaned off, blisters and open laps are repaired and a primer may be needed to keep asphalt from bleeding through. Reflective coatings keep the roof cooler and slow granule loss.
What is the lifespan of a torch-down roof?
Expect roughly 15 to 25 years from a well-installed modified bitumen roof. Roofs that drain well and keep their granules last longest. Some owners extend the roof with a coating once granules start to thin.
Can modified bitumen be installed over an existing roof?
The core cut tells the roofer. If there is a single, dry, sound roof, a recovery board and new mod bit may go over it. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
Is torch-down roofing safe?
Fire risk with torch-down comes from the flame during installation, not the finished roof. 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. Self-adhered sheets give the same kind of roof without a torch.
More questions? Call (908) 620-5317
Often needed together
Flat Roof Replacement
Replacing old built-up, torch-down, EPDM or TPO roofs with a new system built to drain, and new flashing at every wall, curb and drain.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, blisters, splits, ponding and failed flashing on flat and low slope roofs, after the real leak source is found, not guessed.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, with seams welded into one watertight sheet.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Full replacement of membrane, built-up and metal roofs on commercial buildings, planned around rooftop units and drains.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Roselle roofer about modified bitumen roofing
Call (908) 620-5317 for a local roofer in Roselle and nearby towns.