Your options
Spray foam (SPF)
Seamless foam sprayed over a prepared, dry roof, then coated. It insulates, can be built up to improve drainage, and is the most common flat roof on Albuquerque homes. See foam roofs.
TPO membrane
A white, heat-welded single-ply membrane over new insulation board. Very reflective and a good fit when the old roof is torn off. See TPO roofing.
Modified bitumen is another option on some roofs. See modified bitumen.
Tear-off or recover?
Going over the old roof (a recover) can save tear-off cost, but only when the old roof is dry and there's room under the building code for another layer. Wet felts trap water under any new roof, and that water will rot the deck. So we moisture-check first.
- Dry, one layer: gravel is removed, the surface prepared, and foam or a new membrane goes over it.
- Wet areas: those sections are cut out and replaced before anything goes on top.
- Wet throughout or multiple layers: full tear-off down to the deck, repair any soft decking, then a new roof.
More detail in can you foam over tar and gravel?
Fixing drainage while you're at it
A new roof is the best chance to fix ponding. Foam can be sprayed thicker in low areas to build slope toward the canales, and tapered insulation can do the same under TPO. Canales and drains get replaced or reset at the same time.
Cost
Replacing a tar and gravel roof on a typical Albuquerque home commonly runs about $6 to $14 per square foot, depending on tear-off, deck repairs, the new system, insulation and access. See flat roof costs.
Permits
A roof replacement in Albuquerque usually needs a building permit; the contractor pulls it. Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Ranchos and Bernalillo County each have their own permit office.
Call (505) 531-6840 for a free look at your roof. You get photos of what we find and written pricing before any work starts.
Common questions
Which is better, foam or TPO?
Both work well here. Foam insulates and builds drainage; TPO is very reflective and great after a tear-off. Roof condition and drainage usually decide.
How long does replacement take?
Often a few days for a typical home, longer with full tear-off, deck repairs or weather delays.
What happens to the gravel?
It's removed and hauled away before the new roof goes on.