We have a built-on porch (to the detached garage) put on in the 60's by the previous owner. The roof is tar, flat, and now it is leaking badly. A handyman put some tar stuff on it once or twice and that helped, but only momentarily. Do we have no option but to bring this porch down? Can a flat rolled roof like that even be fixed? The water is coming in on some studs in the back of the porch, where is becomes a lilttle work room. I don't like the idea of wet lumber. Any suggestions are welcome. Helen.

You could hire a roofer to re-do the hot applied roof membrane

But would this solve the leaking problem? A contractor told us that any attempt at reparing the roof would mean leaks sooner or later would happen?? What is hot applied roof membrane??

Most roofs are flat, do you mean it also has zero pitch?

That must be what you mean. The roof is flat as a pancake.

"Tar Stuff" doesn't seem like a good solution for a leaky roof, esp. a "flat" one. The way you describe it makes it sound like a potential flashing problem (leaking on studs in back of porch). I have seen many instances where the roof is functioning properly, but the "tar caulk" on the flashing around chimneys, vent pipes, or where it meets other parts of the house has degraded, cracked and peeled away. Probably the best way to permanently address this problem would be to reframe it with a reasonable pitch and start over (if architecturally possible)--or torch a new rolled roof onto it, paying close attention to the flashing (or where it meets any surface that is a different height) and the seams. You can theoretically patch it--if you know specifically where the leaky area is. Bottom line is, I'm not a big fan of rolled roofing. Another idea I've toyed around with is a one piece membrane (like a pond liner material) that is without seams--properly flashed, perhaps with an elastomeric UV blocking "tar stuff" on top of it. If it's a relatively small area then you have options. I say this because the last one I was trying figure out a cost effective solution for was 8000 sq ft-and built in 1865-in a tough climate.

Were we to have a roofer repair this mess, what kind of money are we talking about?
Thanks for your answer, by the way.

Helen, prices of materioals and labor vary greatly fromone place to another. Your best bet is to call 3 roofers to get free estimates. Then you will have you costs and also hear how they propose to repiar your roof. With all that info you can then better decide if you can do it yourself or hire the pro. If you hire a pro make sure they are licensed and insured in your area and will handle any permits that might be required.