Lap sealing
Peeling seams are cleaned, primed and taped with lap sealant at the edges.
Flat Roofing
Rubber Roof Repair Secaucus, NJ
A Secaucus 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 (551) 373-3020 to talk with a local roofer about the leak.
Rubber roofs fail in a few predictable places. 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.
Over time, EPDM slowly shrinks, and that causes its own kind of damage. Shrinking rubber pulls tight at the perimeter, tenting across corners and tearing at flashing seams. 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. In the meantime, catch drips in a bucket and keep off a wet, slippery roof.
Many rubber roof repair calls in Secaucus also turn up a need for rubber roof installation or flat roof repair.
Looking for Secaucus rubber roof repair? Call (551) 373-3020 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
How rubber roof repair works
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. Wet insulation under the leak is checked with a moisture meter or a small core.
Surface prep
Old rubber is washed and scrubbed until the surface is clean and dry. Any old tar or asphalt patch is removed first.
Priming
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.
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.
Reseal the seams
Open seams are cleaned, primed and covered with seam tape or a cover strip along their full length. Lap sealant protects the edges.
Reflash the walls
Shrunk membrane at walls and curbs is released and reflashed with new rubber. A termination bar holds the new flashing in place.
What is included
Common EPDM repairs
Puncture repair
Damaged rubber is covered with new membrane with rounded corners.
Pipe boots
Cracked pipe boots and vent flashing are replaced sealed at the base.
Shrinkage repair
Membrane pulling from walls is released and reflashed to stop tears at the perimeter.
Surface renewal
A rubber-compatible coating can follow repairs to add years to the roof.
Related service
EPDM Roof Repair Secaucus, 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 Secaucus roofer will time EPDM repairs for dry weather, because moisture ruins the bond. If a leak cannot wait, a temporary fix holds until a permanent repair is possible. A proper patch should follow as soon as possible.
Related service
Rubber Roof Replacement Secaucus, 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 survey helps decide.
A new rubber roof can go back on as EPDM, or the roof can switch to TPO or PVC. 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 Secaucus roofer to compare repair and replacement for your roof.
Local help
Rubber Roof Repair Near Me
Rubber roofs in Secaucus cover many porch roofs, additions, garages and flat sections on older homes. Across Secaucus and nearby towns like Union City, East Rutherford, West New York and North Arlington, older rubber roofs most often need seam and shrinkage repairs, while newer ones mainly need puncture and flashing fixes, and early repairs keep the insulation dry.
For rubber roof repair in Secaucus, NJ or nearby towns like Union City, East Rutherford, West New York and North Arlington, call (551) 373-3020 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Secaucus, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Secaucus
Roofers in Secaucus 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 questions
How long does a rubber roof last?
Rubber roofs often last two to three decades. Thicker membranes, good seams and regular inspections push it toward the longer end. Repairs keep it on track.
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.
What causes EPDM to pull away from the edges?
EPDM shrinks slowly as it ages. The shrinking membrane tugs at the perimeter and bridges across corners. The fix is relieving the tension and adding new flashing.
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 right way to patch EPDM?
The surface is cleaned, primed and covered with rubber patch material. After cleaning and priming, a peel-and-stick EPDM patch is applied and rolled. Edges are sealed with lap sealant.
More questions? Call (551) 373-3020
Other services that may help
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
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
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
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 servicesGet rubber roof repair help in Secaucus
Call (551) 373-3020 to talk to a roofer serving Secaucus, NJ.