Hello,
I have a problem (obviously). It goes like this:
I own a home in SW New Mexico. It has several flat roof sections, one of which is leaking. The roof construction (so I’m told) is ‘torched down’.
I live in Connecticut. I’ve tried getting local roofers out to take a look, but no one is biting (either it that they don’t do flat roofs or they won’t return my calls – suspicious in either case). So, I may have to go out to NM and work this on my own.
My roofing experience is limited to pitched roofs and conventional shingles, so I need to learn as much about how to work with this method in a few weeks. Can anyone point me to some information that will help me prepare?
Replies
Look for video of torch down roofing in youtube. Professionals use this to save time. Noone is answering because of the size of the job and the cost of answering you across the continent. If this house is a rental, why don't you ask the renter to handle the roofer for some compensation? Cost of you flying there and back may be the compensation?
No way would I use an unskilled renter to roof a flat roof! That would be a waste of money.
Torchdown is good when you have the right technique, but you can easily mess it up and burn the house down too.
Better way to go for you or a seni-skilled person would be the self-stick modified roll roofing. It has granules on top like 90# or shingles, and a 4" bare lap/seam. It is a peel'N'stick product that applies like ice and water shield.
But if this is only leaking on one section of the roof, I would suspect one of several other things than worn out modified.
One could be leaks at penetrations.
One could be a failed parapet wall cover, wind damage even
and finally - NO roofing product will keep water out long if there is puddling of water. If the roof is truely flat, but rafters have developed a sag, or any other condition allows water to puddle, it will find a way to leak, and when that is the case, you need to do more than just put another layer of roofing material on.
I think he meant use the renter as an agent to work with the roofer.