Torch Down Roof Replacement in Los Angeles, CA – 2970 Waverly Dr

Torch Down Roof Replacement in Los Angeles, CA – 2970 Waverly Dr

Roof Replacement Inc completed a full torch down roof replacement at 2970 Waverly Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039, restoring a deteriorated flat roof on a two-story residential home to a clean, watertight condition. The existing built-up roof membrane had reached the end of its serviceable life and was stripped entirely before a new modified bitumen system was installed. The finished roof presents a uniform white granule-surfaced cap sheet across the full field, with properly integrated penetrations, skylights, and flashing details.

Photos taken at the start of the job show the old membrane cracked, buckled, and separating from the deck in large pieces — classic signs of a built-up roof that had aged past the point of repair. In several areas the underlying wood plank deck was already exposed where the membrane had failed. The scope called for a complete tear-off down to the structural deck, followed by a full rebuild of the waterproofing assembly.

Tearing Off the Failed Built-Up Membrane

The crew began by mechanically removing the existing built-up roof, which was visibly cracking and delaminating across the entire field. Workers used shovels, flat bars, and rakes to break apart and lift the old membrane in sections, exposing the original tongue-and-groove wood plank deck beneath. Debris was collected into bags and buckets for disposal. Once stripping was complete, the bare deck was swept clean so the condition of every board could be assessed before any new material was applied.

Deck Preparation and Base Sheet Installation

With the deck fully exposed, the team confirmed the wood planking was structurally sound and proceeded to install a base sheet layer as the foundation of the new waterproofing assembly. The base sheet was mechanically fastened across the deck in overlapping courses, as seen in photos showing the dark underlayment material being rolled out with visible fastener lines. A roll of Polyglass-branded base sheet is visible in one photo, indicating the use of a fiberglass-reinforced SBS modified bitumen base. Metal drip edge flashing was installed along the perimeter to terminate the membrane cleanly at the roof edge.

Torch-Applied Cap Sheet and Penetration Detailing

The cap sheet layer — a granule-surfaced white modified bitumen membrane — was applied using propane torch equipment, which is visible in several photos alongside the rolled material staged on the deck. The torch-down process bonds each course of cap sheet to the base layer with heat, creating a fully adhered, seamless waterproofing system. Around the brick chimney, skylights, and pipe penetrations, the crew executed individual flashing details to integrate each element into the membrane plane. New metal counter-flashing was installed at the chimney, and each skylight curb was wrapped and sealed within the membrane system.

Final Surface and Site Condition

Aerial photos taken after completion show the finished roof as a continuous white granule-surfaced field with consistent lap lines running the width of the building. All penetrations — pipe stacks, vent caps, and skylight frames — are cleanly integrated with no exposed edges or open seams visible. The perimeter drip edge presents a uniform finished line on all sides. The site was cleared of debris and staging material before final documentation photos were taken.

Project Details

Roofing in Los Angeles, CA

Flat and low-slope roofs in Los Angeles face a demanding combination of intense UV exposure, wide daily temperature swings, occasional heavy winter rain events, and periodic Santa Ana wind conditions — all of which accelerate the aging of built-up and modified bitumen membranes. The region’s Mediterranean climate means roofs go years without significant rainfall and then must shed significant water quickly when storms arrive, making a fully adhered, watertight cap sheet critical. Torch-down modified bitumen systems are a widely used solution for flat residential roofs throughout the Los Angeles area because they resist UV degradation and provide reliable waterproofing without the complexity of a ballasted system.

Our Service Area: Los Angeles, CA

Get a Flat Roof Inspection in Los Angeles

If your flat or low-slope roof is showing signs of cracking, blistering, or water intrusion, Roof Replacement Inc serves homeowners throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. Contact our team to schedule an on-site assessment and learn what options make sense for your property.