Flat Roof Replacement in Baltimore

What does a flat roof replacement include?

A Solomon flat roof replacement covers the whole roof and the cleanup after. We strip the old roofing down to the wood deck, replace any deck boards that are soft or rotted, install new membrane roofing across the whole surface, and flash every edge and penetration. Then we clear the debris from the roof, the alley and the yard.

On rowhouse roofs, we tear the old layers off down to the deck and roll new black membrane out across the roof. The edges get the slow, careful work: membrane run along the brick parapet and sealed around each vent pipe. Two of those jobs are on our flat roof replacements project page.

Why do Baltimore rowhouse flat roofs fail?

Most rowhouse flat roofs fail at the edges and penetrations first, not in the middle. The joint where the roof meets the brick parapet, the flashing around vent pipes, and the low spots where water collects are where leaks usually start. Over time, older roofs also get re-covered layer after layer, which hides wet decking and makes each new leak harder to trace.

Signs that a flat roof is near the end include:

• Stains on top-floor ceilings, especially near exterior walls or under a vent
• Ponding water that sits on the roof for days after a storm
• Cracks, blisters or open seams in the roofing surface
• Soft or spongy spots when you walk the roof
• Loose or pulled-away flashing at the parapet walls

Should you tear off the old roof or go over it?

We tear it off. Going over an old flat roof traps moisture between layers, adds weight, and covers up rotted decking that will keep getting worse. Tearing off down to the wood lets us see the actual condition of the deck and fix it before the new roof goes on.

Tear-off also gives us a clean surface to work from at the parapet walls and vents. Flashing is only as good as what it’s attached to, and old layers built up against the brick make a tight seal much harder.

How do you handle parapet walls and vent pipes?

The parapet walls and vent pipes get the most attention because they’re where flat roofs leak. We carry the new membrane up the face of the brick parapet and seal it so water running down the wall stays on top of the roof instead of getting behind it. At each vent pipe, we flash the penetration and seal it into the membrane, then roll the seams so they bond fully.

We also look at how water leaves the roof. If the old roof held water in one corner or the drainage path was blocked, we talk with you about it before the new roof goes on, while it’s still easy to address.

What happens if the roof leak already damaged the inside?

We repair interior damage as part of the same project when you need it. Roof leaks usually show up as a stained or sagging ceiling in a top-floor bedroom or stairwell. Once the roof is sound, we cut out the damaged drywall, check the framing and insulation for moisture, and hang, tape and finish new board. See our drywall installation and repair page for how we handle ceilings.

After the drywall, we prime and paint so the repaired ceiling matches the rest of the room. We handle the interior painting too, so you’re not lining up a second contractor after the roof is done.

What affects the cost of a flat roof replacement?

Roof size and what’s under the old layers set most of the cost. A small rowhouse roof with a sound deck is a short tear-off; a roof with several old layers and soft decking takes more labor and new wood. The other main drivers:

• Layers to remove. Every re-cover adds weight and debris to strip and haul away.
• Deck condition. The number of rotted boards that need replacing, found once the roof is open.
• Parapets. Tall parapet walls and loose or patched brick take more flashing work.
• Penetrations. Each vent pipe, hatch or skylight needs its own flashing.
• Drainage. Correcting a corner that ponds water.
• Access. No alley means carrying debris and rolls through the house or over the front.
• Inside repairs. Ceilings and walls damaged by the old leaks.

We give a written price after we’ve walked the roof and looked at any damage inside.

How is a tear-off day planned?

A flat roof is open to the weather from the moment the old layers come off, so the schedule is built around the forecast rather than a fixed start date. The day runs from tear-off to dry-in without leaving bare decking overnight. This is how the work runs:

1. Forecast check. We book the tear-off for a dry stretch and only open as much roof as can be covered the same day.
2. Tear-off to the deck. Old layers come off down to the wood, and debris goes straight to the yard or alley for removal.
3. Deck repair. Soft boards are cut out and replaced while the roof is open.
4. Membrane and flashing. The new membrane goes down, the seams are rolled, and the parapets and vents are flashed.
5. Cleanup. The roof, alley and yard are cleared, and we walk the finished roof with you.

One client said in their Google review that the roof work was done quickly and the trash was cleaned up from the yard. If the roof is one piece of a larger project, our whole-home and rowhouse renovation page explains how we sequence the work.