Flat roofs on Orlando homes
Most Orlando houses have a sloped shingle or tile roof, and many also have a low-slope section. Common spots include:
- Screened porches and lanais with a solid roof
- Florida rooms added on the back of the house
- Carports and covered patios
- Room additions where the roof couldn't match the main pitch
- Mid-century and modern homes with low-slope roofs throughout
Shingles and tile need a steeper slope to shed water, so these areas get a membrane that keeps water out even when it sits for a while.
Should you choose TPO or modified bitumen?
| Detail | TPO | Modified bitumen |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Single-ply thermoplastic membrane with heat-welded seams | Asphalt-based membrane in layered rolls |
| Color | Usually white and reflective | Often granulated cap sheet |
| Strengths | Reflects heat, welded seams | Tough, easy to patch |
| Good fit | Larger flat areas, rooms you want cooler | Porches, small additions, tie-ins |
| Typical cost | $7 to $13 per square foot | $7 to $13 per square foot |
Insulation upgrades are extra. If the room under the roof gets hot in summer, consider adding insulation during the replacement.
What flat roof problems do we fix?
- Ponding water. We correct low spots and drainage so water leaves the roof.
- Seam failures. Old seams open up in the heat. We re-seal or replace the section.
- Blistering and cracking. Sun-worn membranes split and let water reach the deck.
- Bad tie-ins. The joint where a porch roof meets the main roof or wall is a common leak spot. We rebuild the flashing at that joint.
- Rotten decking. We replace soft wood before installing the new membrane.
Smaller fixes usually fall in our common repair range of $350 to $1,500. See our roof repair page for details.
Where a flat roof meets the house
On a home, a flat roof usually meets a sloped shingle or tile roof, a wall or a sliding door. Those transitions are among the most common leak spots on porch and addition roofs. We flash these joints so water runs from the main roof onto the flat roof and off the house instead of under the membrane.
Does a flat roof replacement need a permit?
A flat roof replacement needs a building permit and inspections, like any other re-roof. Low-slope roofs also have their own Florida Building Code requirements for materials and slope. Our Orlando roof permit guide explains the process. We pull the permit under license CCC1326792.
The same membranes we put on warehouses
We install the same TPO and modified bitumen systems on homes and, through our commercial roofing service, on offices, stores and warehouses. Our own crews do the work, with an owner on site. Our license, CCC1326792, covers the permit, and our crews have worked Orlando porches and additions since 2004. The inspection is free, and if a repair will fix the roof, we quote the repair.
Book a free roof inspection, or call (407) 970-9746.
