Torch Down Rubber Membrane Repair
It is fairly easy to make a rubber membrane repair ones you have the tools and materials.
What is on this page
- Materials and Tools list with instructions to fix a Torch Down Rubber Roof
- What to look for before making roof repairs
- Comparing Torch Downs with other Roof systems
- Aluminum or Silver Coating for Torch Down membrane
- How to mend or patch a Torch Down Rubber Roof
Warning – Before making Torch Down Rubber Membrane Repairs – determine the “Type of Roof”
The Torch Down Rubber Membrane is still by far the best roofing membrane and will outlast any other roofing membrane.
How to repair a Torch Down Rubber Membrane Roof
If you have a Torch Down Rubber roof and it was protected against ultraviolet rays with a silver coating or a ceramic surface, then it could last indefinitely. These roofs are tough and as long as there is a protection on it, they will not go bad.
If it was not protected, then you have to look for certain signs to determine if it’s repairable or not.
- Spider cracks in the surface – the entire surface will have these fine cracks, but it could be just in the beginning stages and you could still repair the roof
- Look for seam separation – if the installer didn’t know how to use a torch properly to fuse the seams together, then the repair will be costly.
- Look for shrinkage. If there is evidence that the rubber membrane is pulling away from the wall or flashing due to its age, then it could still be repaired but at a considerable cost.
- Deep spider cracks mean the roof is over 10 years old. This could mean that it was not protected and it becomes too costly to repair.
In the image below you see Spider Cracks on the surface of an unprotected Torch Down Rubber Roof. If you see cracks like these then the roof is approximately 10 to 12 years old
Modified Bitumen Rubber Membranes
There are many types of Modified Bitumen Rubber. From a Torch Down to a Peel and Stick type
Repairing a Torch Down Roof is relatively easy. Using the right “Tar”, you can almost fix any Torch Down Roof
Don’ts for flat roof repair on a Torch Down
- Do not use silicone caulking
- Do not use roofing cement or tar from Home Depot or a Hardware store
- Do not paint the roof with Silver Coating in the hope that it will seal the leaky area
- Do not smear tar all over every seam and likely place you thought it could leak from
I guarantee you that if you apply the above-mentioned methods for a flat roof repair on a Modified Bitumen Rubber roof, you very likely will have to do a new roof.
Below are the Tools and Materials needed to make Roof Repairs on a Torch Down Rubber membrane
Round Nose Trowel
Modified Bitumen Torch Down Granular Rubber Membrane
Milwaukee Utility knife with hook blades
Propane Gas Tank and Gloves
Propane Torch
Karnak 81 Trowel Grade Modified Bitumen Adhesive
View Comments (7)
Thanks for the info on Karnak
I have a modified torch down roof and I can't seem to find the leak where it's coming from I did make some patch repairs contractor wants to go over what the new torch. Down I the roof is 18 years old do you think it just needs replacedpatnd I
Send pics of the area on the roof to 203 858 0080
Thanks for the great tutorial! Glad to learn the proper technique to repair leaks in a torch down
Thanks for the clear explanations and advice.
I have leaks in a commercial roof at Howell NJ 07731. Have someone in this area?
We work almost everywhere up and down the east coast. We will be in Nashville Tennessee Tuesday, May 11, then we will be in Connecticut the following week.