How to Install Peel & Stick Roll Roofing on a Flat Roof

How to Install Peel & Stick Roll Roofing on a Flat Roof
Written By
Jane Humphries
Jane Humphries
Published: Jun 15, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

In this respect, peel-and-stick products are suitable for the majority of flat roof construction types and usually come with a 10-year warranty. Peel-and-stick roll roofing is a polymer and asphalt product, with a metalized or granular top coat and a self-adhesive underside, which purports to provide a faster installation time than traditional roll roofing materials.

Things You Will Need

  • Push broom
  • Degreaser
  • Cloth
  • Asphalt primer (optional)
  • Utility knife
  • Scissors (optional)
  • Hand roller
  • Waterproof caulk (optional)
  • Spray adhesive (optional)
  1. Sweep the roof deck with a push broom in order to remove debris such as stones, leaves, twigs, moss and loose dirt. Use a degreaser to clean ingrained oily marks and dirt from the roof deck. Wipe the deck with a damp cloth in order to pick up any dust particles that remain.

  2. Hammer raised nail heads into the roof deck to ensure a smooth surface for an effective installation of the peel-and-stick roll roofing. Read the roll-roofing manufacturer’s instructions to determine if you need to apply an asphalt primer over the roof deck, because some peel-and-stick products adhere more effectively with a primer.

  3. Align the length of roll roofing with the lowest edge of the flat roof and flush to the side edge of the roof. Pull back 6 inches of the release paper in order to position the start of the roofing sheet accurately. Smooth down the sheet with your hand to adhere the roll roofing to the roof deck.

  4. Peel back the release paper and smooth down the roofing sheet as you go in order to prevent wrinkles in the asphalt membrane. Cut the roofing to size using either a utility knife or scissors, according to the roofing manufacturer’s recommendations. Use a hand roller to firmly press the roofing length onto the roof deck after you position each course.

  5. Overlap each preceding course by 3 inches to create an effective watertight lap for the flat roof. Overlap the edge of an end piece from roll to roll by 6 inches and stagger the laps between courses.

The Drip Cap

  • Installing peel-and-stick roll roofing on a flat roof requires a minimum slope of 1/2 inch per 12-inch roof run.
  • Peel-and-stick roll roofing is a polymer and asphalt product, with a metalized or granular top coat and a self-adhesive underside, which purports to provide a faster installation time than traditional roll roofing materials.
  • Wipe the deck with a damp cloth in order to pick up any dust particles that remain.
  • Smooth down the sheet with your hand to adhere the roll roofing to the roof deck.

References

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Jane Humphries

Residing in the coastal county of Devon, England, Jane Humphries has been writing since 2004. Writing for "British Mensa" nationally and regionally, Humphries has also held key roles within the High IQ Society. She received a Bachelor of…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.