How to fix a flat roof that is leaking
As with a flat bicycle tyre, repairing a flat roof (whether on a classroom, hospital, outhouse, or storage building) is a simple matter of patching the damaged area. Occasionally, a temporary solution will do, but eventually, you will need to invest in a flat roof repair operation.
Restoration of a Flat Roof Constructed of Concrete
Problems with the concrete roof, such as cracks or surface deterioration, are rather common. Wear on the surface might disguise fissures, so sweep up any stray particles.
Don’t freak out if your flat roof is leaking. Even though you shouldn’t put off fixing the problem, there are a few things you should check before deciding whether to do it yourself or hire a professional roofer.
Leaking Roof
If you had a big storm the night before and you see water spots or stains on the ceiling, it’s likely that your roof is leaking. But it might not be as easy to find the leak as it seems, and it might not be where the water is coming in. After making sure there are no tears or holes in the rubber, check the point where water can get in.
Most flat roofs have a small slope that lets water run off, and most leaks are within 10 feet of where the water comes in. Another possible source could be where the sealant is dry and cracked around the vents, skylights, or flashing. If you can’t see any obvious damage, you should hire a professional roofing company to look at the roof.
Flat Roof DIY
Patching kits can be used to fix small holes in an EPDM rubber roof, but they are only a short-term fix. If all you need to do is re-caulk or re-seal a few spots around the vents, you should be able to do it yourself as long as you keep people from walking on the area. Unlike roofs with shingles, flat roofs aren’t made to hold up under a lot of weight, and the material can crack or blister.
If your flat roof is made of something else, like TPO or PVC, you will need to hire a contractor. Not only are these rubber materials dangerous, but they are also welded with a hot air gun, which means they can only be fixed by a professional. The last thing you want to do is shorten the life of your roof and have to pay thousands of dollars for a flat roof replacement.
The best thing you can do is to keep in mind that flat roofs need regular maintenance. Make sure your roof is dry most of the time, clean it of any leaves or branches, make sure it has enough air flow, or at least have gutters so water can run off. Leaks shouldn’t happen if you take care of your flat roof, but rubber materials also wear down over time. Rubber materials might be able to last as long as 40 or 50 years.
The most important thing to remember is to keep your flat roof in good shape and to always think about hiring a roofing contractor to check the leak for you. Contact Rooftite Projects for a free quote.
Roofing Repairs in Durban North