Flat Roof Is Leaking

This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable.

Flat roof is leaking.

A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing. 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. 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. The reason is that water can enter one spot and not really express itself inside until it is far away from the leak.

Flat roof leak roofs can be a devil to locate. These structures include gas lines pipes plumbing vents and other building elements. Damaged membrane if your flat roof is made of a single ply membrane it can be susceptible to damage due to ponding water or roof traffic. Flat roofs are vulnerable to leaks anywhere a structure rises up through the surface of the roof.

1 being located in a harsh environment 2 standing water on the roofing surface and 3 utilizing outdated roofing technology. 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. There can be several reasons your flat roof leaks and each of them can strike in almost any situation. What causes flat roof leaks.

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. A compromised membrane allows water to enter the insulation causing more serious leaks. These three causes are. 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.

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. Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. Since water seeks the path of least resistance the leak can be. 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.

Ponding water when water remains on your roof for more than 48 hours after precipitation it can lead to damaging leaks. This means that moisture can seep into the roof itself and cause problems that may lead to mold and fungus. In most cases flat roofs leak around vents and plumbing stacks or at the edge of the roof. Flat roofs are known as being problematic with many suffering leaks.

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.