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How Much Does A Flat Roof Cost?

Flat Roof Prices

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Flat roofs are increasingly popular in modern architecture because of their ability to encompass the long, flat lines of a natural landscape. A flat roof is also cheaper to install than a pitched roof, safer to access, and can be used as a place to sit and hang out. Although flat roofing usually has a slight pitch to aid in the drainage of rain and snow it is much more susceptible to water damage. That is why they are typically found in areas of the country such as the West and Southwest. These geographic regions are relatively dry. In those places you can bet there will not be a pile up of snow that might be a danger of collapsing a flat roof

The most popular choices for flat roof construction are built up roofing (BUR), singly-ply roofs and sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF).

Flat Roof Costs

  • Flat roof installation costs approximately $200 to $400 or more per square (one square in roofing terms equals 100 square feet), including installation. The total actual cost will vary by material, region and roof size. Assuming an average roof size of 2,000 square feet, this works out to an average total cost of $4,000 to $8,000 for a new flat roof.
  • A traditional built up roof is a layered roofing system that can be built in a number of ways. Typically it alternates layers of roofing felt, waterproof materials, coal, (or asphalt pitch) and gravel. Modern built up roofing incorporates newer materials such as fiberglass and bitumen to better protect against the elements. Built up roofs is the cheapest flat roof material and fire resistant. However the material is heavy, smelly and messy to install.
  • Single ply roofing, in contrast to built up roofs, uses a single layer of material. It is the most popular and reliable flat roofing system available today. Typically they are divided into two categories: plastic roofing and rubber roofing. Occasionally, modified bitumen is used as single-ply bitumen roofing. Plastic single ply roofs are made of PVC roofing or TPO roofing, while synthetic rubber roofs are almost always constructed from a material called EPDM roofing. A singly ply roof can be installed by homeowners. They are a bit more expensive and absorb a great amount of heat.
  • Sprayed polyurethane foam roofing is a fairly new kind of material. It is sprayed on as a liquid right over an existing roof, eliminating the need to remove the old roof material. Foam roof is also flexible, lightweight and better at deflecting heat than other flat roofs. It is still a new and relatively untested as a roofing material. Some homeowners have complained that their spray foam roof has a tendency to leak.
  • If your old roof needs to be removed, it will cost approximately $40 to $50 per square to take down and dispose of the waste roofing.

    • Shopping For A Flat Roof?

  • This Old House provides an overview of the 4 kinds of flat roofs.
  • Read an article on Doityourself.com about what to consider when choosing a flat roofing material.
  • Because flat roof installation is not typically a do-it-yourself project, choose a contractor carefully. Make sure they have experience installing a given type of flat roof. Ask to see a portfolio of their previous work and make sure they are licensed, bonded and insured.

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