Base sheet
A fastened or adhered base layer over a clean, sound deck.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Lodi, NJ
A local roofing contractor in Lodi can handle modified bitumen, whether the sheets are torched, self-adhered or set in cold adhesive, which holds up well to foot traffic and patches easily. Dial (551) 394-0610 to talk through modified bitumen with 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. Multiple plies make a tough roof that tolerates foot traffic better than many single-ply sheets.
The application method is one of the first decisions on a modified bitumen job. Torch-applied sheets fuse tightly at the laps, though the open flame demands care around wood framing, insulation and roof edges. For homes and buildings where open flame is a concern, self-adhered or cold-process sheets are the usual answer.
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. 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 Lodi, NJ can go hand in hand with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair.
Dealing with this in Lodi, NJ right now? Call (551) 394-0610 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Lodi.
Call nowThe process
What a mod bit roof job involves
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Inspect the 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.
Prep the base
On a tear-off, everything comes down to the deck and damaged plywood or planks are replaced. Where the roof ponds, tapered insulation is added to move water off.
Lay the base sheet
A base sheet is fastened to wood decks or adhered to insulation and cover board. Laps are offset so seams in the cap sheet do not land on seams below.
Apply the cap sheet
The top ply goes on with the chosen method, granules facing up for sun protection. At torched laps, a small bead of melted asphalt should show along the edge, a sign the seam has fused.
Flash the walls
Base flashing runs up walls and parapets in two plies and is fastened at the top under metal counterflashing or a termination bar. Edge metal, drain flashing and pipe flashings complete the system.
Final check
If any torching was done, the crew stays on watch after the flame goes off to make sure nothing is smoldering. The last step is a full walk to confirm laps and flashings are sealed.
What is included
What goes into a mod bit roof
Granulated cap
The finished top layer with protective granules with fully sealed laps.
Drain flashing
Metal edges and flashed drain bowls set into the membrane plies.
Wall flashing
Reinforced plies at every wall and curb so wall joints stay dry.
Insulation
Insulation and cover board so water reaches the drains.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Lodi, NJ
On a torch-down roof, most repairs involve resealing laps, cutting out blisters and adding new plies over damaged areas. 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.
Repairs near walls, vents or wood trim in Lodi call for careful torch handling. Near combustible materials, a cold-process or peel-and-stick patch can replace torching. A fire watch after torching is a basic part of any torch-down repair.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Lodi, 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. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
For Lodi buildings with built up roofs, patching is done with felts or mod bit after the gravel is cleared. Replacement often means a tear-off, since the gravel and the weight make recovering difficult. Common replacements include modified bitumen and single-ply membranes.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
In Lodi, modified bitumen is common on low-slope roofs that see foot traffic or need a tough surface. Homes and buildings in Lodi and around Hasbrouck Heights, Garfield, Maywood and Hackensack face summer sun, heavy rain and the occasional strong storm, all of which wear on cap sheets and laps, so the right method depends on what is up there now.
For modified bitumen roofing in Lodi, NJ or nearby towns like Hasbrouck Heights, Garfield, Maywood and Hackensack, call (551) 394-0610 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, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Lodi, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Lodi
Roofers in Lodi 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.
Modified Bitumen Roofing questions
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.
Can modified bitumen be installed over an existing roof?
The core cut tells the roofer. If there is a single, dry, sound roof, a recovery board and new mod bit may go over it. If there are already two roofs, blistering throughout or wet insulation, a tear-off is the right move.
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. Self-adhered sheets give the same kind of roof without a torch.
How long does a modified bitumen roof last?
Expect roughly 15 to 25 years from a well-installed modified bitumen roof. Roofs that drain well and keep their granules last longest. A reflective coating applied before the cap sheet wears out can extend its life.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. 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) 394-0610
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, 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, 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
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 servicesTalk to a Lodi roofer about modified bitumen roofing
Call (551) 394-0610 for a local roofer in Lodi and nearby towns.