Edge metal
Gravel stop or drip edge at the perimeter set into the membrane plies.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Paramus, NJ
A roofer in Paramus can install, repair or replace a modified bitumen roof, the layered asphalt membrane often called torch-down, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. Call (551) 383-2304 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. The layers give it toughness, which is why it holds up well on roofs that see foot traffic.
How the sheets are applied matters as much as which sheets are used. Torch-down uses an open flame to melt the back of the sheet onto the layer below, which makes strong laps but calls for strict fire safety near wood and insulation. Self-adhered and cold-adhesive systems avoid the flame and are often chosen for homes and occupied buildings.
Mod bit fails in predictable ways, which helps when you call. Look for blisters, splits, granule loss and seams that curl up at the edge, and note where water stands after rain. Also mention any past coatings or cement patches, which the roofer will need to deal with.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Paramus roofer may also recommend flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Looking for Paramus modified bitumen roofing? Call (551) 383-2304 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Paramus.
Call nowThe process
What a mod bit roof job involves
Here is how a typical modified bitumen job runs.
Survey the existing roof
A core cut and a walk of the roof show how many layers exist and whether moisture is trapped. Those findings decide whether the old roof must come off.
Tear off old roofing
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. The roofer offsets the laps so no seam sits directly over another.
Lay the top ply
The granulated cap sheet is torched, set in cold adhesive or self-adhered over the base. On torched laps, a steady bleed-out of asphalt at the edge shows a good seal.
Flash the details
Walls, curbs and penetrations get reinforced flashing plies that run up and are capped with metal. Drains get new flashing, and the roof edge gets new metal.
Keep a fire watch
If any torching was done, the crew stays on watch after the flame goes off to make sure nothing is smoldering. The roofer also confirms that drains are clear and the roof sheds water.
What is included
What goes into a mod bit roof
Base sheet
A fastened or adhered base layer that gives the roof its first line of defense.
Cap sheet
A top ply surfaced with mineral granules to shield the asphalt from sun.
Wall flashing
Reinforced plies at every wall and curb so wall joints stay dry.
Tapered insulation
Insulation and cover board built to current code levels.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Paramus, NJ
Torch down roof repair fixes the leaks that develop in torch-applied modified bitumen: open laps, blisters, splits and failed wall flashing. Blisters are cut open, dried, resealed and covered with a patch of new cap sheet that laps well beyond the cut. Fresh granules over the hot asphalt help protect the repair.
In Paramus, 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. After torching, a watch period for smoldering material is standard practice.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Paramus, 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. These roofs can last a long time, but blisters, splits and failed flashings show up as they age.
Most built up roof repairs in Paramus start by clearing the gravel, then patching with new plies and setting gravel back in place. Because these roofs are heavy, recovering over one can strain the structure, and many owners choose a tear-off when the time comes. The replacement is often a mod bit or single-ply roof that is lighter and easier to maintain.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Modified bitumen roofs in Paramus cover everything from older homes with flat sections to strip centers and churches. Across Paramus and nearby towns like Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford, 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 Paramus? Call (551) 383-2304 for a Paramus roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Paramus
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, 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 Paramus 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.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Paramus know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. 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. On homes, self-adhered or cold-applied modified bitumen avoids the flame entirely.
What is the difference between modified bitumen and built up roofing?
Both are asphalt roofs built in layers, but they are made differently. Built up roofs stack felts and hot bitumen with gravel on top, and mod bit uses two or three factory-made sheets with granules. Mod bit is lighter and more flexible, which is why it has replaced built up roofing on many buildings.
How long does a modified bitumen roof last?
Most mod bit roofs last somewhere between 15 and 25 years with reasonable care. Good drainage, intact granules and sound flashings push it toward the long end. Some owners extend the roof with a coating once granules start to thin.
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.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
A coating can extend a modified bitumen roof that is aging but still dry and sound. The roof is cleaned, repaired and often primed so asphalt oils do not stain the coating. Reflective coatings keep the roof cooler and slow granule loss.
More questions? Call (551) 383-2304
Often needed together
Flat Roof Replacement
Full replacement of failing flat roofs, with a moisture survey deciding tear-off or recover, with tapered insulation where water used to sit.
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 moreTPO Roofing
Heat-welded TPO membrane for flat and low-slope roofs, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Full replacement of membrane, built-up and metal roofs on commercial buildings, from core cuts to closeout.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed modified bitumen roofing in Paramus, NJ?
Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a roofer serving Paramus, NJ.