Flat Roof Leaking Water

Most air vent styles prevent direct intrusion of water.

Flat roof leaking water.

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. Flat roofs are known as being problematic with many suffering leaks. 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. The reason is that water can enter one spot and not really express itself inside until it is far away from the leak.

A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing. While finding a leak in a flat roof is easier than on a steep sloped shingled roof leaks can still be deceiving. This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable. Roofs between 1 and 4 9 degrees are considered to be low pitch.

Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. 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. Flat roof leak roofs can be a devil to locate. 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.

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. And on occasion a hard driving rain with whipping wind will cause roof vents to leak water. Since water seeks the path of least resistance the leak can be.