Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
The flat-rate flat roof specialist in Opa-locka, FL
Flat & Low-Slope Roofing for homes in Opa-locka and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Opa-locka's Moorish Revival buildings from the 1920s, a legacy of Glenn Curtiss's planned city, share the map with a lot of mid-century single-story concrete block homes and small apartment buildings. Many of those buildings have flat or low-slope roof sections that deal with humid summers and hurricane season from June to November. If you are choosing who should work on one in Opa-locka, look for a roofing-only contractor with a license you can check on the Florida DBPR website, and a written quote that says exactly what is included.
Flat Rate Roofing Inc is a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor, CCC1334537, a state certification valid in every Florida county. Our office is in Sunrise, in Broward County, and we serve Opa-locka as part of our statewide service area. You get a free estimate and a written flat-rate quote. We pull permits under our own license, schedule and pass the inspections, and close out the permit.
Opa-locka is several miles inland from Biscayne Bay, so salt exposure is milder than at the beaches. Constant humidity, heavy summer rain and tropical-system winds still work on a flat roof. Many older homes and buildings here are decades-old masonry, and a flat membrane over a block structure has to shed water through drains and scuppers that stay clear and sit at the right slope. Hurricane season can also bring high winds and occasional tornadoes from tropical systems, which test edges, parapets and flashing where uplift concentrates. The neighborhood around Opa-locka Executive Airport and the older residential streets all have the same basic need: a low-slope roof that drains and holds down in wind.
Problems to watch for in Opa-locka
Ponding water
Where slope or drains fail, water sits on the membrane after Opa-locka's summer downpours. Standing water speeds up wear and finds any weak seam.
Seam and flashing failure
Seams and base flashing at parapets and curbs are common leak points on flat roofs. Constant humidity and heavy rain make small gaps worse.
Heat and UV on exposed membranes
In a hot, very humid climate, exposed membranes take sun and heat all summer. Over time that can crack or blister the surface.
Hurricane uplift at edges and parapets
Tropical systems from June to November put the most wind stress on roof edges and parapets. Attachment at those points is a key inspection item.
Blocked drains and scuppers
Clogged or undersized drains hold water on the roof. On flat roofs over older masonry, that water can work its way into the structure.
Too many layers on an old roof
Code limits how many roof layers may remain, so an older flat roof with several layers may need a full tear-off. We check this when we inspect the roof.
Deteriorated decking
Long-term moisture can rot the plywood or deck under a leaking membrane. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is included in the scope of our quote.
What we do
- Built-up and modified bitumen roofingWe install hot mop built-up roofing and modified bitumen with torch-applied cap sheets. These are multi-layer systems designed for low-slope roofs.
- Self-adhered systemsSelf-adhered membranes are another option for the right roof. We go over which system fits your building when we give the quote.
- Tapered insulation and cricketsWe correct ponding by building slope into the roof with tapered insulation and crickets. We also add new drains and scuppers where water needs a way off.
- Base flashing at parapets and curbsFlashing is where many flat roofs leak. We detail base flashing at parapets and curbs as part of the system.
- Tear-off and deck replacementWhen the old roof is past saving, we tear off and replace damaged deck. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement is included in the scope, and the job ends with full cleanup.
Licenses, permits and codes in Opa-locka
Flat and low-slope roofing in Florida is regulated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. In our own words, check any contractor's license on DBPR's license search. The state's wording is: "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." Opa-locka is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and the rule on products reads: "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 how much of a roof you can repair, the rule reads: "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." It can be applied differently by jurisdiction, so verify with your city or county building department. If your building is a condominium or in an association, ask whether separate association approval is needed.
When to call
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and the summer wet season is when ponding and leaks show up on flat roofs. Installation is generally easier in the drier winter and spring, when membranes can be applied to a dry deck, so a late-fall or winter inspection can help you plan before the next storm season. The phone at (954) 775-8990 is answered around the clock, and the Sunrise office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also request a free estimate with the form on this page.
We serve Opa-locka, including Magnolia North, Sherbondy Village, the Opa-locka Airport area, Bunche Park, Westview and nearby Miami Gardens, Carol City, Golden Glades and Biscayne Gardens.
Flat Roof in Opa-locka: questions we hear
- Does a flat roof in Opa-locka need an NOA product?
- Opa-locka is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. The state wording is that roofing products used there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for that use, and the product is installed per its approval. We spec the system to match.
- Why do flat roofs on older Opa-locka block homes leak?
- Many homes here are mid-century single-story concrete block, and flat or low-slope sections are exposed to constant humidity, summer rain and hurricane-season wind. Ponding, failed seams and worn flashing are the usual places water gets in. An inspection shows which applies to your roof.
- Will a repair trigger the 25% roof rule?
- The state rule reads: "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." There is an exception for newer roofs, and how the rule is applied can vary, so verify with your building department. We can go over your roof's history when we quote.
- What does your written quote cover?
- It is a flat-rate quote that says what is included. The scope covers rotten plywood and fascia replacement, and we pull permits under our own license, schedule and pass inspections, and close out the permit. The estimate is free.
- Do you have an office in Opa-locka?
- Our office is at 9610 NW 24th St in Sunrise, in Broward County. Our state roofing certification is valid in every Florida county, so we serve Opa-locka from there.
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