Flat Roof Replacement & Installation in Pittsburgh, PA
A flat roof needs replacing when the repairs stop holding, the decking under it has gone soft, or the membrane has simply worn out. On a lot of Pittsburgh houses, it also needs replacing because of what is under it: two or three layers of roll roofing, tar and old rubber stacked on top of each other, holding water between them. Replacement is the chance to fix that properly. We take the roof down to the deck, replace rotted boards, build in slope where water used to sit, re-flash the parapet and the walls, and install a new EPDM, TPO or modified bitumen roof. You get the options in writing, with what each one costs and why we would pick it for your building.
What's included
- Tear-off to the deck and removal of old layers
- Rotted decking and sagging joists found and replaced
- Tapered insulation or re-sloping to stop ponding
- EPDM (rubber) roofs, fully adhered
- TPO roofs with heat-welded seams
- Modified bitumen roofs for foot traffic and small roofs
- New parapet, wall and chimney flashings
- Edge metal, gutters and scuppers rebuilt
- Manufacturer warranty options explained in writing
Sound like your roof?
- The roof has been patched in several places, not one
- The decking feels soft or spongy underfoot
- More than one old layer is visible at the edge
- The membrane is cracked, shrinking or alligatored all over
- The roof is 20+ years old and the leaks are getting more frequent
Leaking right now? Protect the inside first
Move belongings away from the drip, shut off power to any wet light fixture, and stay off the roof in a storm or on ice. Then request service: an active leak can usually be dried in until the permanent repair.
Flat Roof Replacement — FAQs
Most flat roof replacements fall roughly between $6 and $13 per square foot, depending on the membrane, how many old layers come off, how much decking is rotten, and how much flashing has to be rebuilt. A small row-house or porch roof is priced per job and costs more per square foot. See the cost guide.
EPDM rubber is the most common choice on Pittsburgh houses: proven, flexible in the cold and easy to repair. TPO is white and heat-welded, good where summer heat matters. Modified bitumen is tough under foot traffic and suits roof decks and small roofs. Comparison in EPDM vs. TPO vs. modified bitumen.
Usually, on houses. Building codes generally don’t allow a new roof over two or more existing layers, or over a wet or damaged roof, and most old flat roofs on Pittsburgh houses already have several layers. Tearing off also lets us find and replace rotted decking and fix the slope.
Yes. Replacement is the time to do it, with tapered insulation, crickets that steer water to the drain, or re-framing low spots. See ponding water on a flat roof.
A row-house, porch or garage roof is usually one to three days, weather permitting. Larger roofs take longer. The roof is made watertight at the end of each day.