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.

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. The goal is to find the leak before the entire roof goes bad. 1 being located in a harsh environment 2 standing water on the roofing surface and 3 utilizing outdated roofing technology. You know the roof is bad if shingles are missing or obviously damaged or when water stains the ceiling or walls.

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. 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. 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. Use those measurements on the rooftop to create a starting point for your search.

What causes flat roof leaks. These three causes are. From inside measure the distance from where the leak is visible to the two nearest walls. Most flat roofs are very slightly sloped to facilitate runoff so explore from the point of the water s entrance up the.

If you have a flat roof that leaks get up on it when it is dry and cool. Careful inspection of the roof drainage system for blockages or drain leaks into the building see flat roof drainage. This means that moisture can seep into the roof itself and cause problems that may lead to mold and fungus. They can be several feet above the leak or to the right or left of it.

Begin this project when the roof has been. Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. Finding the actual spot where the roof leaks is difficult because water can enter the roof in one place and run down to another before it starts soaking into the ceiling. I always start at flashings.

Flashings are transitional roofing materials. If you have attic access the easiest way to track down a leak is to go up there with a flashlight and look for the evidence. Penetrations can include plumbing and roof vents chimneys dormers or anything else that projects through the roof. You want to look for trouble spots that generally are the primary source of leaks.