Who repairs flat roofs on houses?

A licensed roofing contractor repairs flat roofs on houses. In Virginia the Board for Contractors defines roofing contracting as the installation, repair, removal or improvement of materials that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks.^[1] The best fit is a roofer who works on your type of flat roof, such as rubber (EPDM), TPO, modified bitumen or built-up, and not only on shingles.

Who can do the work

A roofing contractor. A roofing specialty licence is the direct fit. DPOR's hiring guide notes that if you want only roofing or plumbing work, you may want to hire a contractor licensed in that particular specialty.^[2] Ask whether the company regularly repairs low-slope membrane roofs, because the repair methods differ by material: the Department of Defense's roofing standard refers to separate sections of the NRCA repair manual for low-slope roofs for built-up, modified bitumen, thermoplastic and thermoset membranes.^[3]

A general contractor for a bigger project. A general building contractor may also contract for specialty work, but must hold a specialty licence for that work or actually have a specialty contractor do the work.^[2] This matters when the flat roof is part of a larger job, such as an addition.

Not a handyman. DPOR says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's licence is required for the licence category in which the contractor is to work.^[2] Hiring a licensed contractor also makes you eligible to receive monetary compensation from the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund in case of improper or dishonest conduct.^[2]

What licence class to expect

Virginia licenses contractors by the size of the contract. A Class C contractor takes a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000, and a Class B contractor takes $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.^[4] Ask the roofer which class applies to the contract value of your job.

Choosing a roofer

Ask for these things from every roofer you consider:

• The licence number and class. DPOR warns that a licence number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the licence is valid; check it with DPOR's License Lookup or by calling (804) 367-8511.^[2] How to check a contractor's licence in Virginia walks through it.
• Experience with your roof type. A roofer who mostly works on shingles may not be right for a membrane roof. See whether a commercial roofer is the right choice for a flat roof on a house.
• Three written estimates. DPOR says to get at least three estimates whenever possible^[5] and to make sure all bids are based on the same set of specifications.^[2]
• A written contract. Virginia's contractor regulations require the contract to state the amounts and schedule for progress payments, including a specific statement on the amount of the down payment.^[6]

Be especially careful after storms. DPOR's consumer alert advises you to limit your deposit: pay 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever amount is less.^[5]

When to call a licensed pro

For all flat roof repairs. Roof work is dangerous for untrained people: the Department of Defense's standard says roofing work can be difficult and dangerous for inexperienced, untrained workers, and that the use of hot asphalt, torches and solvent-containing materials is common in roof repair work.^[3] A licensed roofer carries the training, the equipment and, with a written contract, a company you can hold to the job.

Also ask whether the roof is still under warranty. For roofs under warranty, the standard says the warrantor should be contacted for recommendations before repairs.^[3]

To see what the work involves, read how a flat roof leak is patched, and what it costs, how much it costs to patch a flat roof in Virginia. If water is coming in now, who to call for a roof leak covers the first call.

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed roofing businesses with their licence number and class. Browse roofing services or read more roofing answers.

To find a roofer for your flat roof, describe the job once and licensed local roofers quote it.