Low Slope Roofing Installation & Repair in St. Louis

Applications, Materials, and Standards for Low Slope Roofs

Depending on your home’s design, a low slope roof could be a perfect fit. A low sloped roof can function as the dominant look on your roof, or you can use it to round off a section of your house that needs more accessibility.

Whatever the case, you need a trusted installer to help you install your low slope roof properly the first time. At Wildwood Roofing, we have a long history of installing many types of roofs, including flat and low sloping ones.

If you’re interested in installing a new low sloping roof – or any roof for that matter – in the St. Louis area, call Wildwood Roofing today for a free consultation.

In the meantime, here are some of the most common things our clients want to know about adding or refreshing an existing low slope roof:

Applications

There are numerous benefits of having a flat roofing system.

Flat roofs and low-slope roofs provide improved heating and cooling compared to steep slope roofs because it reduces attic space. They are also useful for maintenance, making tune-ups much safer than a steep slope.

There are two ways that these types of roofs are classified. One of the ways they are a great fit is for larger applications, such as townhouses, row homes, and condo complexes. Low-slopes provide an easy-to-access roofing system and work really well on buildings that are very tall.

There are also smaller applications for low-slopes, such as garage transitions from the main home or on a residential porch. They can also serve a small corner on the edge of the roof to help smooth out a steep slope.

Whether your roof is on the larger or smaller side, the same benefits remain. You’ll have an easier time maintaining your flat roof and the improved energy efficiency will be noticeable.

Materials

The low slope’s roof surface requires slightly different material and structural needs than steep roofing.

Since the low pitch of the roof means water rolls off the surface more slowly, you need to use a smoother roof membrane than typical asphalt shingles.

To prevent ponding, you’ll need a membrane roof sealed with bitumen (coal tar) to ensure water runs smoothly across your roof system. Alternatively, you could use Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) or Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO). These are rubber-like substances that cover the entire surface of the roof which is great for commercial roofing applications.

Additionally, low slope roofing systems more directly face the sun. This means special care must be taken when selecting low slope roofing material, and during its installation. A good roofing membrane will save tons of money down the road here.

Standards

Generally speaking, a roof with a low slope is that which has a pitch – measured as a ratio of height to width – less than 4:12. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that roofing systems selected for low slope roofing applications have three characteristics: weatherproofing layers, reinforcement, and surfacing.

Basically, your low slope roofing system needs to be resistant to the environment, water, ice, and temperature.

These needs can be satisfied through the inherent qualities of the membrane or material, or they can come from underlayments or coatings. Or, perhaps, a component of the system has more than one quality—or all three—accounted for.

Typically, asphalt shingles – and other common residential roofing materials – can be used for low slope roofing within the range of 2:12 to 4:12. Low slope roofing system with a pitch less than 2:12, though, often requires roofing materials specialized in protecting flat roofs, such as built-up roof (BUR) membranes, certain variations of metal roofing or single-ply membranes. A certified roofing contractor should be able to guide you toward the best choice for your home’s needs.

Trusted St. Louis Roofing Contractors

If you think it might be time to replace your low slope roofing system—or replace it entirely—then consider scheduling a free roof analysis with Wildwood Roofing & Construction, St. Louis’ trusted roofing experts for years.

We will schedule a time to come out to your home and look at your low slope roofing system, and then give you an honest quote for the work that needs to be done. And, if your roof seems to be in fine working condition, we’ll tell you.

Wildwood Roofing & Construction has been completing residential roof repair and commercial roofing projects for years, and we are proud of each of our roof restoration projects. We know that every St. Louis roof repair project is different, which is why we provide our clients with a free quote. Our licensed installer will provide you with an honest and accurate quote for your residential roof repair.

Wildwood Roofing & Construction has built its reputation by focusing on developing three key traits:

  • Technique
  • Experience
  • Customer Service

We proudly service Saint Louis and the surrounding area – including AfftonArnoldBrentwoodClaytonCrestwood, and southern Illinois – with these three principles guiding our every move. Taken together, they create a trifecta of customer satisfaction that many St. Louis roofing companies simply cannot compete with.

Contact us today for a free, no-pressure roof inspection. We’ll guide you through exactly what’s needed to make your roof serviceable again, and work alongside any insurance claims you need assistance with.

It’s just a free consultation. No risk. No obligation.

Drop us a line to tell us your project goals. We’ll tell you how we can exceed them.