Service
Flat and rubber roofing in Revere and Greater Boston
Flat roofs do not shed water, they hold it and drain it. That makes the membrane, the seams, and the edges the whole job.
We install and repair flat and low slope rubber roofing across Revere and Greater Boston. EPDM, a single ply rubber membrane made for low slope roofs, is the usual system on triple decker rear roofs, additions, and commercial buildings. Flat roofs drain rather than shed, so seams, edges, and drainage are the whole job. Quotes are free.
Triple-deckers and rear additions across Revere, Chelsea, and Everett are full of low-slope roofs. Most failures start at a seam, a drain, or where the membrane turns up a wall, not out in the open field.
We install rubber membrane roofing and detail the perimeter and penetrations so water has one way off the roof.
What it is and when you need it
EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer, which in practice means a rubber membrane sheet laid over the deck and sealed at the seams. Because a low slope roof holds water rather than shedding it, almost every failure starts at a seam, a drain, a curb, or where the membrane turns up a wall, not out in the open field.
Ponding is standing water that has not cleared within a day or two of rain. It is a sign that the drainage, the slope, or a blocked outlet needs attention, and left alone it shortens the life of the membrane.
Low slope and flat roof work is permitted through the local building department under the state building code, 780 CMR. On a rubber roof the inspected details are the ones that matter most anyway: how the membrane terminates at walls and edges, and whether the roof can actually drain.
What the work covers
Membrane roofing
EPDM rubber membrane, a single-ply sheet made for low-slope roofs, laid to fit the deck.
Seams and penetrations
Seams, curbs, vents, and wall terminations detailed so the weak points are covered.
Drainage
Drains and scuppers cleared and flashed so water is not sitting on the roof after a storm.
Roofing conditions around Revere and Greater Boston
Triple deckers and rear additions across Revere, Chelsea, and Everett are full of low slope roofs, often hidden behind a parapet where nobody sees them until a ceiling stains. Commercial buildings across Greater Boston use the same systems at a larger scale.
Winter is hard on these roofs. Snow sits rather than sliding off, meltwater refreezes at the outlets, and the water then backs up over seams and terminations that were never designed to be submerged.
Permits and how we quote
Roofing in Massachusetts runs under the state building code, 780 CMR, and replacements are generally permitted through the building department of the city where the property stands. We handle that permit as part of the job.
A flat roof quote covers the membrane, the insulation or recovery board if any, the terminations, and the drainage, since seams and outlets are where these roofs fail.
Areas we cover
- Roofing in Revere, MA
- Roofing in Boston, MA
- Roofing in Chelsea, MA
- Roofing in Everett, MA
- Roofing in Malden, MA
- Roofing in Lynn, MA
- Roofing in Saugus, MA
Questions we get asked
What is EPDM roofing?
EPDM is a rubber membrane used on flat and low slope roofs. It is laid as a single ply sheet over the deck and sealed at the seams, with the perimeter and every penetration detailed so water has one way off the roof.
Why does my flat roof keep leaking in the same place?
Usually because the failure is at a seam, a curb, a drain, or a wall termination rather than in the open membrane. Those are the points that move, and they are where water sits longest.
Is standing water on a flat roof a problem?
Water that has not cleared a day or two after rain is worth looking at. Persistent ponding points to slope, a blocked outlet, or a failed drain, and it shortens the life of the membrane.
Can a flat roof be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Both happen. A sound membrane with a failed seam or flashing is a repair. A membrane that has gone brittle, shrunk at the edges, or been patched repeatedly is usually ready for replacement.
Do you work on commercial flat roofs?
Yes. The same systems cover commercial and multi unit buildings, and we quote those the same way, with a written scope after an inspection.
Emergency roof help, 24/7
Thinking about flat and rubber roofing?
A flat roof quote covers the membrane, the insulation or recovery board if any, the terminations, and the drainage, since seams and outlets are where these roofs fail.