Professional Commercial Flat Roofing Installation in Dallas

Dallas heat is real when it comes to commercial roofs. We're talking 100+ degree days, where your actual roof surface can hit 160 degrees, or more.

We've installed commercial flat roofs all over Dallas for years now. Office buildings in Uptown. Warehouses out in Northwest Dallas. Those quirky restaurant buildings in Deep Ellum that always have something unexpected going on with the structure. Each project is different, and honestly, that's what keeps this work interesting.

Proper installation starts with understanding what the City of Dallas actually requires. And trust me, they have opinions about commercial roofing projects.^[1] The good news? We handle all that permit paperwork and inspection coordination. You shouldn't have to become an expert in building codes just to get a new roof.

A well-installed flat roofing system does two main things. Keeps your building dry when it rains (obviously). And cuts your cooling costs, which in Texas summers... yeah, that matters. The Department of Energy has actually studied this stuff pretty extensively - they've documented how reflective roofing reduces heat gain in buildings.^[2] Real data, not just marketing hype.

Our process covers deck inspection through final warranty documentation. Same team, start to finish. No handoffs to random subcontractors you've never met.

TPO, EPDM, and Modified Bitumen Serve Different Dallas Buildings

Not all flat roofing membranes work the same way. We install three main types around Dallas, and picking the wrong one for your building type? That's an expensive mistake.

TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) - this is what we recommend most often for office buildings. The white surface reflects heat instead of soaking it up like a sponge. Your AC units aren't running nonstop trying to cool a building with what's essentially a heat magnet on top. The Department of Energy says energy savings can hit 20-30% with cool roofing systems.^[2] We've seen that play out on actual utility bills. It's real money every single month.

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) - costs less upfront, which is exactly why warehouse owners gravitate toward it. It's basically a black rubber membrane that handles our crazy temperature swings without cracking apart. We installed EPDM on some warehouses in Northwest Dallas back in the early 2000s. They're still performing. The secret? Proper installation. Cut corners, and it doesn't matter what membrane you use.

Modified Bitumen works great for retail and restaurant buildings. It comes in rolls, we install it with either heat or adhesive, depending on the specific situation. The material seals really nicely around all those rooftop HVAC units and exhaust vents. Restaurants especially appreciate that because they've got so much equipment up there.

Dallas weather just beats the heck out of roofing systems. We swing from 105 degrees in August down to 25 in January. Your membrane has to expand and contract through those cycles without failing. We help you figure out the right system based on building type, budget, and how long you're planning to own the property. Five years versus twenty years? Different answers.

Deck Condition and Building Code Determine Installation Scope

The roof deck - that's what everything else sits on. If it's compromised, your new membrane won't last. Doesn't matter how perfect the installation is.

We see problems during inspections constantly. Especially in those Northwest Dallas warehouses. Water damage is probably the most common issue. Wood decking just rots over time. Metal panels corrode. Sometimes, property owners have no idea how bad it is until we actually get up there and inspect.

What we're checking for:

• Structural damage - sagging areas, rotted wood, corroded metal panels that have rusted through
• Ponding areas - those low spots where water just sits there for days after it rains
• Code violations - missing fire barriers, inadequate ventilation, materials that haven't met code requirements in like fifteen years

Dallas uses International Building Code standards for commercial roofs.^[3] Those codes aren't arbitrary bureaucracy - they exist because buildings have caught fire, roofs have blown off in windstorms, structures have collapsed. Fire resistance requirements. Wind uplift ratings. Structural load capacity. It all matters when you're protecting a building worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

Sometimes we only need minor deck repairs before installing your new roof. Cool, easy project. Other times? The deck needs major work. Or complete replacement. Nobody likes finding that out, but better to discover it during our inspection than three months after we've installed a new membrane over rotting decking.

You'll get a detailed written scope of work from us. Plain English explanation of what your deck needs and why. No construction jargon that requires a translator.

City of Dallas Requires Permits for All Commercial Roof Projects

Every commercial roof project in Dallas needs a permit. Every single one. Even if your brother-in-law's friend says you don't need one - you do.

We've been through the City's permit process probably hundreds of times at this point. You submit two sets of plans to Building Inspection at the Oak Cliff Municipal Center on East Jefferson. One set stays in their files. The other one comes back marked up with review comments. Sometimes a lot of review comments.

Here's the timeline reality:

• Commercial remodel projects: 12 working days for review
• New commercial construction: 20+ working days^[1]

You need to plan your project around these timelines. Can't really rush it. We've had clients who wanted to fast-track a roof replacement and got really frustrated with permit review time. The City moves at its own pace. They do offer expedited reviews through their Q-Team for an extra fee, but you're still looking at multiple days minimum. Not hours.

Inspections happen at different stages throughout the project. They check deck prep. They check insulation. They check the final membrane installation. These inspections verify everything actually meets safety and energy code standards.^[1]

Some property owners complain about permit costs and delays. I get it. But here's what you're actually getting: official documentation that your roof meets current building codes. When you go to sell the property five years from now. When your insurance company starts asking questions after a hailstorm. When a future buyer does their due diligence inspection. Those permit records prove your roof was done right and meets code. That has real value.

