Replace flat roof

Written by No Doubt Marketing

Does your home or business have a flat roof? Although some architectural and aesthetic styles favor flat roofs, environment and climate often do not. It's possible that you will want to replace a flat roof for a variety of reasons.

Do You Need a New Roof?

There are some structural and visual clues that may suggest to you that it is time for a flat roof replacement. For example, you may see leaking inside the house, or water dripping in the corners of the building. There may be damp spots on the edge of the ceiling, particularly around the outer edge of the house.

Outside, you may see pooling or standing water on the roof. When the roof sags or sinks so that it doesn't drain properly, this can cause damage to the roof, and may suggest larger problems. Some indications that problems have progressed include blisters, bubbles, damaged seams and damaged flashing on the roof. Any of these signs may indicate that it is time to think about replacing a flat roof.

Flat Roof Options

There are a variety of options you can choose if you decide on replacing a flat roof. The first option is a fluid-applied system, a roof that is sprayed on and reinforced with specially formulated fabrics. These roofs may seal any leaks very well, and are easy to apply over all kinds of surfaces. They come in both liquid and gel form.

Another choice is a CPA single-ply membrane. These flat roof membranes are 40 to 80 mm of rubber. They come in white because of the reflective properties that will help with heating and cooling costs. This membrane installs easily over any surface that is dry, stable and solid.

There are different types of bitumen or modified bitumen roofs that use a type of asphalt with or without modifiers. Those with modifiers included will produce a rubber-like roof surface instead of a tar feel when you replace a flat roof.

A built-up assembly includes many layers applied on top of one another with a resting period between each layer. These roofs use hot asphalt layered with rubber or fiberglass sheets to create a strong and waterproof roof.

One of the popular roofing options when looking at how to replace a flat roof is a Polyurethane foam resurfacing. This spray on roof system is a durable option that is also energy efficient.

There are also people who choose to replace their flat roof with traditional eaves and a sloped roof with standard asphalt shingles, depending on the type of building and the purpose for which it is used.

Cost to Replace a Flat Roof

Naturally, each type of roof replacement will have varying costs. For example, any bitumen or asphalt roof will be affected by the price of oil, which fluctuates greatly. The pricing is done on a square foot basis, so knowing the square footage of your roof is vital before checking for a general price. Some roofs start at $2.50 per square foot, but that is a general estimate. The best thing to do is use an online estimator for the different types of roofs and decide which is the best option, and then have an official estimate done.

Ready to replace the flat roof of your home? Use BuyerZone's free request for flat roof price quotes, and we'll match you to multiple contractors in your area.