Tear repair
Holes and tears are patched with EPDM cover tape with rounded corners.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Roselle, NJ
A roofer in Roselle 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, without the tar patches that damage rubber. Call (908) 620-5317 to reach a local roofer.
A rubber roof is tough, but its weak points are well known. The seams fail first on many older rubber roofs, because the original seam adhesive loses its grip after years of sun. Next come punctures from foot traffic, branches or dropped tools, and flashing that tears where the membrane meets walls, curbs and pipes.
EPDM also shrinks as it ages. The membrane pulls away from walls and corners as it shrinks, stretching the flashing until it splits. 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. 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 Roselle also turn up a need for rubber roof installation or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Roselle, NJ right now? Call (908) 620-5317 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The rubber roof repair process
Here is how a roofer usually handles a rubber roof repair.
Locate the source
The roofer checks every seam, flashing detail, pipe boot and the roof edge, probing laps for loose spots. If insulation is wet, it is cut out and replaced before patching.
Prepare the surface
The repair area is cleaned thoroughly, because dirt and chalky residue keep patches from bonding. Any old tar or asphalt patch is removed first.
Prime the area
A rubber primer is applied and given time to dry to the touch. This step is what lets the patch bond chemically to aged rubber.
Seal the damage
The patch is laid over the primed area and rolled so it bonds completely. Odd shapes like pipe bases and inside corners get uncured flashing.
Reseal the seams
Peeling seams are stripped clean and sealed again with primer and tape. Edges of every patch and seam get a bead of lap sealant.
Wall flashing
Shrunk membrane at walls and curbs is released and reflashed with new rubber. The top of the flashing is fastened and sealed.
What is included
What rubber roof repair covers
Perimeter repair
Stretched corners are cut free and patched so the roof can move.
Pipe boots
Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing are replaced sealed at the base.
Lap sealing
Peeling seams are cleaned, primed and taped along their full length.
Surface renewal
A rubber-compatible coating can follow repairs to add years to the roof.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Roselle, 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 Roselle, rubber roof repairs are best done on dry days when the membrane is not too cold. Short-term fixes can protect the house until the weather cooperates. Temporary seals are not a substitute for a primed patch.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Roselle, NJ
Sometimes a rubber roof is too far gone to repair. Widespread seam failure, heavy shrinkage, cracking rubber or soaked insulation are signs replacement is due. A moisture scan shows how much is still dry.
Replacement options include new EPDM or a heat-welded membrane like TPO. If the existing roof is a single layer with dry insulation, a recover may be possible, but wet insulation means a tear-off. In Roselle, ask for both options so you can compare.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
Around Roselle, rubber roofing is found on additions, carports and flat roofs that have been in place for years. From Roselle to neighboring communities such as Roselle Park, Linden, Kenilworth and Cranford, storms and years of sun wear seams and flashing on rubber roofs, which keeps small leaks from becoming big ones.
For rubber roof repair in Roselle, NJ or nearby towns like Roselle Park, Linden, Kenilworth and Cranford, call (908) 620-5317 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Roselle
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, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Roselle, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Roselle
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 rubber roof repair
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. New flashing and termination bar fix it.
Is roof cement safe for an EPDM roof?
Tar and asphalt roof cement should never go on EPDM. The petroleum in them breaks down rubber and blocks real patches from sticking. The right fix is a primed EPDM patch.
Should I coat my EPDM roof?
Coatings can work on rubber roofs with proper prep. Repairs and a compatible primer come first, then the coating. A coating is not a fix for an active leak.
How is a rubber roof patched?
The surface is cleaned, primed and covered with rubber patch material. Cover tape with rounded corners goes over primed rubber and is rolled for a full bond. Lap sealant finishes the edges.
How long does a rubber roof last?
A well installed EPDM roof commonly lasts 20 to 30 years. Roofs with good drainage and maintained seams last longest. Timely repairs to seams and flashing help it get there.
More questions? Call (908) 620-5317
Related services
Rubber Roof Installation
New EPDM rubber roofs laid in wide sheets over insulation and a cover board, with primed and taped seams, with as few seams as the roof allows.
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 moreRoof Coating
Liquid-applied roof coatings that seal seams, reflect heat and add years to a roof, as an option before a full tear-off.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Roselle roofer about rubber roof repair
Call (908) 620-5317 for a local roofer in Roselle and nearby towns.