Former factory land, lofts and live-work roofs
Emeryville's industrial past is easy to read in its buildings. The Emeryville Historical Society records that Pixar sits on the old Western Canning plant site, and that former factories now hold lofts such as Oliver Lofts and Emeryville Warehouse Lofts. Parks, apartments and shops fill other former industrial land.
For a roofer, that means flat roofs. Membrane systems cover most buildings, with drains, scuppers and parapets doing the work that slope does on a house. The failure points are seams, penetrations and drain bowls, and water that ponds for days makes each of them worse.
Roofing services for Emeryville owners
- Roof Repair
A leak on a loft-style unit usually comes from a drain, a seam or a penetration, and a targeted repair can end it without re-covering a membrane that still has life.
- Roof Replacement
Replacement on a townhome or small building means picking a low-slope system and confirming who pulls the permit, with the City of Emeryville's building office as the check.
- Flat Roofing
Membrane roofs outnumber shingle roofs here, and the choice of TPO, PVC, EPDM or torch-down changes the life of the roof, the seams and the cost of the next repair.
- Emergency Roof Repair
Water on a flat roof drains slowly and finds a seam, so temporary protection and drain clearing come before anything else, and the leak path is photographed for the owner.
- Flat Roof Repair
A townhome or live-work roof that ponds after rain usually has a blocked drain bowl or a split seam, and a flat roof repair seals the seam and clears the drain path.
- Roof Deck Waterproofing
Rooftop decks on private townhome roofs sit on top of the membrane, so the waterproofing under and around the boards is inspected at the edges, drains and wall flashing.
- TPO and PVC Roofing
Light-colored single-ply TPO and PVC membranes are a common choice for the flat roofs of converted lofts and townhomes, and heat-welded seams are the part to inspect on an older roof.
Who controls the roof: units, associations and what we do
In a condo or loft building, the roof belongs to the association in most cases, and the association chooses the contractor. What we do take is a roof that an individual controls: a townhome, a live-work unit with its own roof section, a house with a flat addition, or a rooftop deck on private space.
Check which category you are in before you call. If you are unsure, ask the association for the governing documents, which say who owns what above the ceiling. Those documents also settle who pays for a leak at a shared parapet, and that question is worth answering before any roofer gives you a number on a loft or live-work unit.
Rooftop decks and the waterproofing under them
A deck is a second surface on top of a membrane. Water that gets under the boards sits against the membrane out of sight. We inspect the edges, drains and wall flashing, and our roof deck waterproofing page explains the repair path. Deck changes may need approval from the city and from your association.
Permits and the short drive from Alameda
Emeryville is a city with its own building office. The permit line in the quote names who files. Nearby pages cover Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont and Oakland.
The office arranges a visit, often with Wayne or Pedro doing the inspection. About 18 minutes is the drive without traffic. A detailed written quote and photo updates follow, and a site supervisor does the final walkthrough.
The 4.9 stars from 60 Google reviews were earned by Alameda work, as the reviews page shows. We claim no Emeryville job. Get the warranty terms in writing from us before you sign.