There’s one part of your house that leaks no matter how many times it gets patched. It’s usually the low roof over the back porch, the garage, a sunroom or an addition, and the stain on the ceiling under it keeps coming back after every hard rain. Often the problem isn’t the patch. It’s that shingles were put on a roof too flat for shingles to work.
A proper flat roof installation in Lee’s Summit fixes that at the source. You get a roofing system made for low slopes, tied correctly into the rest of your house, so the next spring storm doesn’t put you back on a ladder with a caulk gun.
APC Roofing is GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and we’ve been in business since 2017. Your inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020 to have us take a look.
Why shingles struggle on a low roof
Shingles work by overlapping. Water runs down from one shingle onto the next, and gravity does the rest. On a steep roof that works well. On a roof that’s nearly flat, water slows down, spreads out and gets pushed sideways and backward by the wind. It finds its way under the shingle edges and into the decking.
Most shingle manufacturers won’t allow their shingles on very low slopes for that reason. Below that point, the roof needs a continuous waterproof sheet, a membrane, instead of overlapping pieces.
Lee’s Summit weather makes the difference show up fast. Heavy spring thunderstorms dump a lot of water at once. In winter, snow sits on a low roof, melts during the day and refreezes at night, and that water creeps under anything that isn’t sealed.
Your flat roof options
For homes and small buildings around Lee’s Summit, three systems cover most jobs:
TPO is a white single-ply membrane with seams that are welded with hot air. The white surface reflects summer sun, which can help a room under the roof stay cooler. Read more about TPO roofing in Lee’s Summit.
EPDM is a black rubber membrane. It stays flexible through cold Missouri winters, and its seams are joined with primer and tape. Read more about EPDM roofing in Lee’s Summit.
Built-up roofing (BUR) uses several layers of felt and asphalt. It’s more common on commercial buildings, but it still shows up on some homes.
Which one fits your house depends on the slope, how your roof drains, what’s above and below it, and whether anyone will walk on it. We’ll show you the trade-offs and let you choose.
What a good flat roof installation in Lee’s Summit includes
A membrane is only as good as what’s under it and how it’s finished at the edges.
Slope and drainage
“Flat” roofs should still have a slight pitch so water moves off them. If your roof holds puddles for days after a rain, the fix may be tapered insulation that builds in a gentle slope toward a gutter or drain. Standing water is hard on any roof, and in winter it freezes.
The deck underneath
Old leaks often leave soft or rotted decking under a low roof. That wood gets replaced before the new membrane goes down, because a membrane over a soft deck will tear or sag.
Where the low roof meets the house
This is where most porch and addition roofs fail. The membrane has to run up the wall and tuck under the siding, with metal flashing over it. Where the flat roof meets a sloped shingle roof, the membrane has to go under the shingles above it, not on top. Get that order wrong and water runs straight into the joint.
Edges and penetrations
Metal edging holds the membrane down along the perimeter so wind can’t get under it. Any pipe or vent that comes through the roof gets its own sealed boot or flashing.
Repair or a new flat roof?
If the membrane is in decent shape and the problem is one seam or one flashing detail, a flat roof repair in Lee’s Summit may be all you need. A new installation makes more sense when:
- The roof was shingled at too low a slope and keeps leaking
- The decking underneath is soft or rotting
- The membrane is cracked, blistered or shrinking away from the edges across large areas
- Water ponds in the same spots after every storm
You’ll see photos of your roof, so you can judge the recommendation for yourself.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Your low roof gets a full look: the joint where it meets the house, the decking from below where it’s reachable, and how water drains off.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll get photos, a written estimate and an honest answer about repair versus replacement. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. The crew installs the system, finishes the edges and flashing, and cleans up before leaving.
A leaking porch or addition roof can look like a small problem to you for a long time. Meanwhile, water soaks the decking and the wall framing where the two roofs meet, and that’s a bigger repair than the roof itself.
Flat roof installation questions
Can I put shingles back on my porch roof?
If the slope is too low for shingles, putting them back on usually brings the same leak back. A membrane is the better choice for low slopes.
Is TPO or EPDM better in Lee’s Summit?
Both work well here. TPO reflects summer heat and has welded seams. EPDM stays flexible in the cold. You’ll get a recommendation based on your roof, with the reasons behind it.
Can a flat roof be walked on?
Lightly, for maintenance. If you plan to use the space, like a deck over a garage, tell us up front, because that changes what goes on the roof.
Does a flat roof need any upkeep?
Keep drains and gutters clear of leaves, and have it looked at after a big hailstorm. Small seam problems are easy to fix when they’re caught early.
Book your free flat roof inspection
Call 913-398-5020 or request your free estimate online. For other roofing help in town, visit the Lee’s Summit roofing page.
The next big storm rolls through, and the ceiling under that porch roof stays dry. You stop checking it after every rain, and that low roof finally becomes the part of the house you don’t think about.
