Granulated cap
A granulated cap sheet in white or a dark color to shield the asphalt from sun.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Lyndhurst, NJ
A local roofing contractor in Lyndhurst can handle modified bitumen, whether the sheets are torched, self-adhered or set in cold adhesive, and match the method to the building and its fire risk. Dial (551) 348-2859 to talk through modified bitumen with a local roofer.
Modified bitumen, often shortened to mod bit, is the modern descendant of the old tar and gravel roof, with polymers added so the asphalt stays flexible. SBS sheets stay flexible in the cold and can be torched, mopped, cold-applied or self-adhered, while APP sheets are almost always torched. With two or three plies, the finished roof is thick and puncture resistant.
There are several ways to put down mod bit, and each suits different buildings. Torch-applied sheets fuse tightly at the laps, though the open flame demands care around wood framing, insulation and roof edges. Self-adhered peel-and-stick sheets and cold-applied adhesives skip the torch, which makes them common on houses.
Mod bit fails in predictable ways, which helps when you call. Watch for raised blisters, alligator cracking, bare patches and open laps, especially near walls and drains. Say whether the roof has been coated or patched before, because old coatings and mastic affect repairs.
Depending on what the roofer finds, modified bitumen roofing in Lyndhurst, NJ can go hand in hand with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Lyndhurst, NJ right now? Call (551) 348-2859 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The modified bitumen process
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Survey the existing 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.
Tear off old roofing
The deck is stripped, repaired and cleaned so the new layers lie flat. Where the roof ponds, tapered insulation is added to move water off.
Put down the first layer
A smooth base sheet goes down first, fastened or adhered depending on the deck. The roofer offsets the laps so no seam sits directly over another.
Install the cap
A cap sheet with mineral granules is applied over the base sheet. At torched laps, a small bead of melted asphalt should show along the edge, a sign the seam has fused.
Flash the details
Walls, curbs and penetrations get reinforced flashing plies that run up and are capped with metal. New drip edge or gravel stop and properly set drain flashings finish the edges.
Walk the finished roof
Once the roof is done, the crew checks every lap, cleans up and keeps a fire watch if torches were used. The roofer also confirms that drains are clear and the roof sheds water.
What is included
What goes into a mod bit roof
Insulation
Insulation and cover board so water reaches the drains.
Base sheet
A fastened or adhered base layer that gives the roof its first line of defense.
Wall flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal so wall joints stay dry.
Edge metal
Gravel stop or drip edge at the perimeter to finish the system cleanly.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Lyndhurst, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. Blisters are cut open, dried, resealed and covered with a patch of new cap sheet that laps well beyond the cut. Granules are pressed into any exposed asphalt so the patch is protected from sun.
In Lyndhurst, 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. Either way, the roofer should stay on fire watch after any flame work.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Lyndhurst, 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. Bare patches without gravel age quickly in the sun and are often where leaks begin. These roofs can last a long time, but blisters, splits and failed flashings show up as they age.
For Lyndhurst buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. Because these roofs are heavy, recovering over one can strain the structure, and many owners choose a tear-off when the time comes. Common replacements include modified bitumen and single-ply membranes.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
In Lyndhurst, modified bitumen is common on low-slope roofs that see foot traffic or need a tough surface. Across Lyndhurst and nearby towns like Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington, older buildings may still have built-up roofs under a layer of mod bit, which is why the core cut matters, and the first step is finding out how many layers are already on the deck.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Lyndhurst? Call (551) 348-2859 for a Lyndhurst roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. 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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Lyndhurst is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Lyndhurst
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Lyndhurst and nearby towns.
Straight answers
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 are asphalt roofs built in layers, but they are made differently. Mod bit replaces the many felts of a built up roof with a few thick polymer sheets, and it skips the gravel. Mod bit is lighter and more flexible, which is why it has replaced built up roofing on many buildings.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
What is already up there sets the answer. A single existing roof that is dry and well attached can sometimes be recovered. If there are already two roofs, blistering throughout or wet insulation, a tear-off is the right move.
What is the lifespan of a torch-down roof?
Most mod bit roofs last somewhere between 15 and 25 years with reasonable care. Drainage and the condition of the cap sheet granules make the biggest difference. Coating an aging but sound roof can add years.
Should I coat my modified bitumen roof?
Modified bitumen takes coatings well when the cap sheet is sound and the roof drains. 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.
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
Torching uses an open flame, so it carries a real fire risk that has to be managed. 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. Where flame is a concern, peel-and-stick sheets are a common alternative.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2859
Other services that may help
Flat Roof Replacement
Replacing old built-up, torch-down, EPDM or TPO roofs with a new system built to drain, so ponding and repeat leaks end for good.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Repairs for leaking flat roofs, from punctures and seams to clogged drains and wet insulation, with the patch made from material that bonds to what is there.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, with seams welded into one watertight sheet.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Tear-off or recover of aging commercial roofs with new insulation and drainage, from core cuts to closeout.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Lyndhurst, NJ?
Call now for Lyndhurst modified bitumen roofing and help in the towns around it.