Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
The flat-rate flat roof specialist in North Miami, FL
Flat & Low-Slope Roofing for homes in North Miami and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
North Miami's median home was built in 1967, according to the Census, and the older concrete-block-and-stucco houses from the 1940s through the 1960s often carry flat or low-slope roofs. A roof that old may have seen several patches, extra layers or drains that no longer move water well. When you hire for this work, look for a roofer who does roofing only. Check that the Florida license is real and verifiable, and ask for a written quote that spells out what is included.
Flat Rate Roofing Inc is a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1334537), a state certification valid in every Florida county and verifiable on the Florida DBPR website. We are insured, and our office is in Sunrise, in Broward County. For North Miami flat and low-slope roofs, we give a free estimate and a written flat-rate quote that says what is included. We pull permits under our own license, schedule and pass inspections, and close out the permit. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is part of the scope, and we do a full cleanup.
North Miami sits on Biscayne Bay, so the air carries salt year-round. Salt accelerates corrosion on fasteners, flashings and exposed metal at parapets and curbs. The May–October rainy season and heavy summer downpours test every drain and seam on a low-slope roof, and the June–November hurricane season puts uplift pressure on roof edges. Many older CBS homes have flat or low-slope roofs, and mid-rise condominiums and apartments line the Biscayne Boulevard and bayfront corridors. On both, the roof has to shed water slowly and still hold down in high wind. Because North Miami is in Miami-Dade County, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone applies to roofing here.
Problems to watch for in North Miami
Ponding water
Where slope is slight or drains fail, water can sit on the membrane after North Miami's summer storms. Standing water speeds up wear and can find its way through any weak seam.
Seam and flashing failure
Base flashing at parapets, curbs and wall transitions is where many flat roofs start to leak. Salt air from Biscayne Bay can speed up corrosion on the metal there.
Heat and UV damage
Intense summer heat and sun can dry out and crack exposed membranes. An older roof on a house from the 1960s may already be near the end of its life.
Hurricane uplift at edges and parapets
During tropical storms and hurricanes from June through November, wind can lift roof edges first. Attachment at the perimeter matters as much as the membrane itself.
Clogged or undersized drains and scuppers
Heavy rainy-season downpours can overwhelm drains on a flat roof. Debris and old, low-set scuppers make it worse.
Too many layers from past recovers
Older roofs sometimes have layers added over the years. There are code limits on how many layers may remain, so a tear-off may be the sound route. Verify the details with the building department.
Soft or rotted deck
Long-term moisture on CBS homes with flat roofs can leave the deck underneath damaged. Our scope includes replacing rotten plywood and fascia.
What we do
- Hot mop built-up roofingLayered built-up systems installed with hot asphalt for a durable, redundant waterproofing build-up on flat roofs.
- Modified bitumen and torch-applied cap sheetsCap sheets and self-adhered systems are an option for low-slope roofs, with seams and laps detailed to shed water and resist North Miami's heat and wind.
- Tapered insulation and cricketsTo correct ponding, we build slope into the roof with tapered insulation and crickets so water is directed toward the drains.
- New drains and scuppersDrains and scuppers are added or replaced so heavy rainy-season downpours have a clear path off the roof.
- Base flashing at parapets and curbsWe detail the edges and penetrations where leaks begin, which also matters for wind uplift at the roof perimeter.
- Tear-off and deck replacementWhen old layers or a soft deck are in the way, we tear off and replace rotten plywood and fascia as part of the written scope, with a full cleanup at the end.
Licenses, permits and codes in North Miami
North Miami is in Miami-Dade County, part of Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, oversees contractor licensing. In the words of our site's reference: "Roofing work in Florida legally requires a licensed roofing contractor and generally a permit from the local building department; a contractor's license is verified on the Florida DBPR website." On product approvals: "Miami-Dade and Broward are Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Roofing products used there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for that use; elsewhere in Florida they need a Florida Product Approval (or local approval). Either way the product is installed per its approval." On partial work: "Florida's 25% roof rule (Florida Building Code, Existing Building volume, section 706.1.1): when more than 25% of a roof or roof section is repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period, the entire roof or section has to be brought up to current code." Verify how it applies to your roof with the North Miami building department. Condo associations often have their own approval process as well.
When to call
Ponding and leak problems tend to show up during the wet season and tropical storm events from June through November. Installation is generally easier in the drier winter and spring, when membranes can go onto a dry deck. Planning a flat roof job before hurricane season starts gives you time for the permit and inspections. To get started, call (954) 775-8990 or use the quote form on this page. The phone is answered around the clock, and the Sunrise office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
We quote flat and low-slope roofs across North Miami, including Keystone Point, Sans Souci Estates, Arch Creek, Griffing Park, Highland Village, Downtown North Miami (NE 125th Street), the Biscayne Boulevard corridor, the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus area, Biscayne Gardens and Golden Glades.
Flat Roof in North Miami: questions we hear
- Why do so many North Miami homes have flat or low-slope roofs?
- The housing here is dominated by mid-century concrete-block-and-stucco homes from the 1940s through the 1960s, and many of those were built with flat or low-slope roofs. The median home was built in 1967, per the Census, so many of these roofs are old or have been patched over time.
- Does North Miami fall under the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?
- Yes. North Miami is in Miami-Dade County, which is part of Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Roofing products used here need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for that use, and they are installed per that approval.
- How does salt air from Biscayne Bay affect a flat roof?
- Steady salt-laden air can corrode fasteners, flashings, drip edge and unprotected metal at parapets and curbs. Careful flashing details and corrosion-resistant components help the roof edges and penetrations last.
- How do I check a roofer's license?
- A contractor's license is verified on the Florida DBPR website. Ours is Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334537, a state certification valid in every Florida county.
- What does your flat-rate quote include?
- It is a written quote that says what is included. The estimate is free, rotten plywood and fascia replacement are in the scope, permits are pulled under our license, and we do a full cleanup.
Get a free flat roof quote in North Miami
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