Flat roofs in this climate take a beating from both directions. Summer surface temperatures degrade membranes and open seams. Winter freeze-thaw cycles work water into anything already open. Hail does the rest.
CEI repairs, maintains, and replaces commercial flat roofing across the metro, and because we also handle the mechanical equipment sitting on those roofs, we do not have to negotiate with another contractor about who caused a leak at a curb.
Systems we work on
– TPO
– EPDM
– Modified bitumen
– Built-up roofing
– Metal roof repair and coatings
Repair
Most commercial roof leaks trace to a handful of places: seams and laps, flashing at parapets and walls, penetrations for pipe and conduit, curbs under rooftop units, drains and scuppers, and ponding areas where water sits long enough to find any weakness.
Locating the leak is the actual work. Water enters at one point and appears at another, sometimes twenty feet away, and chasing it from inside the building rarely finds it.
The rooftop equipment problem
A large share of the commercial roof leaks we are called on originate at mechanical curbs — where a rooftop unit sits, where a previous contractor cut the membrane and sealed it back imperfectly, or where a condensate line discharges onto the same spot for years.
This is where being a mechanical contractor as well as a roofing contractor matters. When we replace an RTU, the same company handles the curb, the membrane, and the flashing, so nobody is pointing at anybody.
Maintenance
Commercial roofs fail gradually and then suddenly. Twice-yearly inspection catches the gradual part: clearing drains and scuppers, resealing penetrations, checking seams and flashings, documenting ponding, and noting damage after storms.
Documented maintenance also matters for warranty. Most manufacturer warranties require it, and a denied claim on a ten-year-old roof is an expensive way to learn that.
Replacement
When a roof reaches the end of its life, we quote replacement with the tear-off, decking repair, insulation, and membrane specified rather than left vague. We will also tell you when a coating or a partial section replacement is the better spend.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a commercial flat roof last?
It depends on the system, installation quality, and maintenance. TPO and EPDM commonly run fifteen to twenty-five years. Roofs carrying heavy rooftop equipment traffic tend toward the lower end.
My roof leaks only during heavy rain. Why?
Often ponding or a drainage problem rather than a membrane failure. Water sitting in a low area eventually finds a seam that handles ordinary runoff fine.
Do you handle insurance claims after hail?
We document damage and provide the detail your carrier needs. We are not public adjusters.
Can you repair the roof around a rooftop unit you’re replacing?
Yes — that is one of the reasons customers use us for both.
Do you offer roof maintenance programs?
Yes. Twice-yearly inspection with documentation, which most manufacturer warranties require.