We were called by a Property Manager in the Westshore business district after two separate contractors had attempted to repair a leak on this flat roof over a period of time, with repairs holding for a couple of weeks and then developing a leak in a new location. Upon our inspection, we immediately determined the cause of the leaks. The roof’s low-sitting drain was allowing water to pond for days after rainfall. Although the membrane had been patched twice around the location of the drain, the major problem of poor drainage slope had not been addressed by either of the prior contractors.
Repairing flat roofs in Tampa typically follows the pattern of someone trying to fix the symptom of a problem whereas the real cause of a roof’s failure is not discovered. We approach flat roof repair differently. We find out why your roof is failing instead of just where it is leaking today.
Flat Roof Repair
Flat roof repair in Tampa requires understanding how these roofing systems fail in a hot, wet climate. TPO membrane seams open up from UV exposure and thermal expansion. EPDM pulls away from flashings at walls and parapets. Modified bitumen cracks and blisters. Each material fails differently and each repair needs to match the system it’s on.
We do flat-roof repairs on commercial buildings, warehouses, retail centers, restaurants, apartment rooftops, and flat-roof homes throughout Hillsborough County. Channelside, Ybor City, the Westshore industrial corridor, Brandon, Riverview, and everywhere in between. If it’s flat and it’s leaking, we can find the problem and fix it.
Before we make any repairs, we assess the whole roof, not just the spot that’s wet inside. Ponding water, failed seams, lifted flashings, cracked pitch pockets around roof penetrations, and deteriorated membrane around drains are all things we check. A flat roof repair that doesn’t address drainage and seam integrity is just a temporary patch.
TPO Roofing Repair
TPO is one of the most common commercial flat roof systems found on buildings in the Tampa area. While it is a very good roof when installed properly, it has specific failure points. The seams of a TPO roof are its weakest link. Poorly welded seams will open up within a year or so. The membrane contracts and expands in the heat of Tampa; therefore, it must be welded up properly in order to last.
TPO roofs are repaired with the exact same hot-air welding equipment that was used for the initial installation. Seam repairs on TPO roofs are actually made stronger than the original seal by repairing them with welding as opposed to using tape and caulk to patch them up. There’s a lot of poorly executed tape repairs on TPO roofs in this region. We fix your TPO roof until it doesn’t need any more repairs.
Flat Roof Installation
While there are times when a flat roof can’t be repaired any longer, a repair is often not the best solution for a flat roof with too many damaged areas. Additionally, damaged insulation that has absorbed a lot of water, as well as damaged decks that have been compromised by years of water intrusion, are best replaced with a new flat roof installation.
I’ll be the first to tell you when you reach that point. I don’t want to sell a replacement roof when it can be repaired to save money in the short term. On the other hand, I don’t want a building owner to throw $2,000 in repairs each year for 20 years when a new roof can be installed for $8,000 and last for 20 years. The math has to make sense and I will outline the numbers for you.
Emergency Roof Repair
We treat a leaking flat roof during a Tampa rainstorm just like an emergency. So does the water infiltrating your commercial building and causing damage to your inventory, to your equipment and to your finishes. We answer all emergency flat roof repair calls 24/7 throughout Hillsborough County and get there quickly as the water is causing damage very fast.
We can cover a leaking flat roof with a tarp or patch it to prevent further water entry while we can arrange for the required repairs to be carried out. We have dealt with numerous emergency flat-roof calls throughout the Westshore area, Ybor City, the Port of Tampa industrial area and the Brandon and Riverview commercial areas. Call us in an emergency, as we answer our phones 24/7.
Tampa’s Flat Roof Repair Specialists Since 1996
Florida Flat Roof Repair serving the Tampa area since 1987. We have extensive knowledge of the commercial buildings found in the Tampa area along with the various types of flat roof systems used to cover them. We are familiar with the way the Tampa climate and weather will affect a flat roof over time. No matter where you’re located – Channelside, Carrollwood, Westshore, or Wesley Chapel – we arrive on time and repair the damage properly the first time!
Schedule a flat roof inspection with us. We come out to your location and conduct a complete inspection of your flat roof surfaces. We will give you a complete and accurate list of findings with no pressure to purchase repairs.
