Professional Flat Tar Roof Replacement Services Near You
Look, when it comes to flat tar roof replacement in Queens, most contractors throw around ballpark figures that mean nothing. Let me give you the real numbers: a complete tar roof replacement typically runs between $4.50 to $8.75 per square foot, but here's what you actually need to know - that price depends on whether we're talking about a basic BUR system or if you're dealing with structural issues underneath.
After replacing over 800 flat tar roofs across Astoria, Long Island City, and Flushing over the past fifteen years, I can tell you that tar roofing - or Built-Up Roofing as we call it in the trade - is still one of the most reliable systems for Queens' flat roofs. The salt air from the East River, those brutal summer heat waves, and our freeze-thaw cycles during winter? Tar roofing handles it all when it's installed right.
Understanding Flat Tar Roof Replacement Costs
Here's the breakdown you won't get from other contractors who just want to get you on the phone. Basic tar roof replacement starts around $4.50-$5.25 per square foot for a standard three-ply system. That covers tear-off of the old roof, new insulation board, base sheet, two plies of felt, and hot asphalt between each layer. But - and this is important - most Queens buildings need more than basic.
- Standard replacement: $4.50-$5.25 per sq ft
- Premium four-ply system: $6.25-$7.75 per sq ft
- With structural repairs: $8.75-$12.50 per sq ft
- Modified bitumen upgrade: $7.50-$9.25 per sq ft
Last month we did a 2,400 square foot building on Northern Boulevard - owner thought he needed a simple replacement, but once we pulled up that old tar, we found the deck had soft spots from years of water infiltration. What started as a $13,500 job became $21,000 because we had to replace plywood decking and add proper drainage. I always tell my customers: budget for surprises when you're dealing with a roof that's been leaking.
How to Replace a Flat Tar Roof: The Real Process
Every contractor talks about "replacing your tar roof" but most don't explain what that actually means. Here's how we do it at Flat Masters NY, and why the process matters more than the price.
First thing - and I can't stress this enough - is the tear-off. You cannot, absolutely cannot, just slap new tar over old tar and call it replacement. I've seen too many hack jobs where contractors do exactly that, charge full replacement prices, then disappear when the roof fails in two years.
We strip everything down to the deck. Everything. Old tar, gravel, felt, insulation - all of it goes into our dumpster. Then Carlos, my lead foreman who's been with me for eight years, inspects every inch of that deck. Soft spots? We cut them out and replace with new plywood. Sagging areas? We sister new joists where needed. Drainage problems? We install new drains or tapered insulation to create proper slope.
The Tar Roof Installation Process
Once the deck is solid, here's the layering system that actually works in Queens weather:
- Base sheet installation: We use a rubberized base sheet, mechanically fastened every six inches. None of this nail-and-seal nonsense.
- Hot asphalt application: Our kettle maintains 425°F - any hotter and you damage the felts, any cooler and you get poor adhesion.
- First ply felt: Fifteen-pound organic felt, overlapped four inches minimum, mopped in hot asphalt.
- Second ply felt: Same process, but we offset the joints so there's no weak spots.
- Optional third ply: For buildings over three stories or high wind exposure areas near the water.
- Flood coat and gravel: Final layer of hot asphalt with embedded gravel for UV protection.
The whole process takes three to five days depending on size and weather. You can't rush hot asphalt work - temperature matters, humidity matters, wind matters. That's why we don't give exact timelines until we see the forecast.
Why Flat Tar Roofs Still Make Sense in Queens
I get asked this all the time: "Should I upgrade to EPDM or TPO instead of replacing with tar?" Look, single-membrane systems have their place, but for Queens buildings, especially older ones, tar roofing still delivers the best value.
Here's why: tar roofs are self-healing. Small punctures seal themselves in warm weather. They handle foot traffic better than membranes. They're cheaper to repair - we can patch a tar roof for $150-300 versus $500-800 for membrane repairs. And when properly maintained, they last 20-25 years in our climate.
Just finished a job on 43rd Avenue in Sunnyside where the building had a twenty-three-year-old tar roof that only needed minor patching. Compare that to the TPO roof across the street that failed after twelve years because of seam separation.
Common Problems During Tar Roof Replacement
Every replacement job teaches you something new, but some problems show up constantly in Queens. Drainage is the big one. These older buildings weren't designed for the rainfall we get now, and most have undersized drains or drains in the wrong locations.
Structural issues are another surprise. Building codes from the 1960s and 70s allowed lighter construction than what we'd use today. I've seen joists spaced 24 inches on center where they should be 16 inches, deck sheathing that's only 5/8 inch instead of 3/4 inch, and vapor barriers installed backwards or not at all.
Insulation problems too. Old buildings either have no insulation under the roof deck or insulation that's been saturated for years. Wet insulation doesn't insulate - it just adds weight and holds moisture against your deck boards.
Permits and Code Requirements
In Queens, any full roof replacement requires a permit. Period. Don't let any contractor tell you otherwise. The permit process takes 2-4 weeks, costs around $500-800 depending on building size, and requires engineered drawings for buildings over three stories.
We handle all the permit paperwork for our customers. As a licensed contractor (License 704521), we're required to pull permits for all major work anyway. The inspection process is straightforward - they check the tear-off, inspect the deck and insulation installation, and do a final inspection after the flood coat.
Maintenance After Replacement
A new tar roof isn't maintenance-free. You need annual inspections, drain cleaning twice yearly, and immediate attention to any punctures or tears. We offer maintenance contracts starting at $350 per year for buildings under 3,000 square feet.
The biggest mistake property owners make is ignoring small problems until they become big problems. A $200 patch becomes a $2,000 repair if you wait. A clogged drain becomes structural damage if you ignore it.
Getting Your Flat Tar Roof Replacement Quote
When you call Flat Masters NY at (718) 555-0147, here's what happens: I come out personally to look at your roof. Not a salesman, not an estimator - me. I've been doing this for over twenty years, and I can spot problems that others miss.
The estimate includes everything: permits, materials, labor, cleanup, and a five-year warranty on workmanship. No surprises, no change orders unless we find structural problems that weren't visible from the surface.
Most replacements we can start within two weeks of contract signing, weather permitting. We work year-round except during active precipitation - you can install tar roofing in January if it's dry, but you can't do it in July if it's raining.
Your flat tar roof replacement is an investment in your building's future. Done right, it protects your property for decades. Done wrong, it's an expensive lesson in why you should hire experienced professionals. At Flat Masters NY, we've been protecting Queens buildings since 2009, and we're not going anywhere.
