Flat Roofing in Tempe

Low-slope roofs need a different approach

A flat roof is never truly flat. A good one falls about a quarter inch per foot toward a scupper or drain, so water leaves within a day or two. When that slope is lost to sagging decking or layers of old patches, water sits, the membrane softens and seams start to lift.

Around Tempe, flat roofs show up on mid-century ranch homes, pueblo-style houses with parapet walls, room additions, carports and patio covers. Many sit beside a tile or shingle main roof, and the tie-in between the two is often where a leak begins.

We check the whole assembly, from the deck up to the edge metal, then give you a straight answer on the right level of work: a targeted fix, a new layer over the existing roof, or stripping it down to the deck. If foam would serve your roof better, we will say so and point you to our Foam Roofing page.

What our flat roofing work covers

Modified bitumen systems

Two-ply torch-down or self-adhered modified bitumen finished with a granulated cap sheet. The granules shade the asphalt from UV, which is what dries out and cracks a flat roof under strong sun.

TPO single-ply membrane

White TPO reflects much of the afternoon sun and helps keep the room below cooler. Seams are welded with hot air, then probed by hand so we know each one is closed.

Reflective coatings

On a sound roof, an elastomeric or silicone coating can add years of service. We clean, prime and repair seams first, because coating over a wet or blistered surface only hides trouble.

Parapets, scuppers and edges

We re-flash parapet walls, reset scuppers, build crickets that push water toward the outlet and replace rusted edge metal. Most flat roof leaks we trace start at these details rather than in the open field of the roof.

Deck and insulation repair

Soft or rotted decking is cut out and replaced before new material goes down. Where tapered insulation can correct a low spot, we include it in the estimate.

Rooftop equipment and penetrations

Evaporative cooler and AC curbs, vent pipes and skylights get new flashing. If a unit needs to be lifted, we coordinate the timing with your HVAC contractor.

Signs your flat roof needs attention

• Water still standing after rain

  If puddles remain two days after a monsoon storm, the slope or drainage has failed. Standing water speeds up wear and adds weight the deck was never meant to carry.

• Blisters and bubbles

  Raised pockets mean moisture or air is trapped under the membrane. Afternoon heat expands them day after day until they split.

• A crazed or bare surface

  Cracking that looks like dried mud, or a cap sheet that has shed its granules, has lost its protection from the sun.

• Stains near exterior walls

  Brown rings on a ceiling close to an outside wall often point to a parapet or scupper rather than the roof surface itself.

• Seams pulling apart

  Lifted laps at seams and edges let wind-driven rain slip under the membrane.

• Cracked parapet stucco

  Hairline cracks along the top or inside face of a parapet let water run down behind the flashing and into the wall.

How a flat roofing job runs

1. 1

   Measure and document

   We walk the roof, check the slope with a level, probe soft spots and photograph what we find. You see the photos while we talk through the options.

2. 2

   Line-item estimate

   You receive a written estimate naming the system, the number of plies or coating thickness, deck work, flashing and permit. If something can only be known once the old roof is opened, we say so up front and explain how it would be priced.

3. 3

   Permit and scheduling

   When the work calls for a permit, we pull it and plan around the required inspections. In summer we start at first light, since membranes and adhesives handle better before the deck reaches peak heat.

4. 4

   The work itself

   We protect landscaping and the areas below, remove only what we can close up that day and leave the roof watertight overnight. Smaller flat roofs are often finished in a day or two.

5. 5

   Final cleanup and review

   Debris is hauled away, and a rolling magnet goes over the lawn, beds and drive to catch stray nails. Then we go over the finished roof together and hand you photos of the details you cannot see from the ground.

How we price a flat roof

The size of the roof sets a starting point, but it rarely tells the whole story. With a low-slope roof, the layers underneath and the details at the edges tend to drive the number. Every figure we give you comes from what we see on your roof, and it goes on paper. If something could shift once the old material is removed, we name it and explain it before you make a decision.

Repair, recover or tear-off

Resealing one seam or reflashing a single scupper is modest work. Adding a new system over the existing roof costs less than stripping down to the deck, though it only makes sense when the layers below are dry and firmly bonded.

How many roofs are already there

Some older homes have two or more roofs stacked one on top of another. Code generally caps how many may remain, so pulling off the extras adds labor and disposal to the job.

The state of the deck

Plywood or plank decking that has softened under years of standing water must be replaced. The full extent often only becomes clear once the old roof is off.

The system you pick

Coatings, TPO and modified bitumen each carry different material costs, labor and expected lifespans. We lay them out side by side so you can compare.

Parapets, drains and access

High parapet walls, multiple scuppers, rooftop equipment and a roof that is hard to reach all add hours to the work.