I Have A Leak In My Flat 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.

I have a leak in my flat roof.

The goal is to find the leak before the entire roof goes bad. Knowing what to look for can help you locate a flat roof leak although it may still take a bit of patience to track the hole down so you can repair it. What causes flat roof leaks. This means that moisture can seep into the roof itself and cause problems that may lead to mold and fungus.

You know the roof is bad if shingles are missing or obviously damaged or when water stains the ceiling or walls. 1 being located in a harsh environment 2 standing water on the roofing surface and 3 utilizing outdated roofing technology. From inside measure the distance from where the leak is visible to the two nearest walls. How to find a leak on a flat roof the best time to look for a leak is when the roof has been dry for at least three days and in the evening night time when after cooling down the flat roof leak hot spot will release heat that has stored underneath the hole during the day.

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. I always start at flashings. Steps in tracking down a flat or low slope roof leak careful visual inspection of the roof surface above for possible leak points such as any anomaly in the roof surface. These three causes are.

Most flat roofs are very slightly sloped to facilitate runoff so explore from the point of the water s entrance up the. A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing. Flashings are transitional roofing materials. Penetrations can include plumbing and roof vents chimneys dormers or anything else that projects through the roof.

Careful inspection of the roof drainage system for blockages or drain leaks into the building see flat roof drainage. Use those measurements on the rooftop to create a starting point for your search. There can be several reasons your flat roof leaks and each of them can strike in almost any situation. Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint.

You want to look for trouble spots that generally are the primary source of leaks. Begin this project when the roof has been. If you have a flat roof that leaks get up on it when it is dry and cool. This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable.