Flat Roofs

For your house, a membrane roof may be a good option. A membrane roof is simply a synthetic single-ply material that is installed over your roof, and drained slightly to allow water to exit the roof via scuppers or roof drains. For residential use, this includes TPO, PVC, or sometimes EPDM.

Here in northern Arizona, membrane roofs are a good option compared to the spray foam roofs commonly found in southern areas of the state. They hold up better and longer with the ice and snow we have compared to foam, which must be top coated with acrylic or silicone.

As a GAF Master Contractor, we can extend up to 20 year warranties on your TPO or PVC roof when we use their materials. 

Membrane roofing is typically installed in a multi-part process – the roof deck must be cleaned, and then there is an option of adding insulation board to the roof deck to help with your houses energy efficiency. On top of that, taper board may be installed to help with roof drainage and force water into drains…the goal is to prevent standing water on your roof, and it only takes about a 1/4″ slope over every foot to accomplish that.

After that, a cover board is installed, which is something that protects the insulation and gives the membrane something to be fastened or adhered to.

Once the base layers are on, the membrane is rolled out over the roof and up your parapet walls. It comes in anywhere between 5′ to 12′ wide rolls, so multiple passes are typically needed. Then, the seams are heat welded if it’s TPO or PVC, or chemically glued if EPDM. 

This creates a completely watertight barrier on your roof that will hold up well against wind, rain, ice, and snow if done correctly.

Many commercial buildings today have membrane roofing around Arizona – property owners trust it to hold up over the long run and provide no maintenance headaches. The same applications can make your roof watertight and weatherproof here in the high desert.