Drain flashing
Metal edges and flashed drain bowls set into the membrane plies.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Garfield, NJ
Modified bitumen roofing in Garfield is a multi-ply asphalt roof, usually a base sheet and a granulated cap sheet, used on flat and low-slope roofs, and match the method to the building and its fire risk. One call to (551) 348-2856 reaches a nearby flat roof pro.
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. 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. Mention whether the roof has been coated or patched with roofing cement, since that changes how new material will stick.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Garfield roofer may also recommend flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Garfield? Call (551) 348-2856 to talk to a local roofer.
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.
Ready the substrate
On a tear-off, everything comes down to the deck and damaged plywood or planks are replaced. Rigid insulation and tapered crickets go down next to improve drainage.
Put down the first layer
A base sheet is fastened to wood decks or adhered to insulation and cover board. 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. On torched laps, a steady bleed-out of asphalt at the edge shows a good seal.
Flash the details
Parapets and curbs are flashed with mod bit plies, then capped or counterflashed with metal. New drip edge or gravel stop and properly set drain flashings finish the edges.
Walk the finished roof
After torch work, a fire watch confirms no hidden heat remains in insulation or wood. The last step is a full walk to confirm laps and flashings are sealed.
What is included
Parts of a modified bitumen roof
Cap sheet
The finished top layer with protective granules to shield the asphalt from sun.
Tapered insulation
Insulation and cover board so water reaches the drains.
Wall flashing
Two-ply flashing up walls and parapets so wall joints stay dry.
Base ply
A smooth reinforced base sheet laid with laps offset from the cap.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Garfield, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. A blister is cut in an X or cut out, the area is dried and sealed, and a new piece of cap sheet goes over it. Loose granules are embedded in the bleed-out so the patch does not weather quickly.
Repairs near walls, vents or wood trim in Garfield call for careful torch handling. 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 Garfield, NJ
Built up roofing, often called tar and gravel, is the older cousin of modified bitumen: alternating layers of roofing felt and hot asphalt or coal tar, topped with gravel. Bare patches without gravel age quickly in the sun and are often where leaks begin. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
Most built up roof repairs in Garfield start by clearing the gravel, then patching with new plies and setting gravel back in place. When a built up roof reaches the end of its life, its weight and the gravel usually mean a tear-off before the new roof goes on. Many are replaced with modified bitumen, TPO or another single-ply system.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Modified bitumen roofs in Garfield cover everything from older homes with flat sections to strip centers and churches. Across Garfield and nearby towns like Lodi, Elmwood Park, Wallington and Passaic, older buildings may still have built-up roofs under a layer of mod bit, which is why the core cut matters, so the right method depends on what is up there now.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Garfield? Call (551) 348-2856 for a Garfield roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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 Garfield, 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 Garfield
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Garfield and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
The existing roof decides that. If there is a single, dry, sound roof, a recovery board and new mod bit may go over it. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
How does mod bit compare to tar and gravel?
The two are related, with key differences in material and installation. Built up roofs stack felts and hot bitumen with gravel on top, and mod bit uses two or three factory-made sheets with granules. The polymer sheets stay flexible in cold and are easier to repair.
Is torch-down roofing safe?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. Safe practice includes not torching directly on wood, keeping extinguishers on the roof and watching for smoldering after the flame is off. Where flame is a concern, peel-and-stick sheets are a common alternative.
What is the lifespan of a torch-down roof?
A two-ply modified bitumen roof commonly lasts around 15 to 25 years. Good drainage, intact granules and sound flashings push it toward the long end. 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. The roof is cleaned, repaired and often primed so asphalt oils do not stain the coating. A white coating also lowers roof surface temperatures in summer.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2856
Often needed together
Flat Roof Replacement
Full replacement of failing flat roofs, with a moisture survey deciding tear-off or recover, and new flashing at every wall, curb and drain.
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 moreTPO Roofing
White, heat-welded TPO single-ply roofing for low-slope homes and buildings, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Commercial roof replacement phased around tenants and business hours, planned around rooftop units and drains.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Garfield roofer about modified bitumen roofing
Call (551) 348-2856 to talk to a roofer serving Garfield, NJ.