ServicesFlat Roofing
Flat Roofing in Cypress
Flat and low-slope roofs usually fail at the seams, drains and edges, not in the middle. We find where water sits or slips in, then repair it or replace the membrane. You get photos of what we found. If a storm caused it, we help you document it for your claim.
What Flat Roof Work Covers
A lot of homes have a flat section somewhere: over the garage, a back porch, a family room addition or a patio cover tied into the main roof. These roofs barely slope, so water moves slowly. Any low spot, open seam or clogged drain turns into a leak faster than it would on a pitched roof.
We work on the common flat roof systems: modified bitumen cap sheet, built-up roofs with gravel, single-ply TPO and roof coatings. Sometimes a few seams and a new drain collar are all it takes. Sometimes the membrane is worn through and the wood under it is soft. We tell you which one you have and show you the pictures.
Our owner has 40 years of roofing experience. Over those years, one spot keeps causing more flat roof leaks than any other: the joint where the flat section butts into a sloped roof. It's the first place we look.
What the Job Includes
- 01
Seam and flashing repair
We reseal lifted seams and replace cracked flashing at walls, curbs and vent pipes. These are the most common leak points on a flat roof.
- 02
Drains, scuppers and edges
We clear and reset drains and scuppers so water leaves the roof instead of pooling. Rusted or loose edge metal gets replaced so wind can't peel the membrane back.
- 03
Recoating a sound roof
If the membrane is still attached and dry underneath, a reflective coating can add years and keep the room below cooler. We only suggest it when a core check shows the roof is dry.
- 04
Full tear-off and new membrane
When the old roof is past saving, we strip it to the deck, replace any rotted sheathing and install a new system. We can build in tapered insulation to fix low spots that hold water.
- 05
Tie-ins to your main roof
Where a flat section meets shingle or tile, we rebuild the transition so the two roofs shed water together. As an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, we can match that work to the shingle side of your home.
Questions about Flat Roofing?
Call(714) 710-1867Trouble Signs on a Flat or Low-Slope Roof
Water still there days after rain
When the storm has passed and water is still standing a couple of days later, the deck has dipped or a drain is blocked. Standing water grinds down the membrane and seeps into any seam that has loosened.
Blisters that give underfoot
A raised spot that gives when pressed has air or water trapped beneath it. A handful can be opened and patched. If they cover the roof, it's usually near the end of its life.
Cracked, alligatored or bare surface
Long exposure to sun dries asphalt-based roofing until it cracks like weathered paint. On a gravel roof, spots with no gravel leave the layers underneath unprotected.
Ceiling stains inside
Water runs along the deck before it appears indoors, so the stain can sit feet from the real opening. That's why we inspect from up top, not only from the ceiling.
Membrane pulling off walls
When the membrane shrinks back from a parapet or wall, the first rain of winter will flow right in behind it.
How a Flat Roof Job Goes
- 1
Free inspection and photos
We walk the roof, probe soft spots and check drains, seams and flashing. You get photos of each problem so you can see it for yourself.
- 2
Written estimate and claim help
You get a free written estimate with each item listed. If wind or a storm did the damage, we help you put together the photos and notes for your insurance company and can work directly with your claim. The adjuster decides what's covered, and we'll tell you honestly when something looks like normal wear.
- 3
The work day
We cover plants and the area around your home, pull the permit when the job calls for one and keep the work area roped off. Most repairs take a day. A full replacement on a garage or addition usually runs a couple of days, depending on the deck.
- 4
Water test and cleanup
Before we leave, we run water to the drains to make sure it flows off. We haul away old roofing and sweep for nails.
What Changes the Cost of Flat Roof Work
On a flat roof, the surface size matters less to the price than what lies beneath it. We give you a number in writing after we've walked the roof ourselves. Financing through Service Finance Company can spread the cost out, subject to credit approval.
- Fix, coat or start over
- Resealing a handful of seams is far cheaper than tearing the roof off. A coating lands between the two in price, and it only works when the roof is dry.
- What the deck looks like
- Soaked insulation or rotten plywood must be removed before new roofing goes on. Often it stays hidden until the old layers come up, so we tell you up front how that part is priced.
- Old layers and new material
- Stripping a gravel roof or several old layers means more labor and more hauling. TPO, cap sheet and coatings each carry their own installed cost.
- Fixing how water drains
- Tapered insulation, new drains or added scuppers to end ponding raise the price, but they deal with the reason the roof leaked to begin with.
Questions About Flat Roofs
Should my flat roof be fixed or replaced?
Plenty of them can be fixed. When water gets in at seams, flashing or drains and the deck underneath is dry, a repair or coating is a sound choice. When cracks run across the entire membrane or the insulation is wet, a patch only holds for a few months. We'll show you which case you're in and why.
Should water be sitting on my flat roof?
A bit of water that's gone in a day or two is typical. If it lingers past that, there's a low spot or a clogged drain. Standing water wears down the surface and puts extra weight on the roof, so it's worth taking care of.
Does insurance cover a flat roof?
That turns on what caused the damage. Sudden events, like wind peeling back the membrane, are often covered, while age and gradual wear generally aren't. We record what we see with photos and notes and can work directly with your claim, but the decision is your insurer's.
Which material suits my flat roof best?
It depends on the space below and how the roof gets used. TPO reflects sunlight, which helps over a bedroom or family room. Modified bitumen cap sheet handles foot traffic and patches easily down the road. A coating can extend the life of a roof that's still dry. We go over each option with you when we put your estimate together.
Have Your Flat Roof Checked Before the Next Rain
We'll look at the seams, drains and deck and show you photos of what's going on. You'll get a written estimate you can keep, with no pressure to decide on the spot.