Is your flat roof leaking? Trying to figure out what the cause might be?
Maintaining a commercial property is essential if you’re running a business or if you’re striving to be a great commercial property manager. A damaged or leaking flat roof can cause a lot of potential problems.
If you’re experiencing flat roof leaking it can be difficult to pinpoint what the issue is. However, by knowing a few of the most common causes you can get a good idea of what the problem might be and how to proceed.
Below we’ll take a look at some of the potential causes of a leaking roof...
1. Perimeter Flashing Damage
Damage to a roof’s perimeter flashing can lead to big problems in a commercial flat roof. This type of damage is one of the most common reasons you may be experiencing a leak. If your flat roof perimeter flashing has taken any damage in the form of holes, tears, or breakages then water will probably be able to work its way into your building.
The cause of this perimeter flashing damage can vary from roof to roof. Most often, this type of damage is due to extreme weather and temperatures or they may be due to poor installation and maintenance.
2. Weather Damage
Adverse weather conditions can be a big problem and can lead to many types of costly property damage. Leaks are one of the most common issues you may face with a commercial building as a result of poor weather.
Strong storms, rain, snow, or high winds can potentially cause a lot of damage to your roof and your perimeter flashing. Perimeter flashing damage may be the result of different temperature conditions in which there are fluctuating highs and lows.
When you have a flat roof leak due to weather damage, it is essential that you get it repaired as soon as possible and prevent any further leakage from occurring.
3. Poor Workmanship
Another possible reason that your flat roof may be suffering from a leak is that you simply received poor craftsmanship when the roofing system was initially installed.
A poorly designed roof can lead to flatwater problems, meaning that your roof is filled with water for an extended amount of time and fails to drain itself within 48 hours after rainfall.
Flatwater problems can occur when there aren’t enough ways for the water to drain or if the building gutters and water outlets are blocked by debris. Flat water can cause there to be too much weight on top of your roof, and can also lead to leaks.
4. The Builder Used the Wrong Materials
While the actual design or craftsmanship of the property may have led to the leak, sometimes the builder simply used the wrong materials for the job. Certain roofs work better with different building materials. The wrong materials may not be able to properly handle the rain as it should.
Some builders are just careless and didn’t consider the materials carefully enough. A builder may also have been inexperienced and didn’t know any better.
Whatever the reason, the wrong materials used on a flat roof can cause leaking and a lot of frustration.
5. Excessive Foot Traffic
Your roof may also have problems because there has been too much foot traffic on your roof. Too much foot traffic on a flat roof can lead to punctures and breaks. Breaks, breaches, and penetrations can all lead to a leaking roof and cause a lot of damage.
If you suspect excessive foot traffic has led to these breaks, it’s important to limit how many people can access your roof throughout the day or week.
6. Lack of Maintenance
A lack of property maintenance is also a common cause of problems with a flat roof. Poor maintenance may lead to your roof having leaks and experiencing damage.
If you have had a lot of other business matters to attend to, you may have postponed building and roof maintenance time and time again. However, this can be a big mistake.
There may be moss buildup, plants on your roof or in pipes, and other forms of deterioration as well. If your roof hasn’t been maintained as it should have it can lead to buildup and deterioration that make your roof start leaking.
7. Old Age
A commercial flat roof, its equipment, and other components will always deteriorate over time.
If you let your roof go for too long without adequate upkeep, it can be a real problem and you may find that leaks are beginning to occur. Holes and punctures may occur in worn-out components and equipment such as HVAC units, vents, gas lines, or pipes and drains.
Whatever the reason, some degradation should be expected with the old age of a roof. It’s important to get your leak repaired as soon as possible and to remember to stay on top of maintenance going forward.
Ready to Fix a Flat Roof Leaking Problem?
While it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of a roof leak these are a few of the potential causes that you can start looking at to get to the bottom of the problem.
With a little bit of effort, however, it is possible to get your roof repaired and back to normal once again.
If you’re experiencing flat roof leaking or another roof problem in your place you’ll want to hire quality building repair specialists We can help. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.