Flat Roof Installation by ARCM Roofing
TPO, EPDM, and modified bitumen systems for commercial and residential low-slope roofs — drainage engineered in, membranes specified to the building, seams tested before we leave.
5 Highlights on Flat Roof Installation
Flat Doesn't Mean Simple
Low-slope roofing is a drainage problem first and a membrane choice second. We solve both — on warehouses, retail, multifamily, and modern residential designs.
TPO, EPDM, and Modified Bitumen
Three proven membrane systems, recommended by building type and exposure — not by what's on our truck.
Drainage Designed In
Tapered insulation packages and drain placement engineered so water leaves the roof — because ponding is how flat roofs die early.
Core Sampling Before Recovers
We cut test cores before covering any existing roof. Wet insulation sealed under new membrane rots the new roof from below.
Heat-Welded and Fully-Adhered Systems
TPO seams hot-air welded into monolithic sheets; EPDM fully adhered or ballasted to spec — application matched to the building.
Up to 20-Year NDL Warranties
No-Dollar-Limit manufacturer system warranties up to 20 years, alongside our own written labor warranty.
Ponding kills flat roofs. We design the water off first.
Why Choose Us
Membrane-Certified, Drainage-Obsessed
Our installers hold certification from Mule-Hide — one of ARCM's founding credentials — plus factory training on TPO welding and EPDM adhesion. Seam probes and weld tests run on every project, because a flat roof is only as good as its worst seam.
We treat drainage as design, not afterthought: tapered insulation packages, crickets behind every curb, and drains placed where water actually goes. Then we prove it — hose testing before demobilization on projects where ponding was the original complaint.
ARCM Roofing carries full licensing and insurance, and backs installations with a written labor warranty — 3 years commercial, 10 years residential — alongside No-Dollar-Limit manufacturer system coverage up to 20 years. Free six-and-twelve-month post-installation inspections come standard.
Business can't close for a tear-off? Core-sample-verified recovers keep you operating while we work.
When It Makes Sense
Signs It's Time for Metal
Ponding Water After Every Storm
Water standing more than 48 hours signals failed drainage design. It degrades membrane chemistry, breeds vegetation, loads the structure, and voids warranties. Tapered insulation in the new assembly solves what the old roof never addressed.
Blisters, Alligatoring, or Seam Failures
Bubbled membrane, crazed surface cracking, and lifting seams mean the waterproofing layer is finished. Patches on a failed field are rented time — a new properly-specified membrane resets the clock for decades.
Interior Leaks You Can't Trace
Water travels laterally under flat membranes, surfacing far from its entry point. Our leak diagnosis includes moisture scanning to map wet insulation, so the new assembly addresses the real damage, not just the visible stain.
Energy Bills Rising With the Sun
Dark, aged membranes absorb heat into the building below. White TPO reflects most solar radiation, and new polyiso insulation upgrades the assembly's R-value while we're there.
Your Commercial Space Can't Close for a Tear-Off
Recover installations over sound existing assemblies keep businesses operating during the project. We core-sample to verify eligibility, then phase work to your schedule.
Ponding, blisters, or phantom leaks? Get the core-sample diagnosis.
How We Work
Our Flat Roof Installation Process
01
Assessment and Core Sampling
We inspect the existing assembly, cut core samples to check insulation moisture, and scan for trapped water before recommending recover or tear-off.
02
System Specification
Membrane, insulation package, and attachment method specified to your building's use, drainage, and code requirements — in a written itemized proposal.
03
Tear-Off or Recover Prep
Failed assemblies removed to deck; sound assemblies cleaned and prepared for recover with cover board.
04
Insulation and Drainage Build
Polyiso insulation set in the specified pattern, tapered packages installed toward drains, crickets built behind curbs.
05
Membrane Installation
TPO hot-air welded, EPDM adhered and seamed, or mod-bit torched or cold-applied per spec — every seam probed and tested.
06
Flashings, Terminations, and Walk
Curbs, penetrations, and edge metal detailed; the finished field inspected, documented, and warranted with you present.
Post-installation, we return at six and twelve months for free inspections — then annually under a maintenance plan.
Brands We Use
Membrane Systems We're Certified to Install
Mule-Hide Products
TPO and EPDM systems — ARCM is a certified Mule-Hide installer
GAF
EverGuard TPO membranes
Carlisle SynTec
Sure-Weld TPO and Sure-Seal EPDM
Firestone (Holcim Elevate)
RubberGard EPDM systems
Johns Manville
TPO and polyiso insulation
GAF / Siplast
Modified bitumen ply systems
Polyglass
Self-adhered mod-bit membranes
ATLAS / Hunter Panels
Tapered polyiso insulation packages
OMG Roofing Products
Fasteners, plates, and drains
Karnak
Flashings, sealants, and coatings
Crews follow OSHA fall protection with warning-line systems on low-slope work, hot-work permits and fire watches on any torch application, and staged material loads that respect deck capacity.
FAQs
FAQs About Flat Roof Installation
›What is flat roof installation?
Flat roof installation is the process of building a low-slope roofing assembly, typically insulation, cover board, and a waterproof membrane like TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen, over a structural deck with positive drainage designed in.
›Which membrane is best: TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen?
Each fits different buildings. TPO reflects heat and suits cooling-dominated buildings. EPDM handles temperature swings and hail well. Modified bitumen offers redundant plies and puncture resistance. We recommend based on your building, not our inventory.
›How long does a flat roof last?
Twenty to thirty years for quality TPO and EPDM systems, and up to thirty-five for multi-ply modified bitumen, assuming proper drainage and periodic maintenance.
›Why does ponding water matter?
Water standing more than 48 hours degrades membranes, adds structural load, and voids many warranties. We design positive drainage with tapered insulation and properly placed drains so water leaves the roof.
›Can you install over my existing flat roof?
Sometimes. Code typically allows one recover when the existing assembly is dry and sound. We core-sample first — wet insulation trapped under a new membrane destroys the new roof from below.
›Does ARCM Roofing warranty flat roof installation?
Yes. Our labor warranty covers the installation — 3 years on commercial systems, 10 years on residential low-slope — and No-Dollar-Limit manufacturer system warranties run up to 20 years depending on membrane and specification.
Related Services
Specified to the Building. Welded to Last.
TPO · EPDM · Modified Bitumen · Free 6 & 12-month inspections