Understanding Flat Roof Requirements for Shingles in Your Area

Here's the straight answer: flat roofs don't need shingles and shouldn't have them. After 23 years installing roofs across Queens, I can tell you that putting shingles on a flat roof is like trying to wear sneakers to swim - it's just the wrong tool for the job.

Look, I get this question at least twice a week from homeowners in Astoria and Long Island City who see their neighbor's pitched roof and wonder if they're missing something. The confusion makes sense because most residential roofs in Queens use asphalt shingles, but flat roofs operate on completely different principles.

Why Flat Roofs Don't Use Shingles

Shingles work through what we call "gravity shedding" - water hits them and gravity pulls it down and off the roof. But on a flat roof (which actually has a slight slope of about 1/4 inch per foot), water doesn't move fast enough for shingles to do their job effectively.

I remember a job on 31st Street in Astoria where a homeowner had paid another contractor to put shingles on their flat commercial building. Within six months, we were tearing the whole thing off because water was pooling between the shingles and leaking straight through. Cost them $8,500 to fix what should have been done right the first time.

Instead of shingles, flat roofs use continuous membrane systems that create a watertight seal across the entire surface. These materials include EPDM rubber, TPO, modified bitumen, and built-up roofing systems.

What Flat Roofs Actually Need

Here's what we install on flat roofs in Queens:

• EPDM Rubber Membrane - Black rubber sheets that we heat-weld together
• TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) - White reflective membranes popular for energy efficiency
• Modified Bitumen - Multi-layer systems with granulated surface
• Built-Up Roofing (BUR) - Hot tar and gravel systems, still common on older buildings

The salt air from the East River and Flushing Bay means we always recommend materials that can handle temperature swings and UV exposure. That's why about 60% of our flat roof installations use EPDM - it's proven itself over decades in this climate.

Common Flat Roof Materials in Queens

EPDM rubber remains our go-to for most residential flat roofs. We source ours from Beacon Supply on Northern Boulevard, and after installing probably 800+ EPDM roofs, I can tell you it handles our winters and summers better than anything else in its price range.

TPO is gaining ground, especially on commercial buildings in Long Island City where building owners want the energy savings from the white reflective surface. The material costs run about 15% higher than EPDM, but the cooling benefits make sense for larger buildings.

Built-up roofing still makes sense for some applications. Just last month we installed a 4-ply BUR system on a warehouse in Maspeth. The gravel surface can handle foot traffic better than membrane systems, which matters when you've got HVAC units and regular maintenance access.

Installation Differences That Matter

The installation process for flat roofing materials is completely different from shingles. With shingles, we work from bottom to top, overlapping each row. With flat roof membranes, we're creating one continuous surface.

For EPDM, we roll out large sheets - sometimes 50 feet wide - and use contact cement or mechanical fasteners to secure them. The seams get sealed with special tape or liquid adhesives. There's no overlap pattern like shingles; it's all about creating that watertight seal.

My crew chief Miguel always says the key difference is that shingle installation is about individual pieces working together, while flat roofing is about creating one giant piece that covers everything.

Why This Confusion Exists

I think the confusion comes from seeing photos online of "flat roof shingles" or similar terms. What people are actually seeing are either modified bitumen rolls with granulated surfaces (which look similar to shingles but aren't) or low-slope applications where shingles might work on roofs with slightly more pitch.

Here's the thing - if your roof is truly flat or has minimal slope, shingles will fail. Period. The building codes in New York City are clear about this, and for good reason.

Cost Considerations

Flat roof systems typically cost more per square foot than shingles, but they last longer. EPDM installation runs $8-12 per square foot installed in Queens, while a decent shingle roof costs $6-9 per square foot. But that EPDM roof will give you 20-25 years, compared to 15-20 for shingles.

The bigger cost difference comes in maintenance and repairs. When a shingle roof develops problems, you're often looking at partial or full replacement. With flat roof membranes, we can often patch or repair problem areas without replacing the entire roof.

Local Climate Considerations

Queens weather is tough on roofs. We get everything from nor'easters dumping snow to summer heat that can push roof surface temperatures over 150°F. The freeze-thaw cycles are particularly brutal on any roofing system that relies on individual pieces working together.

That's another reason shingles don't work on flat roofs here. The expansion and contraction would create gaps between shingles, and with water moving slowly across a flat surface, those gaps become leak points.

Our flat roof systems are designed to move as one piece, expanding and contracting together instead of creating failure points between individual components.

What About Low-Slope Applications?

Now, there are some specialty shingle products designed for low-slope applications - roofs with more pitch than truly flat but not steep enough for standard shingles. These require special installation techniques and aren't suitable for roofs under 2:12 pitch (2 inches of rise per 12 inches of run).

But even these applications are rare in Queens residential work. Most of our flat roofs are on row houses, small apartment buildings, and commercial structures where proper membrane systems make more sense.

Making the Right Choice

If you've got a flat roof and you're thinking about roofing options, forget about shingles. Focus on choosing the right membrane system for your building and budget. Consider factors like foot traffic, energy efficiency goals, and how long you plan to own the building.

For most residential flat roofs in Queens, EPDM remains the best value. It's proven, reliable, and our crews know how to install it right. For commercial applications or where energy efficiency is a priority, TPO might make more sense despite the higher upfront cost.

The key is working with a contractor who understands flat roofing systems and has experience with Queens building requirements. At Flat Masters NY, we've been specializing in flat roofs since 2001, and we can help you choose the right system for your specific situation.

Don't let anyone talk you into putting shingles on a flat roof. It's not going to work, it's not going to last, and you'll end up paying twice - once for the failed installation and again for the proper repair.