Restaurants: Flat Roof Repair & Replacement
Restaurant roofs have a problem other roofs don't: grease. Kitchen exhaust fans throw grease and oils onto the roof around the fan, and over time that grease softens and swells EPDM and many TPO membranes until they split. Add several rooftop units, make-up air units and plenty of service traffic, and restaurant roofs leak more than most. We repair grease-damaged areas with PVC or another grease-resistant membrane, add grease containment at the fans, and fix the flashings around every unit, scheduling the work around service so the kitchen keeps running.
What matters on these roofs
Grease at the exhaust fans
Grease softens most roofing membranes. The fix is a grease-resistant membrane such as PVC around the fan, plus containment that keeps most grease off the roof.
Lots of rooftop units
Exhaust fans, make-up air units and HVAC each need their own curb flashing, and service crews walking between them wear paths in the roof.
Leaks over the kitchen
Water near cooking equipment, electrical and food storage is a health-inspection and safety problem. Active leaks are dried in first.
Working around service
Roof work is scheduled for slow hours or closed days, with no debris near doors, patios or the drive-through.
The services these buildings use most
Restaurants roofing — FAQs
Grease. It softens and breaks down many roofing membranes. Repairs there need a grease-resistant membrane and, ideally, grease containment at the fan. See PVC roofing.
Usually not. A grease-resistant section around the exhaust area tied into the existing roof is often the better value.
Yes. Work is scheduled for slow hours or closed days, and kitchen exhaust shutdowns are planned with you.