Flat roofs that
handle the sun
San Diego's climate is genuinely good to flat roofs — the sun is what tests them. TPO, torch-down and EPDM each earn their place, and picking the right one for your roof, your drainage and your budget matters more than any brand name.
TPO · Torch-down · EPDM
TPO
Heat-welded seams, white reflective surface, excellent UV resistance, Title 24 friendly. The system we install most on San Diego flat roofs.
Torch-Down
Modified bitumen, decades of track record, easy to repair. Still the right call on some roofs and some budgets.
EPDM
Great rubber membrane — with a dark surface that fights the San Diego sun. We install it where it fits and say so where it doesn’t.
Questions we get
Is a flat roof a bad idea in San Diego?
No — San Diego is one of the best climates in the country for flat roofs. Little rain, no snow load, no freeze-thaw. What kills flat roofs here is UV and ponding water, and both come down to material choice and drainage done right.
TPO vs. torch-down vs. EPDM — which one?
TPO is the modern default: heat-welded seams, white reflective surface, strong UV performance. Torch-down is proven and repairable. EPDM’s dark surface works against it in our sun. We published a full comparison — and we’ll tell you which fits your roof, not which we happen to stock.
What does a TPO roof cost per square foot?
TPO is one of the most cost-effective roofs per square foot installed. The real number depends on thickness, insulation and detail work — described honestly in your written quote.
What about ponding water on my flat roof?
Water that keeps standing long after the rain stops is the number-one flat roof killer. Sometimes the fix is drainage, sometimes tapered insulation with a re-roof. We diagnose the cause before quoting anything.
Flat roofing, answered
How is a TPO roof actually installed?
Six steps, and the checkpoints a homeowner can watch for. Seam failures cause most flat roof leaks, so the welding is the part that matters.
Read the answer →Is a flat roof a bad idea in San Diego?
The bad reputation is earned by bad installations, not bad materials. Here is what actually goes wrong, and when flat is genuinely wrong.
Read the answer →What does ponding water do to a flat roof?
Standing water sits, works the seams, and shortens the membrane. Drainage is the real fix, not a covering swap on a coastal house.
Read the answer →How much does a TPO roof cost per square foot?
Published TPO figures run from $5 to $10.50 per square foot. The spread exists because some price the membrane and some price the finished job.
Read the answer →Service areas
Ready for a straight answer?
Call the roofer, or send the form and he’ll call you. Either way you talk to the person who does the work.
