Flat roof repair — fix the cause, not just the leak.
Flat roofs fail in ways pitched roofs don't — ponding water, seam splits, UV-baked membranes, wind uplift. Most contractors patch the spot that's leaking and miss why. Since 1974, Mike McGilvary Roofing has repaired commercial and residential flat roofs across Palm Beach County — TPO, EPDM, PVC, modified bitumen, and built-up — addressing the underlying cause so the repair actually holds.
Accredited · Certified · Recognized · Family-Owned Since 1974
Why most flat-roof "repairs" fail within two years.
Too many companies patch the leak location and stop there — never addressing the ponding water, failed drainage, or membrane incompatibility underneath. The patch looks fine, then water finds the next weak seam. We diagnose the cause and repair to it, with the right material and the right weld for your membrane.
A laser-level ponding survey, seam-integrity testing, and large-format thermal imaging locate exactly where and why the roof fails. We then repair with system-correct materials — hot-air welds for TPO/PVC, proper primers for EPDM, torch-applied for modified bitumen — backed by a 2-year workmanship warranty and a post-repair moisture scan.
Ponding water is the number-one killer.
Florida's flat roofs face a punishing mix — here's what actually causes the leaks.
Ponding water that won't drain
Water standing more than 48 hours after rain accelerates membrane breakdown, weakens adhesive bonds, and feeds biological growth — from building settlement, inadequate slope, clogged drains, or HVAC units creating low spots. We survey with a laser level to find every low point and fix the drainage, not just the membrane above it.
UV, seams, and wind uplift
320+ sunny days a year bake TPO and PVC until they chalk, shrink, and crack; thermal cycling splits seams and flashings; and unlike a pitched roof, a flat roof takes direct wind-uplift that peels membrane from the substrate in a storm. A patch over any of these without fixing the cause is a leak waiting to come back.
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Every membrane, repaired the right way.
We repair all flat-roofing systems on Palm Beach County commercial and residential buildings — each with the correct materials and equipment, not a one-size patch.
- TPO repair — hot-air welded permanent seams
- EPDM rubber repair — correct primers & tapes
- PVC membrane — heat-welded seam repairs
- Modified bitumen & built-up (BUR) repair
- Ponding-water & drainage solutions
- Emergency leak response for commercial properties
The right fix depends on the system you have.
Using the wrong material or technique guarantees premature failure — so we match the repair to the membrane.
TPO
On most new commercial flat roofs. White, reflective, energy-saving — but it needs true hot-air welding, not tape or adhesive patches that fail in Florida heat within a year or two. We weld permanent repairs as strong as the original membrane.
EPDM rubber
A proven 50-year-plus system. Black EPDM is durable and puncture-resistant; its weak points are seam-tape failure and plasticizer loss. Repairs demand meticulous prep — cleaning, primer, and compatible materials we keep in stock.
PVC
A premium, chemical-resistant membrane — ideal for restaurants, medical, and industrial buildings. We hot-air weld factory-quality seam repairs; for aged, brittle PVC we can restore with a coating system instead of a full tear-off.
Modified bitumen
An SBS/APP hybrid common on older flat roofs. Florida brings granule loss, moisture blisters, and seam splitting. Small punctures get torch-applied patches; widespread wear is a candidate for restoration coating.
Built-up roofing (BUR)
Traditional multi-ply felt-and-asphalt roofs still on thousands of county buildings. We re-establish displaced aggregate, re-laminate felt layers, and rebuild flashings that corrode in salt air.
Ponding & drainage
The leading cause of flat-roof failure. Solutions scale from drain modifications ($1,500–$4,000) to tapered-insulation systems ($6,000–$25,000) — sized by a laser-level survey that maps every low spot.
Where flat roofs actually fail.
Seams, drains, parapets, and the low spots around rooftop equipment — the places ponding and leaks start. We survey them, fix the cause, and document the result, on commercial and residential roofs alike.
Systematic — built around your operations.
Emergency response & control
For an active leak threatening operations or interiors, we move fast for commercial properties — stopping the intrusion and protecting what's below before the full diagnosis.
Full roof assessment
A membrane-condition survey with test cuts, seam-integrity testing, a laser-level ponding analysis, and large-format thermal imaging to map hidden moisture — so we find every cause, not just the obvious leak.
Repair proposal with options
A written estimate with clear options — from targeted emergency repair to section repair, restoration coating, or replacement — with honest trade-offs and accurate budget numbers for reserve planning.
Repair & documentation
Scheduled around your operations and the weather, repaired with system-correct materials, then verified with a post-repair thermal scan — documented with before/after photos and warranty information.
What flat-roof repair actually costs in Palm Beach County.
Real ranges — early intervention is a fraction of a failure.
$500 – $1,500
Minor membrane patches and seam repairs for small areas — welded or primed to the correct system, not a stopgap.
$1,500 – $25,000
From drain modifications for minor ponding to tapered-insulation systems for moderate issues — sized to severity by a laser-level survey.
A $3,500 tapered-insulation retrofit that ends ponding can head off $22,000+ in emergency membrane, insulation, and decking replacement later. Storm and wind-uplift membrane damage is often insurable — we document it for the claim, and for commercial owners we provide the reports and budget numbers property managers need for reserve planning.
Real homes. Real documentation.
Short walkthroughs from real Palm Beach County projects — what Mike found, what he documented, and the work that followed. Outcomes vary by roof; nothing here is a guarantee of any insurance result.
WatchThe Drummond Roof
An insurance review prompted a closer look. Documentation of the tile system's actual condition may help the homeowner make an informed decision — repair, rebuild, or replacement.
WatchThe Amber Roof
Full condition documentation of an older tile roof. Thorough records of repairability and remaining useful life may be useful for insurance and future planning.
WatchThe Wellington Rebuild
A section rebuild that preserved most of the existing roof — replacing the failed underlayment, valley metal, and damaged tile instead of a full tear-off.
Flat-roof specialists since 1974 — commercial & residential.
The right equipment for each system
Hot-air welding stations for TPO and PVC, seam-testing tools, and large-format thermal imaging — the dedicated flat-roof gear that makes a repair permanent instead of a patch.
Repairing flat roofs since 1974
Fifty-plus years on Palm Beach County's flat roofs — intense UV, thermal cycling, hurricane uplift, and subtropical moisture. We know how these systems fail here and how to fix the cause.
Built for commercial property managers
Accurate budget numbers for reserve planning, minimal disruption to operations, detailed documentation for ownership, and a maintained service history for your portfolio.
Licensed, insured & proven
Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1331721 (license active since 2018; family roofing roots since 1974), BBB A+, BuildZoom 107 / Top 6%, 5.0 stars across 500+ Google reviews, and a 2-year workmanship warranty.
Flat roofs are part of a bigger system — explore commercial roof repair, leak repairs, a free inspection, or a 5-Year Certification.
Palm Beach County flat-roof questions, answered.
How much do flat roof repairs cost in Palm Beach County?
How long do flat roof repairs last in Florida's climate?
Can ponding water be fixed without replacing the whole roof?
What's the difference between TPO and EPDM for repairs?
Do you offer flat roof maintenance programs for commercial properties?
Can a flat roof be repaired, or does it always need replacement?
Get your flat roof fixed right the first time.
Leak, ponding, or a membrane near the end of its life? Tell us about your roof and we'll come survey it — laser-level, thermal imaging, and an honest repair-vs-replace assessment, with budget numbers you can plan around. Family-owned in Palm Beach County since 1974.
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