I'm having a troublesome portico (formerly flat roof with metal, leaked) repaired. A 3" slope will be added for the roughly 6' width (that's the most that can fit probably). The contractor wants to use roll roofing. From having worked with it on my parents' summer house, I know that's not enough slope for roll roofing, especially in Houston where it will catch the afternoon sun. The front of the house is brick, the portico is attached to the house via about a half dozen 2X10's which may or may not be (but probably are) the ceiling supports for the second floor. There is a windowsill shortly above where the portico attaches, which is why the available slope is limited. What would be other good options? This is a very small section (6X12 or so), and it won't collect leaves or anything because of its location. Occasionally there will be foot traffic, to put up Christmas lights and the like. I'm wondering if a one-piece seamed galvanized sheet of metal would be best, or if there are other options. thanks Wendy

I have a problematic flat roof above one room of my house. It has leaked in the past, but survived last winter due to a thin coat of lap cement on the cracks last summer. The room below it "bumps out" from the house, and is not otherwise connected to the main high-pitch shake roof. This "roof" is also the "deck" of a patio area off an upstairs bedroom. The deck area forms a "bowl" - in that it has raised edges of about 6" on the 3 sides away from house, and a compound slope down to a gutter opening in one of the outside corners. Railing is attached on the top of these raised edges and roofing material. So, not only does this roof need to be repaired, but to do so would seem to suggest that the railing needs to be removed as well to gain adequate access to the raised edges to flash them correctly and whatnot. Plus I'm sure that the plywood underneath has been damaged by prior leaks, so deck is also in need of repair. Main question is: what flat roof material would be suitable for an area that expects foot traffic? Is there any? The area is only about 10'x12' and I can't even find a local roofing contractor who will even come out just to look at a job that small!! What to do, what to do... What would a roofing pro do if this were THEIR house? Tear it all out and sub out to someone to lay tile instead? :D Big thanks in advance for any advice.