Clifton, New Jersey
Flat & Low-Slope Roofs in Clifton, NJ
A split seam over the back kitchen, ponding water on a porch roof, or a membrane that has simply worn out? Call and you are connected with an independent roofing contractor that repairs and replaces flat and low-slope roofs in Clifton.
- Independent local roofing contractors
- Repairs, replacements and new roofs
- You decide whether to hire
Flat and low-slope roofs
Not every roof can take shingles
Shingles need enough slope to shed water. Below that, a roof needs a continuous membrane. On houses in and around Clifton, low-slope sections are typical over enclosed front porches, rear additions and kitchens, sunrooms and detached garages.
Common membranes include single-ply sheets such as EPDM and TPO and multi-layer modified bitumen. Each has its own seams, flashing details and repair methods, and the right one depends on the slope, what sits on the roof and how it ties into the shingled roof next to it.
What to ask about a flat roof
Drainage
Where the water goes. Ponding usually means the roof needs more slope, not just a new surface.
Tear-off
Whether the old layers come off so the deck can be checked.
Insulation
Whether insulation goes under the new membrane, and what that does to the roof edge height.
Tie-in
How the membrane meets the shingled roof and the house wall.
Edges and drains
Edge metal, gutters or scuppers, and how each is sealed.
Membrane
Which material is quoted, its thickness and the manufacturer's warranty.
Questions
Flat & Low-Slope Roofs: common questions
Why does water sit on my flat roof?
Most flat roofs need a slight slope toward a gutter or drain. Sagging framing, settled decks or missing tapered insulation leave low spots. A replacement is the time to fix the slope, not only the surface.
Can a leaking flat roof be patched?
Often, if the membrane is sound apart from one seam, a puncture or a spot where it has pulled away from the wall. Each membrane type is repaired with its own materials, so tell the contractor what is up there if you know. Blisters and splits all over, or a deck that has gone soft, point to replacing the section.
Can a porch roof be replaced at the same time as the main roof?
Yes, and it often makes sense: one contractor handles both roofs and the joint between them. Ask for the porch or rear roof to be priced as its own line.
Does a flat roof repair or replacement need a permit?
The state rule lists the repair or replacement of existing roof covering on detached one- and two-family dwellings as ordinary maintenance (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)). Work that changes the framing or slope may affect the structure, so ask your construction office if you are unsure.
Roof services
Other roof services
- Roof ReplacementOld layers off, deck checked, new underlayment, flashing and roof covering on.
- Roof RepairLeaks at chimneys, vents and valleys, worn flat rear roofs, and shingles lifted by wind.
- New Roofs for AdditionsAdditions, dormers and rebuilds: a new roof framed, permitted and tied into the old one.
- Asphalt Shingle RoofsArchitectural shingles, ice barrier at the eaves, and the ridge and soffit venting to go with them.
- Metal RoofsStanding seam and metal shingles: longer-lived panels, with details that need care.
- Two-Family House RoofsTall gables, stacked porches and two households: repairing or replacing a two-family roof.
Roof leaking or worn out?
Talk to a Clifton-area roofing contractor
Call and you are put through to an independent roofing contractor that works in Clifton, Nutley, Little Falls, Woodland Park and Wayne. Tell them what you have noticed and ask them to inspect the roof and price the work, whether that turns out to be a repair or a new roof.
A leak to track down or a roof to replace? Talk to a local roofing contractor.
You are connected with an independent roofing contractor that works in Clifton and nearby towns.
Call (973) 913-7876Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.