Historic Hunting Lodge EPDM Flat Roof Restoration in Harmony, Johnston, RI

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Some projects carry more history than others. On Putnam Pike in the village of Harmony, Johnston, RI, Pinnacle Roofing was entrusted with the flat roof restoration of a turn-of-the-century hunting lodge — a fieldstone and green-shingled structure that has anchored the neighborhood for over a hundred years. The old flat roof section had been leaking severely, with water making its way through a failing rubber membrane and soaked fiberboard into the interior spaces below. This was not a project for standard residential shingle work — it required commercial-grade flat roof expertise, proper building code compliance on the tear-off, and an EPDM membrane system designed to protect this unique building for decades to come.

Scope of Work

Flat roof restoration on a historic structure demands a methodical approach that standard residential roofing does not. We began by removing the upper rubber membrane layer, which had become brittle and was pulling away from the edges. Beneath it, the original fiberboard insulation was completely saturated — the kind of damage that develops over years of slow leaking through membrane seams that had lost adhesion. Beneath the fiberboard, we discovered a tar and gravel roof — a common system on commercial and institutional flat roofs from the early and mid-twentieth century. Per Rhode Island building code, we removed all wet insulation and loose tar and gravel down to a solid substrate, ensuring the new system would be built on a stable, dry foundation rather than layered over compromised material.

With the deck cleaned and inspected, we began building the new roof assembly from the bottom up. New polyiso rigid insulation boards were secured to the deck using commercial-grade screws and stress plates — a mechanical fastening system that resists wind uplift without relying solely on adhesive, which can fail on older substrates. The insulation boards were tapered where needed to promote positive drainage toward the existing scuppers and drains. Over the insulation, we installed EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) membrane using a low-VOC adhesive — an important detail on a building where occupants are present and off-gassing from traditional adhesives would be a concern. At the membrane seams, we applied double-sided seam tape to create a continuous waterproof surface with no exposed adhesive at the joints. Around the perimeter, new pre-finished edge metal was installed and sealed with cured EPDM cover tape, ensuring the roof edges — where flat roof leaks most commonly begin — are fully secure and watertight.

What We Installed (And Why)

EPDM membrane is the industry standard for flat and low-slope commercial roofing, and for good reason: the synthetic rubber compound is inherently flexible, resists UV degradation, and maintains its waterproofing properties through the extreme temperature swings Rhode Island delivers — from below-zero winter nights to 95-degree summer days on a flat, sun-exposed surface. Unlike TPO or PVC membranes that rely on heat-welded seams, EPDM’s seam tape system creates a bond that remains flexible through decades of thermal expansion and contraction.

The polyiso insulation beneath the membrane serves a dual purpose — thermal performance and drainage. Polyiso carries an R-value of approximately 5.7 per inch, which improves the building envelope’s thermal performance and reduces heating costs in a structure with limited insulation options due to its historic construction. By tapering the insulation boards to create slope, we eliminated the ponding water that was accelerating the failure of the previous membrane. Standing water on a flat roof accelerates membrane degradation, promotes biological growth, and adds significant dead load during freeze events — a single inch of ponded water weighs over five pounds per square foot, and when that water freezes and expands, it stresses every seam and penetration it contacts.

Project Photo Gallery

Drone view of the historic hunting lodge before flat roof restoration — old membrane and slate roof sections visible

Completed EPDM flat roof restoration with new edge metal — fieldstone walls and green shingle siding preserved

Wide drone view showing both the restored flat roof section and the existing steep-slope tile roof

Rear view showing the flat-to-steep roof transition and original stone chimney

Front entrance of the historic hunting lodge — fieldstone construction and original wooden door preserved during roof work

Full grounds view of the restored hunting lodge — the new flat roof blends seamlessly with the building’s century-old character

Good To Know

Roof pitch determines material selection, and the distinction between steep-slope and low-slope systems is not a preference — it is a requirement. Asphalt shingles are designed for roof pitches of 4:12 and steeper, where gravity pulls water off the surface before it can work its way between overlapping shingle tabs. Below 4:12, the water flow slows enough that wind-driven rain, pooling, and capillary action can push moisture under shingles and into the deck. At 2:12 and below — which defines most flat roof sections like the one on this Harmony lodge — shingles are not an option at all. These surfaces require a continuous membrane system like EPDM, TPO, or built-up roofing that creates a monolithic waterproof layer with no lapped joints exposed to ponding water. Homeowners with mixed-pitch roofs — a steep main roof with a flat porch or addition — often do not realize that the flat section needs a completely different system than the steep section. When a contractor proposes shingling a low-slope area, that is a red flag worth questioning.

Why This Approach Works

Removing all compromised material down to solid substrate — rather than layering over wet insulation — is what separates a lasting flat roof restoration from a temporary patch. Wet insulation trapped beneath a new membrane continues to degrade the deck, promotes mold growth, and eliminates the insulation’s thermal value entirely. By stripping to solid substrate and building fresh with dry polyiso and properly seamed EPDM, this lodge’s flat roof will deliver 25 to 30 years of leak-free performance, which is the expected service life of a well-installed EPDM system.

Why Pinnacle

Pinnacle Roofing handles both residential and commercial roofing systems — which means flat roof work like EPDM membrane installation is performed by crews trained in commercial methods, not residential roofers working outside their expertise. We carry an A+ BBB rating, 5-star Google reviews, and the equipment and knowledge to handle specialty projects that many residential-only contractors cannot. From historic structures to modern commercial buildings, our team approaches every flat roof with the same attention to substrate preparation, insulation design, and membrane seaming that the system demands.

Johnston, RI

The village of Harmony sits in the western corner of Johnston along Putnam Pike, where wooded lots and century-old buildings give the neighborhood a character distinct from Johnston’s more suburban eastern sections. Pinnacle is proud to work in Harmony and throughout Johnston, bringing the same care to a historic hunting lodge that we bring to every home in the community. See more of our Johnston work at our Johnston roofing portfolio, and reach out whenever your property needs expert attention.