Flat Roofing Costs
The key to quality flat roofing is drainage, as specially structured flat roof designs must compensate for a lack of incline in the original architecture of the building. Flat roofing costs vary wildly, mainly because they can be constructed from a multitude of different materials. Asphalt Built Up Roofs are the most common, usually appearing in the form of tar and gravel roofs. Asphalt roofing costs are cheaper than that of flat metal roofing, but will not last as long as metal, or even synthetic options like PVC or rubber roofing. You can read more about metal roofing costs and rubber roofing costs by following these links: metal roofing costs; rubber roofing costs.
Midwest: There's a reason why much of the flat roofing in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, and other Midwest cities is built from metals like steel, aluminum, and copper. Snow and ice can wear down asphalt roofing over time and lead to leaking. Flat metal roofing costs in Chicago can run from $200 per square (100 sq ft) for galvanized steel, up through $1,000 per square or more for the type of protective flat copper roofs you see on some of the city's churches and high rises.
South: In cities like New Orleans, Miami, and Atlanta, flat roofing costs may run a little higher for all materials, as water run-off is essential for homes in harm's way from hurricanes and tropical storms. Rubber roofing for a flat roof usually costs less than $2000 for the average 2 story home.
West Coast: As with the South, property owners in West Coast cities need quality flat roofing to battle mother nature. In Seattle, the cost of flat roofing is higher than the national averages, but very important to keeping your home dry during heavy rains. In San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles, flat roofing rates are also higher, but again, roof strength and stability are especially important in cities where natural events like wildfires, earthquakes, and mudslides are common.
East Coast: No part of the country takes the full brunt of winter quite like the Northeast. Again, ice and snow not only wear away at flat asphalt roofing, but they can also block drainage and cause leaking roofs. For this reason, property owners in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia favor metal roofing and synthetic membrane roofing, both to prevent leaking and maintain a consistent home temperature.
