We have an old roof...with valleys and flat spots. In one of these flat
spots there is a drain. We have a leak from this spot in the
roof....question(s)
How do we know if its a leak at the begining of the drain or along the path
of the drain?
In either situation how would we patch or seal the drain's opening on the
roof? Or if it happens along the path of the drain?
Help!
Thanks
Locating Flat Roof Leaks
Summary:
Locating flat roof leaks is hard, as leaks on flat roofs go in any
direction - unlike a sloped roof. Flat roof repair is made more
difficult. Follow these tips for finding roof leaks on flat roofs...but
stoke your patience...
Tips on Locating Flat Roof Leaks
Flat roof leak roofs can be a devil to locate. The reason is that water can enter one spot and not really express itself inside until it is far away from the leak. 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. Why? Because water doesn't generally flow uphill from the leak location. Flat roofs allow the leak to travel in any direction from the leak point. That is why they are tough to locate.......
Start With a Dry Roof
If you have a flat roof that leaks, get up on it when it is dry and cool. You want to look for trouble spots that generally are the primary source of leaks.
I always start at flashings. Flashings are transitional roofing materials. A flashing connects a roofing membrane to something that is not a roof. For example, If a plumbing stack or chimney pops up through the roof, it will be surrounded by a flashing. Often the flashing materials are metal. Look for cracks. Look to see if the flashing overlaps the roofing material such that downward falling water will be deflected away from the chimney, wall or plumbing pipe.
Check the edge of the roof. Often flashings are used at these points as well. See if they are secure. Look for little cracks, openings, or breaks in seams in these flashings.
Dry Mini Lake Beds
Often water will pond in low spots in a flat roof. You will see evidence of these areas on a flat roof. Look for concentric rings of dirt as the puddles dry out. Look here for tiny holes or splits in the roof.
Seams - A High Priority
Any seam in the roofing material is a natural spot for a leak. Look closely at all seams. Do you see cracks or holes of any type? Is there a place where you can lift a small edge of a seam?
Testing For Leaks
You can test for leaks using a hose. But you have to be patient and you need to work backwards away from gutters or center drains. It can take hours, as you need to let the water run slowly over areas you think are trouble spots. Remember, it can take 10 minutes or more for the water to begin dripping inside. Start near a drain and let the water slowly run. Periodically, adjust the hose so water flows across dry portions of the roof. You will need tremendous patience, especially if all portions of the roof appear tight.
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Comments:Welcome! I, Tim
Carter, don't answer questions
here. If you post a question here in the Comments Area,
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Laura 07 Jan 2009, 10:14
Brent King 03 Feb 2009, 17:47
One of the best ways to find water intrusion on a flat roof is infrared
imaging. www.infraredthermalimaging.net. It you have thousands of feet is
will be well worth the investment to have it imaged.
John Morrison 09 Mar 2009, 11:15
I have a torch-down flat roof that is 25'X35' it covers an addition that
was put on in the 60's. I bought the house a year ago so I'm not sure how
old the roof is.
Recently we had 4 inches of snow that sat for 2 days. When it melted it leaked badly but when it rains it doesn't leak at least it isn't noticeable. I have had two flat roofers come in and offer the same thing but two different materials. #1 cover with a new layer of white granulated torch down #2 apply AWA 170 cap? Which is best?!?!
L SHapiro 23 Jul 2009, 14:23
We had a new flat roof installed above our garage and mud room in early
May. The contractor insulated the center rectangle of the roof, but not the
edges, and covered the surface with e type of 'stick and peel' roofing
guaranteed for 10 years.
A week later, several leaks appeared in the garage during a torrential downpour. The contractor came within a few days and literally patched the seams with rectangular patches all around the roof where the edging of insulation board lay beneath. Since then, there have not been any leaks, albeit the roof looks patchy, and puddles form along the perimeter for days after a downpour. Today we had another torrential downpour, and the ceiling, door ways and floor in the mudroom are dripping and wet. The roofer will be coming today or tomorrow to have a look. Advice please! Should we demand the entire roof be redone, or the flashing? I am concerned that come winter, and a possible snowfall, that we could be facing more problems.
Nancy Cazier 20 Oct 2009, 13:24
We have a flat roof over our garage that is only a year old. There is a
low spot on the front edge where water ponds and drips for hours any rain.
There is no inside leaking of water it just drains slowly over the facia in
this one spot. Can you recomend how to build up this area so that the low
spot is filled. The roof is torch down shingle.
Thanks
Vic Gonzales 17 Nov 2009, 19:29
My home is only 1 year old. It is a torch down flat roof. It recently
started leaking. We have had NO rain or snow and yet it is leaking. I went
up on the roof to look for any place that might look abnormal and found
nothing. The stuff that is leaking down resembles coca cola in color and
texture. It has been about 4 weeks since this started. I leaks every day.
I live in south central New Mexico, very little moisture. Have you ever
heard of this happening before? Any suggestions would help.
Kevin Kelleher 19 Nov 2009, 14:10
I have a flat roof. I have done alot in the last 2 years. I still have a
leak in the same spot. I was told that it could be coming from my neighbors
roof. It drips along the joists between houses. The house is very old. Is
this possible?
Andy 21 Feb 2010, 11:53
I have recently had a semiflat roof laid over a room addition. There are a
few low spots in an area of about 6 ft near the edge of the roof where
water pools up. The room is 17 ft wide. I have no leaks, but I want to know
how to build up the area to prevent any future problems. It is rolled
roofing material with tar paper and plywood underneath.
Is there a proper way to build up the low spot? The contractor is still working on the rest of the room and says the water will eventually evaporate and everything will be fine. I'd like to tell him the right way to fix it so he can do it before I make the final payment to him. Any information and advice would be appreciated.
Mark 25 Feb 2010, 22:02
Vic in New Mexico- I also have a flat roof and min does the same- I have
learned over the years as to why.. the moisture that is coming out is from
condensation- similar if you ever saw the science experiment with the sheet
plastic above a jar with a rock in the middle. The way to reduce this is to
caulk very very good around your home. Oh yeah and the brown water is from
the fiber board material which is like cardboard.
Rog 30 Mar 2010, 13:10
My flat roof is leaking. For the past 9 months it's been driving me crazy.
I cannot find the leak. I took some photos of my roof and it's posted
here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rogertown/Roof Can anyone give suggestions. View all comments |
