Pro Torch Roofing installed the roof on a newly built multi-level home on Cambridge Road in West Vancouver: a 2-ply SBS torch-on system over the new deck, liquid-applied membrane at every skylight and door transition, and custom-bent sheet-metal flashings. Expected service life: 25–30 years.
The challenge
Stepped roofs look great from the street and behave badly in the rain. Every change in level is a wall-to-roof transition, every skylight is a curb, and every door onto a deck is a threshold that sits inches above the membrane. On this new build there were more of those details than there were square metres of open field, so getting them right the first time mattered more than the field membrane itself.
What we did
Deck and slope
We coordinated with the builder on the new plywood deck, checked fastening and flatness before any membrane went down, and used tapered insulation to guarantee positive slope to every drain so water never has a chance to pond on a brand-new roof.
2-ply SBS torch-on
A torch-applied SBS base sheet followed by a granulated cap sheet, with 3-inch side laps and 6-inch end laps fully torched. Two layers means there is no single seam that can let water through.
Transitions and skylights
At each skylight curb and deck door we used a liquid-applied reinforced membrane rather than trying to torch into tight corners. It bonds to wood, metal and bitumen, and it is the detail most roofers skip. Custom metal cap flashings were bent in our own shop to fit each level.
The result
A roof that is continuous from the lowest deck to the highest parapet, with no exposed fasteners and no caulk-dependent joints. The owners got drone photos of the finished roof for their records and a written warranty.
Slide through the job. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Watch the Cambridge torch-on roof come together
Filmed on site in West Vancouver: new-construction deck prep, 2-ply SBS torch-on, liquid-applied transitions and the finished roof from the air.
Questions about this kind of roof
How much does a torch-on roof like this cost in West Vancouver?
A 2-ply SBS torch-on roof installed by Pro Torch Roofing runs $10–$20 per square foot depending on insulation, slope and detail work. New construction has no tear-off cost, but multi-level roofs with many skylights still sit at the upper end because the detailing takes longer than the field membrane.
How long will it last?
25 to 30 years is typical for a properly installed 2-ply SBS system in Vancouver's climate, with drains kept clear and a quick inspection every couple of years.
Why liquid membrane at the skylights instead of torching?
Torching into tight curbs and under door thresholds leaves cold laps. A reinforced liquid-applied membrane is seamless, bonds to every substrate and can be inspected visually. It costs a little more per metre and is the single best leak-prevention upgrade on a detailed roof.
Is open-flame torching safe on a wood-framed house?
Yes, when it's done by a crew trained for it. We carry $5M hot-work liability insurance, use torch-safe base sheets at walls and run a fire watch after every shift.
Have a roof like this one?
Free drone inspection and written estimate. We call back within two business hours.
