Shrinkage repair
Membrane pulling from walls is released and reflashed to stop tears at the perimeter.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Rutherford, NJ
A roofer in Rutherford 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. Dial (551) 380-1579 to talk with a local roofer about the leak.
Rubber roofs fail in a few predictable places. Seams are first on the list, especially on older roofs where the sheets were glued together with liquid splice adhesive that dries out and lets the laps peel open. After that, punctures and torn flashing at walls and penetrations cause most leaks.
EPDM also shrinks as it ages. Shrinking rubber pulls tight at the perimeter, tenting across corners and tearing at flashing seams. Repairing shrinkage means relieving the strain and reflashing, not smearing sealant on the split.
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. In the meantime, catch drips in a bucket and keep off a wet, slippery roof.
Many rubber roof repair calls in Rutherford also turn up a need for rubber roof installation or flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Rutherford, NJ right now? Call (551) 380-1579 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a rubber roof repair
EPDM repairs depend on surface preparation more than anything else.
Locate the source
The inspection traces the leak from the stain back to seams, flashing and penetrations. If insulation is wet, it is cut out and replaced before patching.
Surface prep
Weathered EPDM is scrubbed with a membrane cleaner to remove dirt, chalking and oxidation. Incompatible old patches come off before anything new goes on.
Apply primer
EPDM primer is scrubbed into the surface and allowed to flash off until it is tacky but not wet. This step is what lets the patch bond chemically to aged rubber.
Patching
A rubber patch extends well past the damage, gets rounded corners and is rolled to remove air. Corners and penetrations use flexible uncured flashing.
Fix the laps
Open seams are cleaned, primed and covered with seam tape or a cover strip along their full length. 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
Penetration flashing
Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing are replaced with pre-molded boots or uncured flashing.
Seam repair
Peeling seams are cleaned, primed and taped along their full length.
Tear repair
Damaged rubber is covered with new membrane with rounded corners.
Coating
Compatible coatings can extend the life of weathered EPDM once all leaks are fixed.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Rutherford, NJ
Repairing EPDM is simple in concept but unforgiving of shortcuts. Dirt, moisture or skipped primer are the usual reasons an EPDM patch fails. Edges then get lap sealant for extra protection.
A Rutherford roofer will time EPDM repairs for dry weather, because moisture ruins the bond. Short-term fixes can protect the house until the weather cooperates. The permanent repair should still follow the full process.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Rutherford, NJ
Sometimes a rubber roof is too far gone to repair. If the roof has many patches and still leaks, or the insulation is wet in many places, replacement is the better choice. A moisture survey helps decide.
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. In Rutherford, ask for both options so you can compare.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
Around Rutherford, rubber roofing is found on additions, carports and flat roofs that have been in place for years. Homes in Rutherford and nearby places including East Rutherford, Wallington, Carlstadt and North Arlington get the most from an EPDM roof when seams and flashing are checked every year or two, which keeps small leaks from becoming big ones.
For rubber roof repair in Rutherford, NJ or nearby towns like East Rutherford, Wallington, Carlstadt and North Arlington, call (551) 380-1579 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. That is why roof repair in Rutherford is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Rutherford and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Rubber Roof Repair questions
Is roof cement safe for an EPDM roof?
Roofing tar and roof cement are not compatible with EPDM. Their solvents soften and swell the rubber, and they leave a surface that proper EPDM patches cannot bond to. Use primer, EPDM cover tape and lap sealant instead.
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. Repairs release the strain and reflash the wall.
What is the right way to patch EPDM?
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. Edges are sealed with lap sealant.
Can a rubber roof be coated?
A coating can extend the life of aging EPDM. The roof must be repaired first, cleaned and primed with an EPDM-compatible primer before an acrylic or silicone coating goes on. A coating is not a fix for an active leak.
How long does a rubber roof last?
EPDM can last 20 years or more, sometimes much longer. Thicker membranes, good seams and regular inspections push it toward the longer end. Repairs keep it on track.
More questions? Call (551) 380-1579
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
Flat roof repairs matched to the membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen or built-up, with the patch made from material that bonds to what is there.
Learn moreRoof Coating
Silicone, acrylic and other liquid coatings that renew aging flat, low-slope and metal roofs, after the seams and blisters are repaired.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Rutherford roofer about rubber roof repair
Call now for Rutherford rubber roof repair and help in the towns around it.