Flat Roof Materials Compared: EPDM, TPO and Modified Bitumen
The three common membranes, side by side.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY · ROOFING
Roofing in Newark, NJ
Leaking at the top-floor ceiling, shingles in the yard or a flat roof that holds water? Call (973) 528-8938 for a Newark roofer who works on buildings like yours.
- Roof repair, replacement & flat roofs
- Local roofing contractors
- Newark & Essex County
Newark Roofs, Building by Building
Most Newark homes are frame two- and three-family houses and brick rowhouses with flat or low-slope roofs, and the rest are single-family streets with shingle or slate. Local roofing contractors handle all of it: leak repairs, full replacements, flat-roof membranes, slate, gutters and flashing. Call (973) 528-8938, describe the roof and the problem, and a roofer takes it from there.
What's on top of the building matters more than the address. A flat roof on a two-family in the North Ward and a slate roof on a Victorian in Forest Hill fail in different ways, use different materials and need different crews. That's why the first question on the call is usually about the roof, not the leak.
What Needs Doing?
Roof Repair
A leak, missing shingles, lifted flashing or an open seam. Most leaks start somewhere other than where the stain shows, so the roofer traces it before fixing it. Call (973) 528-8938.
Roof Replacement
Too many patches, two layers already, or a deck that feels soft underfoot to the roofer. Replacement means tear-off, deck repair and a new system. Find out what the roof needs: (973) 528-8938.
Flat Roofs
Rubber, TPO and modified bitumen on two- and three-family houses and rowhouses. Ponding water and tired seams are the usual trouble. Get a roofer's eyes on it at (973) 528-8938.
Slate & Older Roofs
Slipped slates, worn copper valleys and chimney flashing on older homes. Slate needs a roofer who works with it regularly. Describe the roof: (973) 528-8938.
Leaks & Storm Damage
Water coming in after a nor'easter, a fallen limb or ice along the eaves. Stay inside, away from any sagging ceiling, and get the leak in front of a roofer: (973) 528-8938.
Gutters, Flashing & Chimneys
Overflowing gutters, shared downspouts, parapet caps and chimney flashing. A lot of "roof leaks" start here. Call (973) 528-8938.
Water coming through the top floor?
Get the leak in front of a roofer: (973) 528-8938.
Call (973) 528-8938The Buildings on Newark's Streets
| Building | Usual roof | Where it tends to leak |
|---|---|---|
| Frame two- or three-family | Flat or low-slope membrane, sometimes with a shingled mansard at the front | Seams, edge flashing at the mansard or parapet, clogged drains |
| Brick rowhouse | Flat membrane between parapet walls | Parapet caps, party-wall flashing, scuppers |
| Victorian or colonial single-family | Steep shingle or slate | Valleys, chimneys, missing slates |
| Mid-century single-family | Asphalt shingle | Old layers, pipe boots and vents, gutters |
| Garden apartments and newer infill | Low-slope membrane | Rooftop units, drains, wall flashing |
If you're not sure which you have, that's fine. Say what the building looks like from the street and whether you can see the roof from a top-floor window. The roofer will know.
If You Own a Two- or Three-Family
A lot of Newark roofs belong to owners who live on one floor and rent out the others. That changes a roof job in three ways.
- Leaks get reported second-hand. A tenant on the top floor sees the stain first. Ask tenants to report water right away, with a photo, and keep a note of when they told you.
- Access and scheduling matter. Roofers often need the top-floor unit or the roof hatch. Give tenants notice and agree on the days.
- Permits work differently. New Jersey treats roof covering work on a detached one- or two-family home as ordinary maintenance, but attached homes and buildings with three or more units generally need a permit. The roofer and the city's construction office sort out which applies. More in roof work and permits in Newark.
If you rent, the building owner arranges roof work. Tell your landlord or property manager, and photograph the damage. The planning side for owners: roofing a two- or three-family house.
Newark's Roof Year
| Season | What it does to roofs |
|---|---|
| Winter | Nor'easters drive rain sideways under flashing; snow melts and refreezes into ice dams at the eaves; freeze and thaw open old cracks |
| Spring | Long rains find every weak seam; wind lifts shingles that lost their seal over winter |
| Summer | Heat bakes dark flat roofs and ages membranes; thunderstorms bring wind, hail and falling limbs |
| Fall | Leaves fill gutters and roof drains, so water backs up just before the cold season |
Most of these show up indoors as a stain, a drip at a light fixture or peeling paint near the top of a wall. More on the cold months: nor'easters, ice dams and winter leaks.
What Happens When the Roofer Comes
A roofer's first visit is mostly about finding the real problem, and on Newark buildings that often means looking in three places. Outside, from the street and the yard, for missing shingles, bent edge metal and overflowing gutters. On the roof, for the condition of the membrane or shingles, the flashing at walls and chimneys, drains and scuppers, and anything other trades have bolted through it. Inside, at the stain itself, in the top-floor closets and, where there is one, in the attic.
Expect the roofer to explain what's causing the leak, whether it's a repair or the roof is near the end, and what the job would involve. Photos help: many roofers will show you what they found on the roof, so you don't have to take their word for it. Then you decide.
A Short Checklist for Owners
- Keep a note of the roof's age and the last time it was replaced or re-covered
- Clear gutters, drains and scuppers before winter (or have a roofer do it)
- Ask tenants to report stains right away, with a photo
- Keep contracts, permits and photos from past roof work
- After a big storm, look at the roof edges and the yard from the ground
- Never go on the roof or a ladder to check it yourself
Roofing Materials You'll See in Newark
| Material | Where it's common | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EPDM (rubber) | Flat roofs on two- and three-families and rowhouses | Flexible, simple to patch; seams and edges age first |
| TPO | Newer flat-roof replacements | Light color, welded seams |
| Modified bitumen | Flat roofs with foot traffic or older built-up roofs | Tough surface, multi-layer |
| Architectural asphalt shingles | Pitched roofs and mansard fronts | The standard for most pitched roofs today |
| Slate | Older single-family homes, Forest Hill | Long-lived stone; nails and flashing wear first |
| Copper | Valleys, flashing and gutters on older homes | Ages to brown and green |
Newark Wards and Nearby Towns
North
West
South
Downtown
Essex
- IrvingtonEssex County
- East OrangeEssex County
- OrangeEssex County
- BloomfieldEssex County
- BellevilleEssex County
- NutleyEssex County
Hudson
Union
Questions Newark Owners Ask First
Can a flat roof be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Often repaired, if the problem is a few seams or a flashing detail and the deck underneath is sound. Widespread blistering, soft spots or water trapped under the membrane usually mean replacement. See flat roofs.
How do I know if my roof needs replacing?
Age, the number of layers already on it, repeated leaks in different places and a soft or damaged deck are the main signs. A roofer can tell you which applies after looking. Repair or replace.
Will homeowners insurance pay for a roof?
Sudden damage from wind, a fallen tree or hail is often covered. Wear and old age usually aren't. Your policy decides. Roof claims in New Jersey.
Do I need to be home when the roofer comes?
For a first look, it helps, especially if the leak shows inside or the roof is reached through a top-floor unit or hatch.
From Resources
Roofing a Two- or Three-Family House
Planning roof work when tenants live under it.
What Goes Into a Roof Replacement Price
The parts of the job that make one roof cost more than another.