ServicesFlat Roofing
Flat Roofing in Los Alamitos
We repair and replace flat and low-slope roofs on additions, patio covers, carports and porches. We start with where the water goes, because most flat roof leaks begin with standing water and a tired seam. Then we tell you plainly whether a repair, a coating or a new membrane fits.
Flat Roofs: What We Do and When It's Time
No flat roof is perfectly level. It needs at least a quarter inch of fall per foot to carry water to a drain, scupper or gutter. Without that fall, or once the deck sags, water collects and every seam, nail head and flashing edge sits submerged for days. That explains why flat sections tend to leak well before the pitched roof next to them.
Lots of homes around Los Alamitos include a low-slope area: a family room addition, a garage or a covered patio attached to the main roof. Many were surfaced decades ago with tar and gravel or rolled roofing. Years of strong sun dry out that asphalt, and the first heavy winter storm finds every crack.
We install modified bitumen, single-ply TPO and elastomeric coatings. Which one fits depends on the deck's condition, how the roof drains and how it joins the surrounding walls.
What Our Flat Roof Work Includes
- 01
Drainage correction
We check slope with a level and look for ponding stains. Where water sits, we add tapered insulation or a cricket to push it toward the drain. A new membrane over a bad slope just ponds again.
- 02
Tear-off and deck repair
Old built-up layers come off down to the sheathing. We replace soft or delaminated plywood instead of covering it, since a spongy deck flexes and splits seams.
- 03
New membrane
Modified bitumen goes down in overlapping rolls with sealed laps. TPO is a white single-ply sheet with heat-welded seams, which reflects sun and keeps the room below cooler.
- 04
Flashing at walls and edges
Parapet walls, stucco transitions and the line where a flat section meets a pitched roof are where most leaks start. We install cant strips, new base flashing and metal edge so the membrane turns up the wall instead of stopping at it.
- 05
Drains, scuppers and penetrations
We reset drains and scuppers, and flash vent pipes and HVAC curbs with proper boots or target patches.
- 06
Coatings for sound roofs
If the membrane is dry underneath and still firmly stuck to the deck, an elastomeric coating can add years at a lower cost than replacement.
Questions about Flat Roofing?
Call(562) 374-8848Warning Signs on a Flat Roof
Puddles lasting two days after rain
Water that stays more than 48 hours after a storm means slope has been lost or an outlet is blocked. It wears out the membrane faster and loads the framing with extra weight.
Bubbles and blisters
Moisture or air trapped below the surface swells in hot weather and pushes up the top layer. Once a blister splits, water runs straight into the felts.
Cracked or exposed surface
A pattern of fine cracks, or bare black asphalt where gravel has washed off, shows the sun has dried the roofing out.
Loose seams or edges
Laps you can peel up by hand, or metal edging separating from the fascia, give wind-driven rain a way underneath.
Ceiling stains underneath
Water moves across the deck before dripping, so a stain in a patio or addition ceiling is often several feet away from the real opening.
Steps in a Flat Roof Job
- 1
Free roof check
We get on the roof, measure slope, feel for soft decking and examine each seam and flashing. You receive photos of our findings and a direct answer on repair, coating or replacement.
- 2
Written estimate at no cost
The estimate spells out the material, drainage corrections, flashing details and any expected deck replacement. When the job needs a permit we pull it, and we confirm whether California's energy code requires a cool-rated surface on your reroof.
- 3
The work day
After protecting the walls, windows and plants below, we strip and haul off the old roofing that same day. Deck repair, insulation and the new membrane follow right behind, so the roof is never open overnight.
- 4
Drain test and cleanup
We send water to the drains to make sure the roof empties, clear nails and debris, and show you the completed work.
What Drives Flat Roof Pricing
On a flat roof, what lies below the surface affects the price much more than the square footage. We quote only after getting on the roof, and the written estimate lists each part on its own. Financing is available through Service Finance Company, subject to credit approval.
- Layers to remove
- Removing two or three layers of built-up roofing and gravel takes more labor and disposal than stripping one.
- State of the deck
- Plywood that is rotted or delaminated must be replaced, and we show you the soft spots before pricing them.
- Fixing the drainage
- Tapered insulation, crickets or an added scupper bring more material and time, and they often decide whether the roof lasts or leaks again.
- Type of membrane
- Coatings, modified bitumen and TPO each have their own material and labor costs, and each blocks a different amount of heat from the room underneath.
- Wall connections
- Parapets, stucco walls and joins to a pitched roof call for more flashing work than a plain open edge.
Questions About Flat Roofs
Is patching my flat roof enough?
In many cases. When a leak comes from a single failed seam or cracked flashing and the rest of the membrane is dry and bonded, a patch is the right fix. If we find wet insulation or soft decking over a large area, patching just relocates the leak, and we'll show you the evidence.
Which is better on a house, TPO or modified bitumen?
Properly installed, both perform well. White TPO reflects sunlight and helps keep an addition or patio room cooler. Modified bitumen is thicker and handles foot traffic, so it fits roofs that carry equipment or get walked on. Our pick depends on your roof, not habit.
Do you correct standing water?
Yes. Fixing slope is part of the job, not an optional add-on. We use tapered insulation, crickets or reworked outlets so water makes it to the drain.
Does replacing a flat roof require a permit?
A full replacement usually does, and we pull it. The city inspection also checks the cool roof rules that can apply to low-slope reroofs in California.
Does homeowners insurance cover a flat roof leak?
That depends on the cause and your policy. Damage from a specific event may be covered, while age-related wear usually isn't. We work directly with your insurance claim and document our findings with photos, but the adjuster decides coverage.
Find Out What Your Flat Roof Needs
We will check the slope, the seams and the deck, then explain the options in writing. If the leak turns out to start on the sloped main roof above it, our roof repair work covers that too.