Modified Bitumen Roofing in Wausau, WI
Modified bitumen, or mod bit, is asphalt reinforced with polyester or fiberglass and modified with rubber or plastic polymers, laid in two or more plies. It is tougher under foot traffic than a single sheet of membrane, which is why it shows up on storefronts, small office buildings, porches, garages and roof decks with equipment that gets serviced often. It is installed in several ways: torched, hot-mopped, cold-applied with adhesive, or as self-adhered sheets. On attached homes and wood-framed buildings we favor self-adhered and cold-applied methods over open flame. Mod bit usually fails at the laps and the flashings, where the granule surface wears through or the seams open after years of freeze and thaw.
What's included
- New two-ply modified bitumen roofs
- Self-adhered and cold-applied systems for homes and wood buildings
- Lap and seam repair
- Blisters cut out and patched
- Granule-loss areas restored or recoated
- Base and cap flashings at walls and curbs
- Walk pads at equipment and access points
- Mod bit over porches, garages and additions
- Written repair-or-replace advice with photos
Sound like your roof?
Not sure what is wrong or what it should cost? If any of these sound familiar, tell us about the roof. We'll tell you what it probably is, then confirm it on the roof and give you a written price before any work starts.
- Seams and laps opening along the edges of the sheets
- Blisters or bubbles in the cap sheet
- Bare black spots where granules have worn off
- Cracks at the wall flashing
- Soft spots under foot
Leaking right now? Protect the inside first
Move inventory, files and electronics away from the drip, shut off power to any light fixture or panel that is getting wet, and put down buckets or plastic. Keep people out from under a ceiling that is sagging with water above it. Don't send staff onto the roof during a storm, in the dark, or when it is icy or snow-covered. Low-slope roofs have skylights, open edges and slick membranes. Then request service: an active leak can usually be dried in temporarily until a permanent repair is possible.
From the first call to a dry roof
Tell Us About the Roof
The building, the roof type if you know it, and what is happening: an active leak, a stain, ponding water, storm damage, or a roof that is just getting old. Active leaks go to the front of the line.
Roof Assessment
We walk the roof, trace the problem, check the drains and flashings, and take core samples or moisture readings where the insulation might be wet.
Written Options and Price
You get a written scope and price. When more than one approach makes sense, repair, coating and replacement are laid out side by side with what each one buys you.
Work Done and Documented
The work is done to the manufacturer's specification, and you get a photo report and any warranty paperwork for your files.
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Tar & Gravel (Built-Up) Roofs
Repair and replacement for built-up tar-and-gravel roofs on older schools, churches, plants and downtown buildings, including blister repair, flashings and moisture checks.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Repairs for the flat and low-slope roofs on Wausau-area homes and small buildings: porch roofs, additions, attached garages, dormer decks, cabins and storefronts in rubber (EPDM), TPO, modified bitumen and roll roofing.
Learn moreResidential Flat Roof Replacement
New flat roofs for porches, attached garages, additions, dormer decks, three-season rooms and cabins: torn off to the deck, re-sloped where needed, and flashed properly into the house.
Learn moreModified Bitumen Roofing — FAQs
Typically 15 to 20 years, longer with good drainage and maintenance. Foot traffic, ponding and poor flashing details shorten it.
Open-flame torching on wood-framed and attached buildings carries a fire risk, which is why self-adhered and cold-applied mod bit are common choices there. We pick the method that suits the building.
Yes. An aging but dry mod bit roof is often a good coating candidate. See roof coatings.