Saw this local news story about a house fire that started during a torch-down roofing job (they were installing modified bitumen). Apparently, the crew didn’t notice a smoldering spot until hours later. I get why torching’s popular, but it kinda freaks me out now. Has anyone had concerns about this method, or is it just rare bad luck? Would you go with a cold-applied system instead?
Torch-down always made me nervous, honestly. I looked into it last year when we were getting quotes for our flat roof, and the fire risk was a big red flag. The contractor I liked most actually refused to do torch-down at all—he said he’d seen too many close calls, especially on older homes with wood decking. He pushed for a cold-applied system (I think it was self-adhered modified bitumen), which ended up costing a bit more, but I slept better knowing there wasn’t an open flame involved.
Thing is, I get why torch-down’s still around. It’s fast, and some roofers swear by how well it seals seams. But after reading stories like the one you mentioned, plus seeing some scary videos online, I just couldn’t justify the risk for my own place. Maybe on new construction or concrete decks it’s not as big a deal? But for older houses, especially in tight neighborhoods, one mistake could be catastrophic.
I know some people say these fires are rare if you hire pros who know what they’re doing. But how do you really know? Even with insurance, dealing with fire damage sounds like a nightmare. Cold-applied felt safer to me—no flames, less stress. It might not last quite as long in some climates (I’m in the Midwest), but I’ll take that trade-off.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those newer peel-and-stick systems? Or is there something about torch-down that just can’t be matched for durability?
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those newer peel-and-stick systems? Or is there something about torch-down that just can’t be matched for durability?
Peel-and-stick’s come a long way, honestly. I’ve put it on a few garages and smaller additions—no torches, no stress, and it goes down quick. Haven’t seen any major issues so far, but I do wonder about longevity compared to torch-down, especially with Midwest freeze-thaw cycles. Anyone here have a peel-and-stick roof that’s held up 10+ years? That’d be good to know.
I’m with you—peel-and-stick is way less nerve-wracking than torch-down, especially if you’re not a pro. I did it on my shed and it’s held up five years, no leaks yet. Still, I’d trust torch-down more for a big roof or if you’ve got a lot of foot traffic. The fire risk with torches just isn’t worth it for me, though.
Fire risk with torch-down is real—seen it firsthand after a hail storm when repairs were rushed. Cold-applied isn’t perfect, but it’s safer, especially around older wood framing. For most residential jobs, I’d lean cold unless there’s a specific reason not to.
