About Flat Roofing Insights

Over more than three decades I’ve worked with different roofing systems, buildings, climates and construction methods. I’ve installed roofs, inspected them, investigated leaks and failures, planned repairs and maintenance, and helped clients understand when a roof can be repaired and when replacement makes more sense.

Starting in the UK

I began working in flat roofing in London in 1990.

I started as a labourer, learned the trade from the roof up and eventually went on to run my own roofing company.

Those early years gave me hands-on experience with traditional built-up roofing, asphalt systems, timber decking and the practical details that determine whether a flat roof performs properly.

As roofing technology developed, so did the systems I worked with.

A Different Chapter in Spain

During the 2000s I spent time in Spain, where I stepped away from roofing and founded and managed a bilingual publication.

Although it was outside the roofing industry, it taught me something that became increasingly important later in my career: how to take complicated information and explain it in a way people can actually understand.

That same principle is a big part of Flat Roofing Insights today.

Moving to Canada

I moved to Canada in 2012 and returned to the roofing industry, working with commercial and residential flat roofing in Alberta.

Canadian conditions brought a completely different set of challenges. Extreme temperature changes, snow, ice, drainage and freeze-thaw cycles all affect how roofing systems perform and how they should be designed, inspected and maintained.

My work in Canada expanded my experience across SBS modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, PVC, built-up roofing, insulation systems, drainage, maintenance, repairs and complete roof replacement.

Working in British Columbia Today

I now work professionally with Raven Roofing in British Columbia, helping commercial property owners and building managers with roof inspections, maintenance, repairs, reroofing and other flat roofing projects.

Working across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Sea-to-Sky allows me to continue seeing how different roofing systems perform in real conditions, from heavy rainfall and drainage problems to ageing membranes, previous repairs and complete roof replacement.

Commercial roofing services requested through Flat Roofing Insights in British Columbia may be provided through Raven Roofing Ltd.

Why I Created Flat Roofing Insights

One of the biggest problems with roofing is that most property owners rarely see their roof.

They receive reports, recommendations and quotations, but it can be difficult to know what is genuinely necessary, why one contractor is recommending something different from another, or which roofing system is appropriate for their building.

I created Flat Roofing Insights to help bridge that gap.

My aim is to explain flat roofing in straightforward language and show what roofing problems actually look like through photographs, inspections, guides and examples from the field.

I want property owners and building managers to understand what they are looking at, what questions they should be asking and why a particular repair, maintenance programme or roofing system may be recommended.

What You’ll Find on Flat Roofing Insights

Flat Roofing Insights covers the subjects I’ve spent my career working with, including SBS modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, PVC and built-up roofing, along with insulation, drainage, leaks, repairs, maintenance, roof inspections and common installation problems.

I also provide free tools and practical guides designed to help property owners and building managers understand their options and ask better questions before making decisions about their roof.

The information on Flat Roofing Insights is independently produced and is not sponsored by a roofing manufacturer. The opinions and information I share are based on my own experience, observations and professional judgement.

Experience You Can See

I don’t want Flat Roofing Insights to rely simply on saying I have 33+ years of experience.

Wherever possible, I use real photographs, roof conditions, inspections and examples from the field to explain what I am talking about.

A poorly sealed membrane lap, deteriorated membrane, blocked drain, failed flashing or badly executed repair is much easier to understand when you can actually see it.

That’s the direction I want Flat Roofing Insights to continue taking: less generic roofing content and more useful information based on what actually happens on roofs.

My Approach to Flat Roofing

I don’t believe every roofing problem means you need a new roof.

Sometimes maintenance is enough. Sometimes a targeted repair is appropriate. Sometimes a roof has reached the point where continuing to patch individual problems no longer makes financial sense.

The important thing is understanding the condition of the roof first.

That means looking at the roofing system as a whole, including the membrane, flashings, penetrations, drainage, previous repairs and the way the roof has been maintained.

Flat Roofing Insights exists to help you understand those things, learn how different roofing systems work and make a better-informed decision about what happens next.

About Peter Coscolin

Peter Coscolin
Founder, Flat Roofing Insights
Commercial Flat Roofing, British Columbia

My career in flat roofing began in 1990 and has included hands-on installation, running my own roofing business, roof inspections, maintenance, repairs, technical advice, sales and commercial roofing.

Today, I continue to work directly with commercial roofs in British Columbia while developing Flat Roofing Insights as a practical resource for property owners, building managers and anyone who wants to better understand flat and low-slope roofing.

Connect with me on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-coscolin-15592b90/