What You Need to Know About Flat Roof Restoration

Did you know that flat roofs have different needs than typical pitched roofs?  If this is your first home with a flat roof, you might wonder what type of maintenance and costs you should expect.  That’s where we come in!  Read on to learn more about residential flat roofs basics from the roofing experts at SUNVEK.

What is the Best Residential Flat Roof Material?

There are several kinds of flat roofs, each with their own benefits.  At SUNVEK, we offer both foam roofing and rolled roofing.  Of the two, we highly recommend using foam roofing for a residential flat roof, due to its combination of durability and energy-efficiency. 

Rolled roofing can have a lower initial cost, depending on the material you choose, but it’s typically better for utilitarian places like barns, sheds, or garages, as well as commercial spaces. 

What is Flat Roof Coating?

No matter which kind of flat roof your home has, you’ll want to add a coating to the completed roof as a means of protecting the roof system and extending the life cycle.  This provides an added layer of protection to your roof from the hot Arizona sun to the dings to scratches from birds, branches and hail.

With minor damage to a flat roof or with age-related exposure and degradation, you can typically re-coat the roof to repair or restore it and avoid having to do more significant repairs or a full roof replacement.

Coatings are typically either acrylic or silicone.  If you work with an experienced roof company like SUNVEK, you can expect that our team of professionals will help you determine which material is best for your home.

How Long do Flat Roofs Last?

There are so many benefits to having a flat roof, and the affordability and longevity of these roofs are just two of them.  Depending on the material used and the maintenance performed, a residential flat roof can last 20 to 30 years (and even longer if quality coatings are used).

What Kind of Maintenance Do Flat Roofs Require?

The best maintenance for flat roofs starts with you—the homeowner.  Be sure to perform routine visual inspections of the roof about twice a year.  Stay on the lookout for any visible cracks, waves, or punctures in the material and remember to remove any debris.

If you spot cracks or punctures, you can try to take care of them yourself using a quality urethane caulk.  If it’s a large area, or if there are gradations in the surface that you’re not sure how to handle, call an expert to professionally replace or repair that section. 

What Is a Typical Flat Roof Repair Cost?

According to HomeAdvisor, flat roof repairs like tears or cracks can cost between $300 and $600.  Other larger repairs can add up to $5,000, such as when large sections need to be replaced or if there’s a leak that’s particularly difficult to locate. 

Luckily, foam flat roofs are more resistant to leaks than other types of materials.

What Does a Flat Roof Cost?

If your repair costs are going to be higher than expected, and especially if your roof is over 15 years old, you might consider foregoing the repair and just doing a full flat roof replacement. 

The average cost of a flat roof replacement is just shy of $6,500.  This number can vary widely based on what material your flat roof is made of and the size of your roof.  Costs can reach as high as $15,000 in some cases. Remember, the size of your roof will be the primary factor in determining this cost.  Larger and more complex roofs will be more.

Flat roof coating to restore a roof is a significant reduction in cost.  This investment can save you money by protecting the roof system and increasing its longevity.

Consider the Condition of Your Residential Flat Roof 

If this is your first home with a flat roof, it may be difficult to know whether the roof has had coating done recently, or if it will need a recoating sooner rather than later. 

Don’t worry!  At SUNVEK, we have decades of experience working with residential flat roofs and know how to improve their longevity.  We’re happy to check your roof and help you come up with a maintenance plan that fits your budget and needs. 

Call us today for a free estimate!