Flat Roof Leaking Water

Flat roofs are known as being problematic with many suffering leaks.

Flat roof leaking water. 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. But some roof air vents sit fairly flat to the roof with a mushroom style hood and unprotected sides. And on occasion a hard driving rain with whipping wind will cause roof vents to leak water.

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. Since water seeks the path of least resistance the leak can be. This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable. Only a few types of roofing profiles are made to be installed at such low degrees including mono clad trim deck and concealed fix klip lock speed deck and top deck.

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. 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. 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. While finding a leak in a flat roof is easier than on a steep sloped shingled roof leaks can still be deceiving.

Flat roof leak roofs can be a devil to locate. Most air vent styles prevent direct intrusion of water. Roofs between 1 and 4 9 degrees are considered to be low pitch.