How to find where a flat roof is really leaking
The stain on the ceiling is where the water stopped, not where it started. Here is how the path gets traced back to the real entry point.
Read the guideRoofing guides for New York building owners
Written by Ada Lombardi, Roofing Guides Editor. Leaks, flat roof systems, city rules and costs, answered in plain language with sources.
About these guides
Answers before you call
These guides cover the questions owners bring to us most often: why a leak shows up where it does, what the city's roof rules require, which flat roof system fits a building, and what the work costs.
Every rule and figure is sourced, so you can check it yourself. When you are ready to talk about your own roof, call (929) 632-1136, day or night.
What Local Laws 92 and 94 mean when you replace a roof in New York City
Since November 2019, replacing an entire roof in the city can bring a requirement for solar panels, a green roof, or both. Here is what triggers it and how owners plan for it.
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The annual parapet observation rule, explained for building owners
Since January 2024, a lot of low-rise buildings that never faced a facade rule now need a yearly look at their parapets. Here is what the rule asks and how to meet it without fuss.
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EPDM, TPO or modified bitumen: choosing a flat roof in New York
Three membranes cover most flat roofs in the city. Each is the right answer for some buildings and the wrong one for others. Here is how to tell which.
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What a flat roof replacement costs in New York City in 2026
Published figures give a starting point. What your roof costs depends on what is under it, what the city requires, and how hard it is to get material up there.
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Roof coating or replacement: how to tell which your flat roof needs
A coating costs less than a new roof and avoids a tear-off. On the right roof it is a smart move. On the wrong one it is money spent covering a problem.
Read the guideRepairing a slate roof in a New York City historic district
Slate can outlast several owners of the house beneath it. In a historic district, the city also has a say in how it is repaired. Here is how the two fit together.
Read the guideRoof leaking at night: what to do until a roofer gets there
A leak at night feels urgent because it is. Most of what helps happens inside the building, and the most important rule is to stay off the roof.
Read the guideRecovering or tearing off a shingle roof on Long Island
Putting new shingles over old ones saves money on the day. The code limits when you can do it, and even when you can, it is often not the better buy.
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