Flat Roof Leak Repairs - Your Trusted Roofing Experts

In order to understand flat roof repair, you must know what style of flat roof you have. Most common is found to be the smooth white roof with a mineral grit surface. This roofing has either been applied with flaming torch (torchdown) or applied with hot tar. The other most used flat roof type is found to be a gravel roof, which is also applied with hot tar.

You can tell that your roof is getting old when you notice the granules wearing away. The black membrane will begin to show through. If it’s just a spot or two where you have foot traffic or in front a drain, that is normal wear. But if you notice that the granules are missing all over in different places, it’s likely time for flat roof repair or new roof.

Have it checked, you might be able to squeeze another few years out of it with repair.

Looking for a leak on a flat roof, even for a seasoned pro, can be difficult. Sometimes they are apparent: a seam that has come loose, a random puncture and so on. The most common area for roofs to leak are the drain area and repairing these usually demands expertise for flat roof repair.

If you have leaks on a gravel roof, it’s best to call a pro to inspect for needed flat roof repair. We have found that with a gravel roof it is not as straightforward to identify wear. If you have any equipment platforms or parapet walls look for deterioration in places where the smooth white membranes where used.

If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase ‘torch on roof’, you’re not alone! Many property owners discover this roofing strategy for the first time when they begin researching roof repairs or new installations. Torch on roofing is a specific roofing method in which an open-flame propane torch is used to heat sheets of modified bitumen, enabling it to fuse with the surface of the roof in a waterproof seal. 

Bitumen is a compound made from asphalt and modified with either rubber or plastic. This enables the material to withstand varying temperatures because it can expand and contract without cracking.

Torch on roofing is a waterproof, durable, and weather-resistant material, but it isn’t for everyone! It’s best suited for low slope roofs with pitches between ¼: 12 to 1: 12. When applied to low-slope roofs, it will provide additional strength and resistance. On the other hand, if your roof is completely flat or filled with high slopes, we don’t recommend torch down roofing.