Flat roofing in Opelousas & Lafayette

Our durable and efficient flat roofing systems offer superior protection and energy efficiency. Using high-quality materials and proven techniques, we make sure the installation stands the test of time.

Flat and low-slope roofs need different materials and details than shingles. We match the system to how the area is used and how water drains off it.

A flat roof job starts with an inspection of the whole surface. We check the seams, the edges, the drains or scuppers, any spots where water sits after rain, and the tie-in where the low-slope section meets the main roof. Underneath, we look at the porch ceiling or the attic over the addition for stains and soft wood. We take photos of what we find.

You get a detailed written estimate with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. It explains whether the roof can be repaired, whether the old layers need to come off, and which system we recommend for the space.

On a replacement, the worn layers come off down to the deck so we can repair any rotted boards. The new system goes down with attention to slope and drainage, the walls and tie-ins are flashed, and we clean up thoroughly before we leave.

• Inspection of the surface, seams, edges, drains and tie-ins
• Photos and a written estimate
• Tear-off of worn layers and deck repairs where needed
• New low-slope system installed to drain
• Flashing at walls, edges and the transition to the pitched roof
• Clean-up of the work area

Flat roofs are easy to forget because you cannot see them from the yard. Look for these from a window, a ladder or the ceiling below:

Most of these start small. A blister or an open seam is a repair. A roof covered in them, or one that is soft underfoot, usually needs to be replaced.

• Water that is still standing two days after a rain
• Blisters, bubbles or soft spots in the surface
• Cracks, splits or seams pulling apart
• The membrane pulling away from walls or the roof edge
• Stains on the porch or carport ceiling below
• Leaves, needles and dirt collecting in low spots
• Rust or loose metal at the edges and drains

We install materials from GAF, CertainTeed and Owens Corning. Low-slope roofs use different products than a shingle roof, because shingles rely on gravity to shed water and a flat roof has very little.

The common low-slope systems each have strengths. Modified bitumen is a tough, layered asphalt sheet that handles foot traffic well. TPO is a single-ply membrane, usually white, that reflects a lot of the sun's heat. EPDM is a rubber membrane with long, flexible seams. We explain which one suits your porch, carport or addition and why.

Whatever the surface, the details decide whether it leaks: clean seams, metal edges that shed water into the gutter, and flashing run up the wall and lapped under the siding or shingles above.

Afternoon thunderstorms here can drop a lot of rain in a short time. A flat roof has to move that water off quickly, so a slight built-in slope and clear drains matter more than almost anything else.

Summer heat makes roofing materials expand during the day and shrink at night. Over the years that movement stresses seams and edges, which is why we spend our time there. Reflective membranes help keep the space underneath cooler.

Hurricane season, from June 1 to November 30, brings wind that tries to peel up the roof edge, so edge metal has to be fastened well. Live oaks and pines drop leaves and needles that clog drains and hold water on the surface, and with Louisiana humidity that wet debris breaks roofing down faster. Keeping a flat roof clear is the easiest maintenance you can do.