Flat Roofing
Where Water Can’t Run, Detail Rules
Flat roofs fail at details, not fields — drains, edges, and penetrations. Membrane systems for additions, porch roofs, dormers, and commercial buildings, detailed like they matter.
“Flat” Means Slow Water, Not No Water
Low-slope roofs hold water longer than shingles ever face, so the membrane is only half the system — tapered drainage, sealed penetrations, and edge terminations are where lifespan lives. We install fully-adhered EPDM and membrane systems on residential low-slope sections (that porch roof, the addition tie-in, the dormer top) and commercial roofs alike, with every penetration flashed like it’s the one that will be tested.
Where Flat Meets Pitched
The most common flat-roof leak we see isn’t on the flat roof — it’s the transition where a porch or addition meets the shingled wall above. Water off the pitched roof hits the membrane at volume and finds any termination shortcut. We detail transitions with proper counter-flashing into the wall, not caulk-and-pray — and repair the ones others detailed the fast way. Aging rubber? See rubber roof repair.
Asked On Driveways All Week
How long does an EPDM flat roof last?
Quality fully-adhered EPDM realistically runs 20–30 years when the details are right — drainage and terminations decide which end of that range you get.
My flat roof ponds water — is that a problem?
Ponding past 48 hours accelerates every failure mode. Tapered insulation or drain corrections fix it — and are far cheaper than the premature replacement ponding causes.
Do you do small flat sections or only whole roofs?
Both — a single porch roof or dormer top is a normal job for us, not a nuisance call.
What is the best material for a flat roof?
For most residential low-slope sections, fully-adhered EPDM wins on track record and repairability; TPO competes commercially. The details matter more than the acronym.
How much slope does a flat roof actually have?
Code requires at least a quarter inch per foot of fall — ’flat’ roofs are really low-slope roofs, and drainage design is what makes them work.
How long do flat roofs last compared to shingles?
Comparable when detailed right — quality EPDM runs 20–30 years; drainage and terminations decide the range more than the material.
Can you walk on a flat rubber roof?
For maintenance, yes, with care — membranes tolerate foot traffic but not dropped tools, dragged furniture or gravel underfoot.
Why do flat roofs have gravel on them?
That’s older built-up roofing — ballast and UV protection. Modern membranes replaced the system, and we don’t miss the gravel.
Low-Slope Family
The membrane side of the business.
Flat Section Acting Up?
Free look at the membrane, drainage and transitions — honest verdict in writing.