Flat Roof Is Leaking

This means that moisture can seep into the roof itself and cause problems that may lead to mold and fungus.

Flat roof is leaking.

The same thing can happen on sloped roofs however you can usually discount all the roof area below the area where you see the leak. Ponding water when water remains on your roof for more than 48 hours after precipitation it can lead to damaging leaks. In most cases flat roofs leak around vents and plumbing stacks or at the edge of the roof. While there are many different causes of leaks there are three that we have identified as the most common and most detrimental to your building s performance.

Locating a flat roof leak while finding a leak in a flat roof is easier than on a steep sloped shingled roof leaks can still be deceiving. Flat roofs are vulnerable to leaks anywhere a structure rises up through the surface of the roof. The reason is that water can enter one spot and not really express itself inside until it is far away from the leak. Tracing a low slope or flat roof leak to its source is important if you are to assure that the roof leak repair will be successful.

1 being located in a harsh environment 2 standing water on the roofing surface and 3 utilizing outdated roofing technology. Other common causes of leaks on flat roofs include. Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. Even though you may see a spot on the ceiling inside the house it doesn t mean that your flat roof leaked directly above that spot.

What causes flat roof leaks. Flat roof leak roofs can be a devil to locate. These three causes are. A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing.

However in my own experience the problems with leaking flat roofs are usually as a result of either poor workmanship installing the roof membrane poor maintenance by the building owner or as a result of age. Where water enters your interior space might not be exactly where the leak is because any water that penetrates a roofing membrane can travel for some distance until it finds a seam in the sub roof or sheathing and seeps inside. A compromised membrane allows water to enter the insulation causing more serious leaks. On coated concrete flat or low slope roofs the tracing of a leak to its probable source is often a bit easier because the horizontal travel distance will be less and the inside leak will appear close to a crack or close to a roof drain or point of overflow if the drains are blocked.

Since water seeks the path of least resistance the leak can be. Just like any roof a flat roof will develop leaks but since it s flat the water doesn t have anywhere to go but straight down. This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable. If you want to protect these features against leaks different tactics can be used like rain collars installation of flashing field wraps and pipe boots.

There can be several reasons your flat roof leaks and each of them can strike in almost any situation.