We handle all the City paperwork and inspector coordination. You've got enough to worry about running your business.

Proper Drainage and Insulation Prevent Costly Problems

Restaurant owners in Deep Ellum understand drainage problems on a deep level. Those old buildings with flat roofs that pond water after every single rain? Yeah.

Here's something that surprises most people - flat roofs aren't actually flat. The National Roofing Contractors Association defines low-slope roofs as having a slope of 3-in-12 or less.^[5] But you still need at least 1/4 inch of slope per foot to move water toward your drains. Doesn't sound like much. That subtle pitch makes all the difference between water draining properly and water just sitting there creating problems.

We create that slope using tapered insulation. The boards are different thicknesses - thicker on one end, thinner on the other. Stack them correctly and you've built in the drainage gradient you need. It's actually pretty elegant when you think about it.

Dallas storms can dump an insane amount of rain in a really short time. Like multiple inches in an hour. Your drainage system better be ready for that volume. We typically install multiple drains on commercial buildings:

• Primary drains - handle your everyday rainfall situation
• Overflow drains - these kick in when you get hammered by a heavy storm
• Scuppers - emergency outlets that we cut through the parapet walls

Restaurants deal with this extra wrinkle - grease buildup around their kitchen exhaust fans. We've learned through experience to position drains away from those areas. Because grease plus drain pipes equals expensive service calls and maintenance headaches down the road. Nobody wants that.

Insulation does more than just create slope though. Keeps your building comfortable. Brings down energy costs noticeably. We follow current energy code requirements for insulation thickness - not optional, that's code. Your HVAC systems don't have to work nearly as hard maintaining comfortable temperature.

Water sitting on your roof for days at a time? That absolutely kills membrane lifespan. Good drainage design from day one protects your investment.

Heat-Reflective Membranes Lower Cooling Costs in Dallas

Roof color matters way more than most people realize. Black roofs absorb heat. White roofs bounce it away. Pretty simple physics, but the impact on your utility bills isn't small.

We've installed white TPO systems on retail centers in North Dallas. The property managers literally tell us their cooling costs dropped noticeably the first summer after installation. Makes sense when you think about it - you're not constantly fighting heat radiating down through the roof deck into your building space.

The Department of Energy backs this up with actual research data. Reflective roofing materials with high solar reflectance reduce cooling requirements significantly.^[2] Their studies show the difference is substantial. Especially in hot climates. Like, you know, Dallas in July.

What actually makes a membrane energy-efficient:

• High solar reflectance - bounces sunlight away before it turns into heat
• Lasting performance - stays reflective even after years of Dallas weather beating on it
• High emittance - releases absorbed heat quickly through thermal radiation

ASHRAE 90.1 standards set the baseline thermal resistance requirements for commercial building roofs.^[3] Dallas adopted these requirements specifically to cut down on building energy consumption across the city. Your roof has to meet those minimums. Not negotiable.

We've tracked performance on buildings we did five years ago, ten years ago. Property managers consistently report 20-30% reductions in cooling costs during peak summer months. On a 20,000 square foot building? That adds up really fast. We're talking thousands of dollars annually.

Your membrane choice affects operating costs for the next two or three decades. Worth spending time to get it right. We help you pick systems that meet energy codes and actually fit your budget reality.

Professional Installation Extends Roof Lifespan by Decades

Bad installation absolutely ruins good materials. We see it constantly around Dallas. Twenty-year membranes failing at the ten-year mark because the installation crew didn't know what they were doing. Or didn't care. Either way, it's expensive for the building owner.

Medical offices in Preston Hollow can't afford roof failures. You've got expensive diagnostic equipment. Patient care happening daily. A leak that forces you to close part of your building for repairs? That's serious money lost, plus you're disrupting patient schedules and making your life complicated.

We follow NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) guidelines for every single installation.^[3] These aren't suggestions or best practices - they're industry standards covering everything from deck prep through seam welding technique. Plus manufacturers have their own installation specs that we have to meet for warranties to stay valid. Miss a step? Warranty's void. Not worth the risk.

What proper installation actually looks like:

• Substrate gets prepped correctly, primer applied right
• Membrane overlaps at seams meet exact specifications
• Attachment method resists wind uplift for Dallas wind zones
• Flashing details around every single penetration and edge done properly

Safety matters just as much as quality workmanship. OSHA requires fall protection for any worker on a roof 6 feet or higher.^[4] Our crews use guardrail systems and safety harnesses every day. No exceptions. That protects them, obviously. But it also protects your liability exposure as the property owner.

Warranties back up professional installation. Material warranties run 10-30 years depending on which membrane system you choose. Our workmanship warranty covers installation for 5-10 years. You get both when we finish your project. All in writing.

Cutting corners might save money upfront. Costs thousands more later when problems develop. We'd rather do it right the first time. Your roof performs the way it's designed to for its full expected lifespan.

What Does Commercial Flat Roof Installation in Dallas Include?

Here's how a typical project actually runs:

Each step builds on what came before. Skip something or do it wrong? You've got problems developing later.