Pro Torch Roofing re-roofed the main roof and mechanical penthouse of a residential high-rise in Vancouver with a 2-ply SBS torch-on membrane. Materials were craned to the roof in a single closure window, the work was sequenced around elevator and HVAC equipment that could not be shut down, and the strata council received a full photo record and warranty package. Expected service life: 25–30 years.
The challenge
There is no easy way to get twenty pallets of roofing to the top of a tower. Everything arrives by crane in one street-closure window, which means the quantities, the staging layout and the sequence have to be right the first time. On the roof itself the elevator machine room, HVAC units and communications equipment all sit on curbs and cannot be switched off, and the edge of the work area is a long way down. The strata council, meanwhile, needs to justify the spend to 150 owners.
What we did
Crane day and staging
Materials for the whole job were craned to the roof in a single morning under a permit and traffic plan, then distributed across the deck within structural limits. Tear-off debris went down in sealed bins on the return lifts.
Mechanical penthouse and curbs
Every curb was stripped in with reinforced base-sheet flashings before the cap sheet, and equipment that could not be lifted was re-flashed in place with new custom metal counter-flashings. The penthouse roof was done first so the crew could work down onto the main roof.
2-ply SBS torch-on and safety
SBS base and granulated cap sheet across both roofs, laps torched and probed. Fall-protection anchors, a written hot-work plan, extinguishers at every torch and a fire watch after each shift, all under our $5M hot-work liability policy.
The result
Two roofs done in one mobilization, no interruption to building services, and a dated photo record with written scope and warranty that went straight into the strata's depreciation-report file.
Slide through the job. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Questions strata councils ask about high-rise roofing
How much does a high-rise torch-on roof cost in Vancouver?
Pro Torch Roofing installs 2-ply SBS torch-on at $10–$20 per square foot. Tower roofs carry added crane, permit and fall-protection costs, which we itemize separately so the council can see them.
Will building services be interrupted?
No. Elevator machine rooms, HVAC and telecom equipment stay live; we flash around them and sequence the work so nothing needs to be shut down.
Is torch-on allowed on a high-rise?
Yes, with a hot-work permit and plan, torch-safe base sheets at walls and curbs, extinguishers at every torch and a fire watch after each shift. We carry $5M hot-work liability insurance for exactly this work.
What does the strata receive at the end?
Dated photographs of every phase, a written scope of the installed system, the manufacturer and workmanship warranty, and a maintenance schedule for the depreciation report.
On a strata council with a roof decision coming?
Free drone inspection and a written scope you can table at the next meeting. We call back within two business hours.
