Torch-On Flat Roofing for Strata and Townhome Roofs in Burnaby
We install two-ply SBS torch-on roofing for strata complexes, townhome patios, and multi-family low-slope roofs across Burnaby. Flat sections get the same planning, materials, and crew attention as a full pitched reroof — never a patch job squeezed between shingle contracts. We’ve been doing this work in Burnaby since 2011 and hold RCABC Skilled Roofer accreditation.
0
Why Flat Roofs Get Treated Like a Full Project Here
A flat or low-slope roof spends more time under standing water than a pitched one ever will. Burnaby’s coastal rain pattern means ponding isn’t a once-a-year event on a townhome patio or an amenity roof — it’s a season that runs most of the year. A large share of the strata and multi-family buildings around Metrotown and Brentwood carry flat sections, so a contractor who treats them as an afterthought behind shingle work is skipping the part of the roof that fails first.
The System We Install
Every flat roof we put down uses a two-ply SBS modified bitumen system: a base sheet fastened to the deck, then a mineral-cap sheet torched over top to seal it. The seam between the two layers is what keeps water out, so every hot-works job runs with controlled propane application and a dedicated fire watch — that’s a separate liability requirement from standard roofing insurance, and we carry it.
Drainage gets designed in before the membrane goes down, not fixed after the fact. We lay tapered insulation across the deck so water has somewhere to go instead of sitting at the low point — ponding is the most common reason a flat roof fails early, and it’s almost always a slope problem, not a material problem. Flashing at parapets, curbs, and drains gets the same detail work as the field membrane itself.
The manufacturer material warranty on what we install typically runs 25 to 50 years depending on the system, and it stays intact as long as installation follows the manufacturer’s spec — which is also why our crews hold current manufacturer certifications rather than working off a generic install method.
Where This Applies
Townhome patios & amenity roofs
Flat sections over living space.
Elevator & stairwell penthouse caps
Flat caps on larger strata buildings.
Low-slope additions
Additions on older Burnaby single-family homes.
Mixed pitched-and-flat buildings
Multi-family stock from Metrotown to the Brentwood corridor — pitched main roof, flat sections over garages, walkways, or patio decks, both scoped with equal planning.
We work directly with strata councils, property managers, and individual homeowners on these roofs, and the scope of work looks different depending on which one we’re talking to.
How the Project Runs
-
On-site inspection
We check the existing membrane, flashing, drainage, and deck condition, including moisture-meter readings at any suspected soft spots, before we write anything down.
-
Written, price-locked estimate
A written, itemized estimate follows — price-locked for 30 days, with the scope broken out so a strata council can see exactly what it’s approving. Nothing gets added mid-job without a signed change order.
-
Scheduling around the building
Scheduling works around the building, not the other way around. For strata and townhome jobs, that means coordinating start dates with the property manager, working around resident parking, and keeping noise-bylaw hours in mind on hot-works days.
-
Installation
Installation runs 1 to 2 days on-site for a single townhome unit, longer for larger strata sections, with fire-watch practices in place throughout any torch application.
-
Final inspection & cleanup
We finish with a final inspection and a full cleanup before calling the job done.
0
Ready to get that in writing? Call, text, or request a written estimate below.
Get a Price-Locked EstimateWorking With Your Council or Property Manager
A strata roof decision usually has to clear a council meeting before it clears a work order. We build estimates that hold up in that meeting — a clear scope, a locked price, and a document a property manager can forward without translating it first.
For larger complexes replacing flat sections across multiple buildings, we can break the estimate into phases tied to your reserve fund cycle instead of one lump levy. We keep residents in the loop directly when hot-works scheduling affects a shared wall or a patio they use daily, rather than leaving that communication to the council alone. References from other strata and townhome jobs in the area are available on request — contact us and we’ll point you to a building near yours.
Get a locked number your council can vote on
A written, itemized, price-locked estimate — the same document whether it’s one townhome unit or a multi-building phase plan.
Request a Strata-Specific QuoteWhat Affects the Price
Every flat-roof quote factors in the same real variables:
- The size and access difficulty of the roof — narrow lane access, common in older Burnaby complexes, can add staging time a same-size roof with open access wouldn’t need.
- How many old layers need tearing off.
- The condition of the decking once we’re down to it — rotted decking found once tear-off starts on an older building is the most common reason a quoted price and a final price differ, and we flag it the moment we see it rather than after the fact.
- Whether a City of Burnaby permit or strata approval process needs to run before work starts.
We won’t give a number over the phone that skips these variables — every quote comes from an on-site look at the roof.
Warranty and Coverage
If a covered leak reopens in the repaired or replaced area within the first year, we fix it at no cost. We carry $5,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance and provide a certificate of insurance to every strata or commercial client before work starts. WorkSafeBC coverage is current and verifiable. Before-and-after photos are available for many past strata and townhome projects — ask for examples from a building similar to yours.
Active Leak or Storm Damage?
This page covers planned flat-roof installations and replacements. If you’re dealing with an active leak or storm damage on a flat section right now, we run a separate same-day response.
Where We Work
We install and repair torch-on flat roofing across Burnaby — Metrotown, Brentwood, Edmonds, Capitol Hill, Vancouver Heights, Lougheed, Deer Lake, and Big Bend — plus New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Moody, and East Vancouver.
- Metrotown
- Brentwood
- Edmonds
- Capitol Hill
- Vancouver Heights
- Lougheed
- Deer Lake
- Big Bend
- New Westminster
- Coquitlam
- Port Moody
- East Vancouver
We also take on occasional strata jobs in North Vancouver and Port Coquitlam for buildings we’ve already worked with.
Common Questions
Have a question that isn’t answered below? Send us the details and we’ll reply within one business day.
How disruptive is a torch-on job for residents in a shared-wall townhome?
Hot-works days involve a controlled propane torch and normal roofing noise, concentrated into the 1 to 2 days a single-unit job is on-site for. We schedule around noise-bylaw hours and notify affected units in advance through the property manager.
Does a ponding roof always need full replacement?
No. Ponding is usually a slope problem, not proof the whole roof has failed. If the membrane underneath is still sound, adding tapered insulation or correcting a low spot can solve it without a full tear-off. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in after inspection, not before.
Do you handle insurance claims for storm or wind damage?
We provide the written assessment and photo documentation an adjuster typically asks for, and we’ll work directly with your insurer or property manager on the paperwork. We don’t file the claim on your behalf.
How does strata approval timing affect scheduling?
We book on-site estimates within 3 to 5 business days of a first call, faster in the November-to-February off-season. Once your council reviews the estimate, the 30-day price lock gives you room to bring it to a vote or an AGM without losing your number. Installation gets scheduled once the scope is approved.
Ready to Talk About Your Roof?
Call or text us for a written estimate, or request a strata-specific quote if you’re bringing this to a council meeting. We’ll book an on-site look and give you a price-locked number in writing — no verbal upsells, no pressure to decide on the spot.