Part of your roof may sit nearly flat, with far less pitch than the sloped sections.
Repairs and full replacement are both work we do, for homes and commercial buildings alike. Which one a roof needs comes down to its condition.
Repairs to a low-slope roof
On a low-slope section we handle leaks, work on the modified-bitumen covering, and flashing repairs. Flashing is the metal that seals roof-to-wall, chimney, and valley transitions. Loose or slipped tile beside a flat area falls under the same repair work.
We take on small jobs, including a single leak or damaged flashing. Our roof repair work also covers tile and shingle roofs.
Some clay and concrete tile carries a flat profile instead of a traditional barrel shape. That profile describes the tile, not the slope underneath it.
A true low-slope area has very little pitch, whatever covering sits on top of it. Flat-profile tile still belongs with our tile roofing work, which covers clay, concrete, and slate.
Modified-bitumen roofing
Torch-down modified bitumen is a roofing system applied with a torch. We primarily use it for flat and low-slope work on homes and commercial buildings. In a modified-bitumen or built-up roof, the cap sheet forms the granulated top layer.
One modified-bitumen product we work with is Polyfresko G from Polyglass. Whether it fits a particular roof depends on that roof's condition.
Tear-off means stripping to the deck rather than overlaying a new covering on the old one. How many layers already sit on a roof is one thing that shapes the scope. So is the condition of the deck once the old covering comes off.
Leaks and transition details
Water can enter a low-slope roof at one point and show up somewhere else inside. A leak there can involve the membrane, the flashings, or a transition detail.
A low-slope section and a tile slope can meet at a junction on the same roof. Manufacturers publish transition details between steep-slope and low-slope roofing, coordinating the membrane with the steep roof covering. Which detail applies varies with the systems in place.
If the water traces back to the tile slope, the underlayment there may be involved. Tile roof underlayment replacement lifts the tile, strips the failed underlayment to the deck, and lays new material. Suitable original tile then goes back on.
Repair or replace the low-slope section
Condition and scope decide this. A single failed flashing detail or a contained area of damage can be a repair. Widespread failure of the covering, or rot in the deck below, changes what the job involves.
Replacing a low-slope section may require removing the old covering down to the deck. We can then assess any damage beneath it before installing the new roofing. We also handle full roof replacement when work is needed across the entire roof.
We also install TPO, a commercial roofing option.
Project access and estimate factors
We work on homes and on commercial buildings across Los Angeles and the other cities in our service areas. If you manage a commercial building, you can look up California's current cool roofs resource for nonresidential buildings. It does not cover single-family homes.
A few specifics set the scope of a low-slope job. How many squares of roof area, how many stories, and the pitch all matter.
The sales estimate on the low-slope work is free. A detailed inspection with a written report is separate paid work. When a permit applies, we help the owner pull it from the city or another authority, which decides approval.
Flat roof cost questions
How much should a flat roof cost?
Cost follows the scope of the work. Roof area, the number of stories, the pitch, rot under the covering, and existing layers all count. Call (323) 616-1483 for a free estimate.
Is a flat roof less expensive?
Cost depends on the individual roof, so there is no general answer. A low-slope section might need a repair, or a tear-off down to the deck. On a mixed roof, whether tile has to come off and go back on counts too.
What is flat roofing called?
Low-slope roofing is a common name for this roof form. Our main system is torch-down modified bitumen, with a cap sheet forming the top layer. A flat-profile tile is different: its shape does not tell you the roof's slope.
Call (323) 616-1483 for a free estimate on the flat section. It helps to know how that area meets the rest of the roof. If writing suits you better, our contact form takes the same details.
Tile Roofing Los Angeles is a division of Home Vision Remodel. CSLB #1112525.
(323) 616-1483