The flat roof over your garage, porch or back addition has been patched more times than you can count. Water still sits on it for days after a storm, and there’s a new stain on the ceiling underneath. You’re ready to stop patching and look at flat roof installation in Kansas City, but you want to be sure the new one won’t have the same problems as the old one.
That’s the right instinct. Many flat roofs leak at the edges and in the low spots long before the membrane itself wears out. Water was never given a good way off the roof, or the spot where the flat roof meets the main house was done in a hurry. A new roof built the same way will leak the same way.
APC Roofing installs flat and low-slope roofs on homes and light commercial buildings across the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line. We’re a GAF Certified contractor, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and your inspection and estimate are free.
When it’s time for a new flat roof
A flat roof repair makes sense when the problem is local and the rest of the roof is dry. A replacement starts to make more sense when:
- Leaks keep showing up in new places after each repair
- Water ponds in the same low spots for days after it rains
- The membrane is cracked, blistered or shrinking away from the walls across much of the roof
- The deck feels soft when you walk on it, which usually means wet insulation or rotted wood underneath
If you’re not sure which side you’re on, our flat roof repair in Kansas City page covers the repair route. We’ll give you both options when it’s a close call.
Choosing a membrane
Most flat roof replacements in Kansas City use one of three systems.
TPO is a white single-ply membrane with seams welded together with hot air. It reflects summer sun, which helps rooms right under the roof stay cooler. See TPO roofing in Kansas City.
EPDM is a black synthetic rubber that stays flexible in cold weather and comes in wide sheets with few seams. See EPDM roofing in Kansas City.
Modified bitumen is a heavier, asphalt-based roll roofing that holds up well to foot traffic and is common on older homes and small buildings.
There isn’t one right answer for every roof. The choice depends on how much sun the roof gets, whether people walk on it, what’s underneath and what you’re replacing.
Flat roof installation in Kansas City, layer by layer
Here’s what a well-built flat roof includes, from the bottom up. Use it to compare estimates.
Tear-off and deck check. The old roof comes off so the deck can be inspected. Soft or rotted boards get replaced. Covering a wet deck traps the moisture and shortens the life of the new roof.
Slope. A flat roof isn’t supposed to be perfectly flat. If water has been ponding, tapered insulation boards can be installed to build in a gentle pitch toward the drain, scupper or gutter edge. This is the single biggest fix for a roof that’s always held water.
Insulation and cover board. Insulation goes down over the deck, often with a thin, firm cover board on top to give the membrane a smooth, solid base.
Membrane and seams. The membrane is fastened or adhered, and the seams are welded or taped according to the system. Seams are where most flat roofs fail, so this is the part that rewards patience.
Edges, walls and penetrations. Metal edging goes on at the roof perimeter. Where the roof meets a wall, the membrane turns up the wall and is sealed behind flashing. Pipes and equipment curbs each get their own flashing.
Drainage. Drains, scuppers and the gutter edge are set so water leaves the roof fast instead of backing up against a seam.
Where your flat roof meets the shingles
On a lot of Kansas City homes, the flat section sits right against a sloped shingle roof. That transition is one of the most common leak spots on the house. A good install runs the flat membrane up under the shingles far enough that water from the sloped roof lands on top of the membrane, not behind it. If your old flat roof always leaked near the house wall, this is the first place we’ll look.
Kansas City weather and timing
Kansas City throws hail, ice and summer heat at a flat roof in a single year. Membranes are chosen and detailed with that in mind, and installation is planned around the forecast. Some adhesives and sealants need the temperature above a certain point to bond well, so cold-weather jobs may need different products or a different day. A dry deck matters too, since membrane laid over a wet surface won’t bond.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request an estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of the roof, hear whether it needs a repair or a new roof, and get a written estimate that names the membrane and explains how drainage will be handled. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up.
If storm damage is part of the picture, you file the claim with your insurance company and pay your deductible. We document the damage, provide the estimate and work with your adjuster.
Flat roof installation questions
Can you fix a flat roof that always holds water?
Usually, yes. Tapered insulation installed during the replacement can add enough slope to move water to a drain or gutter.
Can a new flat roof go over the old one?
Sometimes, if the old roof is dry and there’s only one layer. Most of the time a tear-off is the better choice, because it lets the deck be checked and the slope corrected.
Should I pick TPO or EPDM?
Both work well here. TPO’s white surface helps with summer heat, and EPDM stays flexible in the cold. We’ll explain which fits your roof and why.
Do you install flat roofs in Overland Park and the Kansas side?
Yes. We work across the Kansas City metro on both sides of the state line. See flat roofing in Overland Park for that city.
Get a flat roof you can stop worrying about
You shouldn’t have to check the ceiling every time it rains. Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online.
When it’s done, the water runs off, the room underneath stays dry and there’s no surprise bill waiting for you.
