Shingles work best on roofs with a steeper pitch. When the slope of a roof drops below a 3/12 pitch (that means it rises less than 3 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run), it’s considered too low for shingles. At that point, shingles are more likely to leak because water doesn’t run off as quickly. For these roofs, a flat roof membrane is the right solution to keep your home properly protected.

Flat roof membranes typically last 20 to 25 years. Longevity of a flat roof can be affected by things like wear and tear and exposure to the elements. For instance, our Duradek walkable roof membrane can last 20 years, but if it is walked on excessively and with lots of furniture, the life span might be reduced. Another example is if a single ply membrane such as TPO is in a protected area that does not get full sun exposure, it might get 25 to 30 years of life, vs. the same material in a coastal environment that faces the sun might get only 20 years.

Just the opposite! If the right material is used and installed correctly, then a flat roof is much more watertight than a sloped roof. We can use our flat roof materials to make swimming pool liners and will remain 100% watertight. Conversely, sloped roofs utilize a layered system that sheds water, and relies on the downward flow of water. This means that if rain is driven uphill in such events like hurricanes, or there is blockage of flow due to something like debris, water can get between the layers and into the roof system.

All roofs require some amount of maintenance in order to allow the roof to reach its full life expectancy. Flat roofs sometimes have additional areas of maintenance. If there are things like roof drains, scuppers, pitch pockets, etc. then those items should be checked regularly.

Yes, warranties on the material against defects are standard with flat roofing material. The material warranties range from 10 to 25 years. Workmanship warranties are handled by the contractor but there are also additional warranties available from the manufacturer if the contractor is in an approved contractor program that the manufacturer offers. These approved contractor programs are one of the best ways to know if your contractor is top-notch because the manufacturer has vetted them and required training.

Selecting the right system for your application is based on slope of the roof, whether there will be any foot traffic on it, what color you want it to be, and if there are any unusual features such as kitchen exhaust fans that emit grease. There are multiple options for each scenario, so working with an experienced roofing professional is important.