Water is dripping from the porch ceiling again, or there’s a puddle on the flat roof over your garage two days after the last storm. You’ve maybe had it patched before, and it came back. Flat roof repair in Orlando is tricky because water on a low roof moves slowly and travels, so the stain you see is often nowhere near the hole.
That gets frustrating fast. You don’t want to keep paying for patches, and you don’t want to be talked into a whole new roof if the fix is small.
APC Roofing is GAF Certified, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured. We repair TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen and built-up flat roofs on Orlando homes and light commercial buildings, and your inspection and estimate are free. Call 407-270-1129 to set up a visit.
Why flat roofs leak in Central Florida
A flat roof isn’t truly flat. It’s built with a slight pitch toward a drain, scupper or gutter, and the code minimum for most membranes is about a quarter inch of fall per foot. When that slope is missing or the deck has sagged, rain sits on the surface.
Orlando’s weather makes that worse. A summer afternoon storm can drop a lot of rain in an hour, and a shallow roof over a porch or addition holds it far longer than a sloped shingle roof would. Every seam sits in water while it drains. Meanwhile the sun bakes the membrane most of the year, and the daily swing from hot afternoon to cooler night works the seams and flashing back and forth.
Most residential flat roof leaks we find start in one of these places:
- Seams. The overlap between two rolls of membrane is the usual weak spot. TPO seams are heat-welded, and EPDM seams rely on primer and tape that can let go over time.
- Ponding. Water that’s still there 48 hours after rain ages the membrane fast and adds weight to the framing.
- The tie-in. Where a porch roof meets a steeper shingle roof, the membrane has to run up under the shingles. When it’s lapped the wrong way, water runs straight into the framing.
- Edges, drains and penetrations. Loose edge metal, a clogged scupper or a cracked seal around a vent pipe or AC stand.
How we track down the leak
Finding a flat roof leak takes patience. We start with the drainage, checking outlets, scuppers and low spots. Then we probe the seams from end to end and look over the edge metal, any parapet walls and every pipe or curb that goes through the roof. If you have a leak inside, a moisture meter tells us whether the insulation under the membrane is wet and how far the water has spread.
You get a written report with photos, and each problem gets a plain verdict. If a small repair will hold, that’s what we’ll tell you.
Repair or replace your flat roof?
Most flat roof leaks come from one small spot. A puncture, a lifted seam or a failed boot can usually be fixed by cleaning the area and sealing a matching patch over it. On a TPO roof, the patch is heat-welded and checked by probe. On EPDM, it’s primed, taped and rounded at the corners so it won’t peel.
Replacement starts to make sense when seams are failing all over, the membrane cracks when you fold it, or large areas of insulation are soaked. Wet insulation doesn’t dry out under a sealed membrane, so covering it just traps the problem. If you do need a new roof, our flat roof installation page covers the options.
There’s also a middle route. A new membrane can sometimes go over the old one with a cover board between them, but only when the insulation underneath is dry and there’s just one existing roof. With two layers already on, code requires a full tear-off.
Ponding needs its own fix. A new membrane won’t change the shape of the deck, so the real answer is tapered insulation, a cricket to split the flow, or an added drain.
Signs your flat roof needs attention
- A brown stain spreading on the ceiling under the flat section
- Water still standing on the roof two days after a storm
- Wrinkles or bubbles in the membrane you can see from an upstairs window
- Edge metal sitting loose after a windy day
- A damp spot where the porch ceiling meets the house
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 407-270-1129 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos and moisture readings, and you decide what gets fixed and when.
- Your roof gets repaired and the site gets cleaned up. Every opened section is sealed watertight before the crew leaves for the day, so no rain gets in overnight.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance for larger jobs.
Flat roof repair questions from Orlando homeowners
Can a flat roof leak be patched, or does it need replacing?
Most leaks come from one spot and can be patched. A replacement only makes sense when the seams are failing across the roof or the insulation underneath is soaked.
Why does my flat roof keep leaking after it’s been repaired?
Usually the patch went on the stain, not the source. Water on a low roof can travel along the deck before it drips, so the real opening is often a seam, a drain or the joint where the porch meets the house.
Is standing water on a flat roof a problem?
Water that’s gone within a day or two is normal. If it’s still there after 48 hours, the roof has a drainage problem that will shorten the membrane’s life.
Do you repair flat roofs on commercial buildings in Orlando?
Yes, along with homes. We work on light commercial and low-slope roofs as well as porches, garages and additions.
Get your flat roof repair in Orlando handled
A small hole left open through a wet season soaks the insulation, and what could have been a patch turns into a section replacement. You don’t have to fix everything at once. It helps to know where you stand.
The next storm comes through and the porch ceiling stays dry. That’s the goal: a sound roof, no surprise bill and no more guessing. Call 407-270-1129 to book your free inspection, or start with our free online estimate.
