Professional flat roof repair company in Denver

A waterproof roof is expected with any roof installation. A low pitch roof is also referred to as a flat roof. All roofs are designed to have some pitch to allow for drainage.

A qualified roofer will overlap seams for any roofing material installed to bond together multiple layers of materials. There are different bonding methods, from peel-and-stick for modified bitumen to heat-welded at seams.

Beyond the roof material itself, it is essential to properly waterproof all flashings with high-grade silicone caulk sealant. Even the best silicone will last at most twenty years. In Colorado’s extreme weather conditions, the roof’s seal and the flashings seal can be far less than twenty years. That’s why frequent roof inspections and regular maintenance are critical to maximizing your roof’s life.

All flat roofs will eventually leak if not installed correctly or regularly inspected and necessary maintenance performed. Unlike a pitched roof where water will naturally runoff, a flat roof will pool water. As water pools on the roof, it will continue to challenge all seams and flashings.

Over time, the seams and flashings will give way to water penetration underneath the membrane and causing a roof leak. Regular roof inspections and preventative maintenance are the best offense to avoid costly roof repairs later.

The best way to fix a flat roof is to seal any seams, cracks, tears, exposed nails or screws, or flashings that allow water penetration under the roof’s surface.

The best solution will depend on the specific flat roofing material and the correct identification of the leak source. It might be a TPO patch to cover a crack or tear or professional application of silicone sealant at exposed flashings such as a vent or pipe. If the roof has water under its membrane, a flat roof coating is possible but likely not warranted.

A technical expert from a roof coating manufacturer such as Gaco or Mule-Hide will physically inspect the roof and use a thermal camera to detect water underneath the roof’s surface.

A patch fix may temporarily fix a roof leak problem, but it should not be considered a long-term solution.

Whether a roof can be repaired or replaced depends on the individual roof damage. A flat roof may have extensive hail damage or lifted seams that cause extensive water penetration underneath the flat roof. In these cases, a roof replacement is likely the best action. If there is an isolated leak from a specific tear in the flat roof membrane or exposed flashing, a roof repair is likely acceptable.

A homeowner can and should repair a flat roof if it’s a temporary fix to stop a leak or the homeowner is also a qualified roofing expert. Further, another variable is ladder safety to get onto and off the roof. For permanent roof repair, we strongly recommend hiring a professional for all roof repair, roof coatings, and roof replacement.

A professional roofer should inspect a flat roof regularly to check all seams and flashings for proper seal and the entire roof to identify any tears, punctures, or hail damage penetrations.

As part of the flat roof inspection, a qualified roofing professional should inspect underneath the roof’s membrane with a thermal camera to detect any water already underneath the roof’s surface. Necessary maintenance includes sealing any exposed or open seams, tears or punctures, rusted or exposed nails, screws, and flashing.

If you have an approved insurance claim, your insurance company estimate should pay to restore any damaged property to its pre-loss condition using materials of like kind and quality.

Depending on the extent of roof damage during the insurance inspection, you may qualify for roof repair to a specific section of the roof or a complete roof replacement. If your flat roof has a silicone coating atop the roof membrane, your insurance company will likely pay to remove the coating and the roof membrane.

While the cost of materials needed to complete the roof repair depends on the extent of roof damage, many professional roofers will charge a minimum for time and labor, plus materials. Even sealing a roof vent with silicone caulk will likely cost a minimum of $250.

A permit is necessary for many Colorado cities and counties based on the extent of roof repair. For example, if repairs are more than 10% of the roof square footage in Denver, the roof repair needs a roofing permit.

Roof repair on a flat roof is different from a pitched or sloped roof. The primary reason is the types of roofing materials on a flat roof where water may pool and cause leaks compared to a steeper slope roof designed to run off the roof and into the gutters and downspouts.

It is unlikely that a roofer will agree to warranty the roof repair unless he also installed your roof. Even the most experienced roofing professional may not correctly identify all sources of roof damage or leaks and will charge mostly for time and materials used.

Many roofing contractors will want to take on the challenge of continuing to search for the leak source and correct it but may charge for additional time.